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A Bargain at Any Cost
Fishing in a crystal clear stream or splashing in waves at the local beach are just two of the many blessings of clean, safe water. Clean water is essential to life as we know it.Your wastewater treatment facility performs an invaluable environmental service by treating polluted water from homes, businesses, and industries, and returning safe, clean water to the environment. |
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Current Clean Water Challenges
Since the passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972, we have made great strides in improving the quality of our nation's water resources, but several costly challenges remain.
Increasing Demand. Growing populations and new regulations have increased demands on wastewater treatment services; new equipment, treatment facility upgrades, new sewer lines, and increased funding for operations and maintenance are needed.
Lack of Federal Funding. Federal funding for preserving water quality has all but disappeared, leaving local governments and consumers to bear the cost.
Stormwater Runoff. Special equipment and procedures are necessary to deal with the large volumes of water from storms.
Nonpoint Source Pollution. Identifying and controlling nonpoint source pollution, including runoff from farms, lawns, construction sites, forestry operations, and animal wastes, is a challenge.
How Does Your Community Protect Clean Water?
The average wastewater treatment facility:
- Operates 365 days a year, 24 hours a day
- Removes numerous contaminants such as organic material, dirt, fats, oils and greases, ammonia, nitrogen, phosphorus, and bacteria.
- Processes 68 million gallons of wastewater per day.
You currently pay for clean water through utility bills and other fees (such as connection charges) as well as property, state, and federal taxes.
The average consumer pays less than 62 cents a day, or less than a cup of coffee, for wastewater treatment.
What Does Your Community Get For its Money?
- Construction of new treatment facilities, new sewer lines, and upgrades to existing treatment facilities.
- Operations and Maintenance including personnel, laboratory analysis, facility/equipment maintenance, and sewer system maintenance.
- Improved Cost Effectiveness through improvements in design and process control of treatment facilities.
- Valuable Products including reclaimed water for irrigation and biosolids for fertilizer.
- Added Benefits including more economic development, increased property values, improved public health, a cleaner environment, and the ability to preserve our precious water resources for future generations.
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