How Much Bacteria Do You Want in YOUR Water?

On September 7, 2005, the state Clean Water Commission (CWC) decided that 142 streams would be exempt, in whole or part, from new water quality rules that will keep undisinfected sewage out of Missouri's other rivers, lakes, and streams. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will have the final say, though, on which streams are actually exempted. If you have information about any of these streams that shows they should be made safe for human use, send it to the EPA by December 31, 2005. See our sample letter for suggestions about the kind of information that's most effective. And be sure to ask your friends and neighbors to write, too!

You can send your info to:

Bonnie Liscek
EPA Region VII
WWPD/WQMB
901 N. 5th St.
Kansas City, KS 66101

Or email her at liscek.bonnie@epa.gov

Please also send your information to us at dsherburne@moenviron.org so we can use it to more strongly advocate for Missouri's streams.

CWC exempts the Mississippi River, River des Peres, Maline Creek, and Coon Creek without notice. Finally, YOU can comment!

The Clean Water Commission pulled a fast one on the citizens of Missouri at their September 7 meeting by adding the Mississippi River and these other streams to the exemption list after the public comment period was over. On being told by the Coalition, the EPA, and state Attorney General's office that a 30-day comment period was required by the Clean Water Act for proposed exemptions, the CWC grudgingly set one—after the fact—to run through November 28, 2005. Even though the CWC has made its ruling, the EPA—which still has to approve it—will be taking a very hard look at the decision to exempt these streams, and your comments can make a difference.

Exempting these streams from the new water quality standards means that sewage treatment facilities, such as those operated by the Metropolitan Sewer District in St. Louis, will not have to disinfect the wastewater they discharge into:

• the nearly 200 miles of the Mississippi River between the Chain of Rocks bridge north of St. Louis all the way to the Arkansas border

• the lower two and one-half miles of the River des Peres in south St. Louis
• the lower mile of Maline Creek in north St. Louis
• the lower 9 miles of Coon Creek east of Moberly

Sewage that has not been disinfected may contain viruses, parasites, and other pathogens that can make people sick with ear infections, typhoid fever, hepatitis, gastroenteritis, dysentery, and other illnesses. Pathogens such as fecal coli form and E. coli bacteria are indicators of poor water quality and contamination with human waste. Waters with elevated levels of fecal coliform and E. coli bacteria are unsafe to swim in or for children to play in.

If people have used these streams at any time since 1975 for swimming, kayaking, or other activities where they could get water in their eyes, ears, or mouth (including water-skiing on the Mississippi), full water-quality protections must be put in place and sewer agencies required to disinfect the wastewater they discharge. Comments should therefore include details of how, when, and where the stream is used. They should also include similar information about any other uses, such as wading, boating, or fishing, since these also expose people to bacteria and viruses and should require at least some level of protection. Check out our sample letter for more information on how to make your letter count.

Your comments should be sent by November 28, 2005 to:

Stacia Bax
Use Attainability Analysis Coordinator
P.O. Box 176
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176

Or email stacia.bax@dnr.mo.gov

And please also send your comments to us at dsherburne@moenviron.org