Regional Solution to Sewage Problems and ALCOSAN's Consent Decree

Transcript

OPEN: Southwestern PennsylvaniaÔø?s sewer system is considered by many experts to be the worst in the nation. In 2006, our local rivers were deemed unsafe for human contact during four out of every ten days. Last year, officials from 11 counties united to create the independent Regional Water Management Task Force, chaired by Carnegie Mellon University president Jared Cohon, to find a regional solution to this problem. The Allegheny FrontÔø?s Tim Palucka attended an outreach meeting held by the Task Force in Pittsburgh recently, and filed this report.

PALUCKA: Combined sewer overflow outlets, or CSOs, are designed to open during storms when there is too much rainwater in the system. When this happens, raw sewage flows directly into rivers and streams. ThatÔø?s better than having it backup in your basement, but itÔø?s bad for water quality. There are more than 750 CSOs in southwestern Pennsylvania. ThatÔø?s more than in most states. Ty Gourley is Project Manager of the Regional Water Management Task Force. HeÔø?s spent the last several months talking to municipal officials and the public in the 11 counties. TheyÔø?ve been discussing possible models for creating a regionwide water authority. A regional authority could reduce the number of CSOs and improve water quality. But the long history of local control over water issues makes this a difficult job.

GOURLEY: In southwestern Pennsylvania we have a tradition of local government and there are a lot of very good things that come with that. That also brings a lot of difficulty when water is running from one municipality to another without asking any of us for permission, ItÔø?s a multi-county issue, a multi-municipal issue, and we need to be talking about it that way.

PALUCKA: Gourley also traveled to other major cities to see how theyÔø?re handling their water and sewage problems. He says whatÔø?s happening in Atlanta is particularly encouraging.

GOURLEY: In 4 years since they had an independent water district created they have been able to complete region wide water quality plans, water supply plans, sewage plans, storm water plans, and theyÔø?re doing it all for less than a dollar per person. So I think thatÔø?s really an appealing thing to people in this region.

PALUCKA: The Regional Water Management Task Force is currently asking for comments on four possible regional water plans, including the Atlanta model. They will release a report and recommendations based on this input in the fall. For the Allegheny Front, IÔø?m Tim Palucka.