This is the most retarded and riddiculous thing ever. Most municipalities are facing unfunded mandatory upgrades to their plants in the neighborhood of $1 million to $30 million to reduce the nitrogen and phosphates. But they only account for a fraction of the problem. Agriculture and stormwater runoff are over 80% of the Nitrogen and Phosphate and 100% of the sediment. Forcing municipalities and authorities to pay billions of dollars to do nothing is the epitome of craziness. Even if they take municpal plants down to zero (which is not possible under current technology) 80% the problem will still exist.
Not to mention there is nothing municipalities can do because compliance is tied to their renewal application. As their plant renewals come up they have to comply. Additionally prices are high because there aren't enough contractors who do this type of work, i.e. demand is much higher than supply. which drives costs up even more. Plus how are they to pay for this? Floating bonds and raising rates are they only way to pay for it, unless a municipality has a cool $15-$20 million lying around that they can pi$$ away.
If you are all interested here is some great info....... Point Sources are the water/sewer plants.
http://pmaa.blogware.com/blog/ISSUEShttp://pmaa.blogware.com/costsandsources.pdf
