Gov. Nixon calls for tighter water quality rules for distressed areas

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Those who have septic systems and other wastewater facilities near the Lake of the Ozarks and other troubled Missouri waterways could face inspections and orders to connect to existing sewer systems.

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon on Tuesday proposed tighter water-quality rules over so-called distressed waterways that would bring restrictions for wastewater permits, inspections for facilities that don't need state permits and new studies to determine ways to improve water quality.

Nixon said Tuesday that state officials need more authority to deal with water pollution.

"This legislation is about giving us tools to limit the pollutants and waste that flow into our waters so that they have the time they need to cleanse and renew themselves naturally," he said.

The Democratic governor's proposal takes particular aim at the Lake of the Ozarks, but the rules could be applied to any waterway deemed distressed by the Missouri Clean Water Commission because of its water quality.

Under the plan, regulators could stop issuing new wastewater permits around distressed waterways. Existing facilities contributing to water pollution could be ordered to clean their system and connect with existing sewer systems.

A spokesman for Nixon said the governor's office is working with several lawmakers but has not identified who will sponsor the proposed legislation when the legislature convenes Jan. 6.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources on Tuesday also released results from a fall water study at the Lake of the Ozarks that found contamination from agricultural products.

DNR took samples in 78 locations over 10 days from Lake of the Ozarks, the popular tourist lake in central Missouri. Those tests found nitrogen levels that exceeded state standards at most sites as well as high phosphorus throughout the lake. In two areas, there was high bacteria.

Pesticides were found, but the levels fell below federal limits. Other water quality characteristics such as acidity, temperature and turbidity were acceptable, and the amount of dissolved oxygen was high enough for aquatic life.

DNR spokesman Judd Slivka said the test results are a good snapshot of the lake's water quality when it is not under stress. In its report, the department says broad water quality studies generally involve repeated samples over an entire year.

The water study were ordered by Nixon in September after the governor and his environmental agency faced criticism when the Department of Natural Resources waited for a month to release May test results showing high E. coli bacteria in the Lake of the Ozarks.

Earlier this month, Nixon said conflict over the handling of E. coli results had created "energy" to improve water quality and that he hoped to channel it.

Controversy over the E. coli led Nixon to suspend DNR director Mark Templeton after learning the department failed to close public beaches at the Lake of Ozarks despite high bacteria. Templeton later was reinstated, but Nixon fired longtime aide Joe Bindbeutel, who delayed releasing E. coli test results.

State senators have launched a probe into how DNR handled E. coli tests to determine if changes are needed to state laws or policies. That committee on Tuesday announced it planned to hold a hearing Jan. 5 and that it would seek testimony from six current or former DNR officials, including Templeton and Bindbeutel.