New water standards for area's towns require more money

Southeast Missouri towns big and small face compliance issues after federal agencies approved stricter water-quality regulations that took effect this year.

Concerns about wildlife prompted the Missouri Clean Water Commission to approve new rules that would strengthen protection for rivers, streams and lakes. The change came after more than a decade of warnings from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to update water quality standards. EPA approval also was required as the state made the revisions.

The new regulations require more steps in the cleaning and disinfecting processes and lowering the amount of chemicals that can be released into bodies of water. For example, the EPA has decreased the maximum amount of ammonia allowed in treated water to protect a certain species of mussel.

For most cities, the problem doesn't lie in the ability to upgrade facilities, but finding the money to do so.

Perryville, Missouri, city administrator Bren Buerck said the city is renewing the permit for its wastewater treatment facility and is working with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to make sure the facility stays in compliance.

It was installed in the 1970s and doesn't have the technology to meet all the latest requirements. It still uses trickling filters, which can't control ammonia limits. Buerck said the city is studying the issue to determine how to keep utility costs "truly affordable" for users.

"It's something we're watching closely, and DNR is interested in being partners with us through this process," he said. "But certainly, we still have to figure out how to pay for it."

In the past, the city would make updates to the existing facility. A new ultraviolet-light disinfecting system was installed a few years ago as part of a new DNR requirement. Ideally, the city would continue retrofitting the existing plant, but Buerck said it's unclear whether that will remain a realistic option.

The city of Chaffee, Missouri, is building new drinking water and wastewater facilities. City administrator Lee Horton said regulations passed in 2010 instantly put the water system out of compliance, so the city decided to go to the voters to seek approval for bonds to build a new one.

He said the city was fortunate to receive low-interest loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help pay for construction, but user fees had to be raised to afford the new facilities.

"It's an increased expense for everybody. Everybody has to pay for those kinds of regulations," Horton said.

It's difficult to tell whether these regulations will have any sort of significant effect on wildlife in the area, he added, which can add to the frustration of customers paying the higher fees. Horton is not sure of the cost versus the beneficial effect, which makes it difficult to answer a question many people in Chaffee may have: Why fix a problem that doesn't exist?

Cape Girardeau also is building a new wastewater facility on the south side of town. Like Chaffee's, it is being built at the right time to absorb all the newly approved regulations and will help keep the city in compliance for many years to come. Cape Girardeau Public Works director Tim Gramling previously said the facility was built in an area with available space for needed expansions as other regulations arrive.

The city's drinking-water treatment plant on East Cape Rock Drive has considerably fewer changes to make as a result of the recent regulations, said Kevin Priester, the city's water systems manager. That's because the city switched its drinking water source about three years ago from Mississippi River surface water to wells. The two sources have different regulations and requirements, Priester said, in part because surface water is more prone to pollution.

That doesn't mean the plant never has to worry about staying in compliance with new regulations. Just as cities across the state worry about the levels of chemicals released from their wastewater facilities, it's possible similar rules will take effect in the future. Currently, the solids and residuals removed from well water can be discharged to the river, but Priester said it's possible the EPA could change that rule in the future.

Like Horton, he said it's difficult to determine whether the benefits of new regulations outweigh the costs, but he tries to keep an open mind. Protection of local rivers and lakes is important and could lead to expensive problems if they don't receive adequate care.

While EPA regulations have become more stringent, Priester said it's often no secret what types of regulations may come in the future. Governmental agencies, especially the Department of Natural Resources, work side-by-side with cities to keep facilities in compliance. Buerck called the group a partner in Perryville's efforts to keep its wastewater plant up to date, and Horton said they've been patient with Chaffee as it builds its facilities.

"Missouri DNR, especially in our area, has been helpful. If they expect something to change in the future, they try to let us know," Horton said. "I have had no problems whatsoever working with them."

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

Perryville, Mo.

Chaffee, Mo.

Cape Girardeau, Mo.