Water exceeds fecal matter limit, studies show

They measure the “total maximum daily load" of pollution that a river can handle and still be safe for swimming or recreation. The tests only have been required and enforced by environmental agencies since the late 1990s, after the EPA was sued by environmental groups. The standards technically have existed since the 1970s, when the Clean Water Act was passed. Now that the tests have been done on the Oklahoma River, the results will be sent to the EPA, which then, with local agencies, will devise a plan to address the issue. Test results Two tests of fecal matter in the North Canadian River were conducted in recent years with similar results. Both took about four months to complete at locations up and downstream from Oklahoma City. One study was conducted by the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments.

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County Board of Supervisors moving on Los Osos sewer

The county Board of Supervisors has taken its first steps toward assuming control of construction of the Los Osos sewer project.

In a vote this week, supervisors set aside $2 million for preliminary design, named a project director and hired two additional staff members.

The moves are the result of a deal brokered by Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee, R-San Luis Obispo, to have the county take over construction of the townÂ’s controversial sewer project.

Noel King, director of the countyÂ’s Public Works Department, laid out an action plan for the county that proposed:

• alternate site reviews for a sewage treatment plant;

• interagency agreements with the Los Osos Community Services District board;

• creation of an advisory committee; and

• exploring permits from various agencies.

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$16m project progresses

Councillors yesterday dished out tenders for the $16 million third stage of the Whangarei Heads Sewerage Scheme. The project aims to reduce pollution flowing into Whangarei Harbour from septic tanks in the Heads area.

Councillors awarded the contract for building the pumping station and reticulation system to United Civil Construction. The Whangarei-based company bid the lowest amount for the tender, $14,466,761.83. The contract will be the largest ever awarded by Whangarei District Council.

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Poor sewage treatment, sanitation costs P67B POOR sewage treatment and sewerageresulting in bad sanitationin Metro Manila, if not in the country, is costing the economy at least P67 billion a year, according to government authorities. The inability to dispose, collect and treat human and industrial waste also sends thousands of Filipinos daily to hospitals, doctors offices and drugstores for diarrhea, dysentery and respiratory diseases. Poor sanitation has polluted rivers, lakes, bays and esteros, principally Manila Bay, the Pasig River and Laguna Lake. Countless rivers in Luzon are considered biologically dead because of industrial and human pollution. Swimmers, bathers and fishermen have complained of pain, discomfort and diseases after swimming or taking a dip in the Pasig River or in Manila Bay. Pollution has seeped into tap water and public faucets, restaurants, hotels, cocktail lounges and other public places.

Libs promise a Yarra to swim in by 2015 ALL parts of the Yarra River would be "safe and suitable" to swim in by 2015, under a $50 million pledge by the Liberal Party to clean it up. The Opposition has made the promise as it gears up for the November 25 state election, but it has been met with scepticism by the Government and green groups, which question the Liberals' ability to meet the target. Last year Labor was forced to abandon its own target to have parts of the lower Yarra safe to swim in by 2008. The Liberals' policy, released yesterday, promises: "By 2015, under a Liberal government, the Yarra River will be a healthy river, from its beginning to Port Phillip Bay. It will be safe and suitable for all recreational uses, from rowing and kayaking to swimming and water-skiing." Current warnings on the Environment Protection Authority website advise people not to swim in lower parts of the Yarra, particularly downstream from Gipps Street bridge, Abbotsford, because of high E.coli levels.

Fire victims told to move After issuing multiple extensions, San Diego County officials recently told people they had 30 days to move out of the trailers they've lived in since losing their homes to the Cedar and Paradise fires three years ago. The final notice left residents like David Baker without a home, again. A general contractor from Ramona who lost his house in the October 2003 wildfires, Baker said he hadn't saved enough money to rebuild. He was living in a trailer on his property, but he moved in with family last month. "I don't know what I'm going to do," said Baker, 51, who lived alone. "I'm back to the night of the Cedar fire, when I was thinking, 'What the hell am I going to do?'Â " County officials say they realize this doesn't make them look like saints, but they feel three years is enough time to rebuild, or at least get started.

Island's choice: Swap septic for sewers?

While the Atlantic Island area undergoes work on underground utilities, residents must decide if they want to replace septic tanks with sewer lines. BY CARLI TEPROFF cteproff@MiamiHerald.com

As Sunny Isles Beach continues its plans to bury utilities for the entire city, the Atlantic Island neighborhood is faced with a decision: Do residents want to get rid of their septic tanks?

Officials addressed about 30 residents Sept. 20 explaining that while the street is dug up for utilities it makes sense to do away with the septic tanks and use sewer lines.

''Why do it twice?'' said Commissioner Danny Iglesias, a homeowner in Atlantic Island. ``We might as well get it done now and not have to go through this again later.''

The city proposed a plan that would have the residents assessed for half the cost of the sewer line and half the cost of the repaving the street.

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