State Looking for Best Ways to Reduce Lake Pollution
The Boston Globe reports that Vermont’s Agency of Natural Resources will hold public meetings starting today on the best ways to reduce pollution in Lake Champlain.
Vermont lawmakers are looking to enforce the reduction of phosphorus from nearby sewer treatment plants, but opponents fear that will restrict growth. Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas committed $100 million to cleaning up the lake, $50 million of which has already been spent without a significant phosphorus reduction.
Phosphorus enters sewers from stormwater and farm runoff, as it is a common ingredient in fertilizers and manure. It can be a toxic material when applied to the skin, causing severe burns.
To find out the conditions of your local body of water, visit Earth 911’s sister site Beaches 911 and find beach water quality reports nationwide.
