Ehrlich on Washington column, May 12, 2002

HFWS FROM Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Second Congressional District of Maryland 1 407 York Rood, Soil* 304 LufKervilU, Maryland 2 1 093 3 1 5 Cannon Hoot* Office Building Woihinglon, D.C 20515 EHRLICH ON WASHINGTON Week of May 1 2, 2002 By Congressman Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Cleaning Up Our Waters For Future Generations Too many Marylanders are losing the chance to enjoy the Chesapeake Bay due to problems related to pollution, such that the Bay and its tidal waters are on the federal list of impaired waters under the Clean Water Act. In some areas, folks are forbidden to fish, crab, or even swim. A major cause of pollution in our waters is the discharge of nitrogen by nearly 300 wastewater treatment plants in the Bay watershed, including 62 in Maryland. Wastewater comes from our washers, sinks, toilets, and curbside storm drains. This soup flows into the plants and goes through an intricate process that removes large waste (wood, trash, etc.) and exposes the wastewater to microorganisms that feed on the waste and eat the pollutants. The waste is then separated and treated with various chemicals. Once treated, the “clean” water is expelled into a local stream or river. When nitrogen is released in volume, algae grows in quantities so large that it prevents light from penetrating the Bay’s water. Without light, sea grasses that are vital to sea life cannot grow and act as a home to fish, or crabs, which are so crucial to Maryland’s environment and economy. Secondly, the algae uses a large amount of oxygen that is vital to the existence of plants and animals. The end result for those of us who treasure the Bay and its tributaries is fewer fish and crabs in our heavily polluted waters. In order to keep the Chesapeake clean, new technologies have been developed that dramatically reduce the amounts of nitrogen released into our waters. For example, by letting the microorganisms feed on wastewater for a longer period of time, the amount of nitrogen in the “clean” water can be dramatically reduced. In order to take advantage of this natural phenomenon, treatment plants need larger tanks and more complex piping systems. Put simply, we need to modernize those treatment facilities that lack new technologies. My goal is to provide money for modernization so that all treatment plants in Maryland can reduce the amount of nitrogen they release.