Rights vs. Regulations: When it Comes to Septic Codes, Property Rights Remain a Big Barrier
Installation of the Fenner Nature Center onsite wastewater treatment system (Photo courtesy of Larry Stephens)
The Great Lakes News Collaborative includes Bridge Michigan; Circle of Blue; Great Lakes Now at Detroit Public Television; and Michigan Radio, Michigan’s NPR News Leader; who work together to bring audiences news and information about the impact of climate change, pollution, and aging infrastructure on the Great Lakes and drinking water. This independent journalism is supported by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.
In Michigan, with public health departments fully occupied with COVID-19, septic systems have been pushed back as a priority.
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In the five years since Colorado’s Water Plan took effect, the state has awarded nearly $500 million in loans and grants for water projects, cities have enacted strict drought plans, communities have written nearly two dozen locally based stream restoration plans, and crews have been hard at work improving irrigation systems and upgrading wastewater treatment plants.
But big challenges lie ahead drought, population growth, accelerating climate change, budget cuts, wildfires and competing demands for water, among others.
And though the state has made progress on the plan’s ambitious goals and funding needs since November 2015, it hasn’t yet been able to secure the estimated $100 million needed each year through 2050 to fully fund the plan.
EGLE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Drinking water conservation effort to be launched in Benton Harbor and Highland Park
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) announced today that its Office of the Clean Water Public Advocate has launched a new initiative to reduce water waste in communities throughout Michigan. Called the Water Leak Pilot, the new program highlights the benefits of reducing water waste for consumers, water suppliers and the overall community.
Approximately 100 Benton Harbor residents and 100 Highland Park residents will be the first in the state to benefit from the new initiative and receive free in-home plumbing repairs.
Cr Allan Booth agreed with Piddington. “We haven t got a quantity issue, so why would we restrict our ratepayers. It s a large capital item – and the Government could take it off us – I don t see why we should be burdening our ratepayers earlier.” Council’s group manager for infrastructure Andrew Dixon said metering was not about restricting use of water.
Bejon Haswell/Stuff
Timaru District Councillor Stu Piddington at the Timaru District Council meeting on Monday. “It s more about accountability. We can find out the exact demands on our network, there s a lot of good reasons for this,” Dixon said.