April 17, 2020

This week: Congress Introduces Federal Ban on Water Shutoffs During COVID—19 Crisis + Vermont Finds PFAS In Groundwater Due To Fertilizer Treatment + Developer Implodes Coal Plant Smoke Stack, Covering Little Village in Dust + Port Huron Upgrades Sewer System

Congress Introduces Federal Ban on Water Shutoffs During COVID—19 Crisis

Numerous municipalities and States have adopted moratoriums for water shut offs amid COVID-19. Over sixty members of Congress are in consensus that a ban on water shut offs is essential on a federal level.  The legislation also provides funding for residents to cover water bills.

Vermont Finds PFAS In Groundwater Due To Fertilizer Treatment

Using treated sewage sludge for agricultural fertilizer has been considered safe until recently.  The presence of pharmaceuticals and chemicals like PFAS used in water and stain repellents, nonstick cookware, and fire retardants are concentrating in sludge and when applied to farm fields are contaminating soils and groundwater as recently reported in Vermont.

Developer Implodes Coal Plant Smoke Stack, Covering Little Village in Dust

Amid COVID-19 a former coal plant implodes, sending clouds of toxic dust in the air to cover Little Village of Chicago. Local residents and Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO) are furious, demanding reparations from the company as well as the city. Residents are suffering from respiratory symptoms and fear entering health facilities due to fear of contracting the virus.

Port Huron Upgrades Sewer System 

Like many cities, Port Huron’s combined wastewater and stormwater drains were not properly designed and often resulted in raw sewage being dumped in the St. Clair River.  At one time, there were 19 overflow points polluting the waterway. Twenty-one years and $178 million later, overflow points will be eliminated, greatly benefiting the water quality of the St. Clair River.