Miller
Park fix won't solve river's pollution problems
March
19, 2007 -- Fixing the sanitary sewer hookup
error at Miller Park that allowed toilets to be flushed
directly into the Menomonee River will improve water quality,
but pollutants from other sources still will contaminate
the river, according to an MMSD official.
"Storm
water runoff from urban and agricultural sources is a
much, much bigger problem that must be addressed,"
said Steve Jacquart, MMSD intergovernmental coordinator.
Stadium
officials say they have corrected the pipe screw-up, made
during stadium construction, that allowed human sewage
to flow from several Miller Park suites into the river.
The
receiving area of the river is southeast of Story Hill.
While
the fix is good news, it only corrects a very small portion
of what is ailing the river.
"Take
a look at the Menomonee River today and you'll see that
it's turned a dark muddy brown color from the recent snow
melt," Jacquart said. "Melting snow and rain
that runs over parking lots and streets carries oils,
road salt, bacteria, dirt, lawn fertilizers, and other
pollutants into our rivers and Lake Michigan. Water quality
tests show that storm water is by far the biggest source
of water pollution in the Menomonee River and the other
waterways in our region."
The
Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission has
found that 89% of the fecal coliform getting into the
region's waterways comes from non-point runoff, Jacquart
said. The remaining 11% of fecal coliform pollution comes
from point sources such as sewer overflows and wastewater
treatment plants.
Jacquart
offered some advice for folks using the Hank Aaron State
Trail, part of which borders the Menomonee River, and
for those who fish or use the new canoe launch on the
river east of the stadium.
"Avoid
getting river water in your mouth, eyes, and ears,"
he said. "Try not to expose any cuts on your skin
to river water and be sure to wash your hands after coming
in contact with the water. That's good advice when coming
in contact with any urban river."
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