SW Florida's Raw Sewage Spills Totaled 17 Million Gallons In 2011, But Fines Rare-To-Nonexistent
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But an examination of state records by the Herald-Tribune shows that millions of gallons of raw and treated waste spew forth into the environment every year.
Individually, the spills tend to be dismissed by utilities and government officials as a temporary nuisance. While most are small and swiftly contained, cumulatively they amount to a nasty mess that threatens public health and the environment.
Despite the damage, government regulators seldom crack down on offenders. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection imposed no fines for the worst effluent spill in six years — a 30-million-gallon release of reclaimed water that flooded a Pasco County community in 2010. The recent Tampa spill, the worst sewage release in six years, drew a state fine of just $30,500.
The repeated spills underscore problems with the aging wastewater infrastructure here and nationwide, as well as the pressure to keep customers' costs low. Utility officials say replacing all old pipes and plants at once is unaffordable. Replacing pipes too soon in the name of prevention wastes money.
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http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20120225/ARTICLE/120229640?p=all&tc=pgall
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