New York Might Have Just Saved Portland $500 Million

Portland Mercury:

For seven years, the Portland Water Bureau and several activist groups have been fighting a national Environmental Protection Agency requirement stating that the city must cover its iconic reservoirs to protect against cryptosporidium—a bacteria that testing has repeatedly shown isn't a threat in Rose City water (though apparently drunken urination is). In March, it looked like the city had lost and would have to spend $500 million to cover the city's five reservoirs and build an ultraviolet treatment plant or be found in violation of federal law. Altogether, the apparently-not-necessary public health project would add an $21 to an average water user's monthly bill. But from the East comes a sign of hope! New York state is fighting the same rule, not wanting to spend $1.6 billion to put a concrete cap on an upstate reservoir. New York Senator Chuck Schumer wrote a letter to the EPA asking them to scrap the plan and, miracle of miracles, the EPA wrote back this weekend saying they would reconsider. If the EPA is willing to reconsider for New York, they could be willing to reconsider for Oregon, too! I should note that Steve Duin beat me to it and posted about the news last night (while I was watching Trek in the Dark, like a slacker). [ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]

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