As Missourians splash in the state's abundant waters to relieve the sweltering heat of summer, few realize that our tax money is being spent to keep streams polluted, not to keep them clean and safe.

Newly reconstructed CSO on the Mississippi River in St. LouisThe Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) is on a multi-year spending spree to conduct studies aimed at exempting streams from clean water protections. The MDNR has spent nearly $300,000 this year on studies used to exempt streams from important clean water protections—and it's poised to spend still more this summer and fall. This is the third year MDNR has either contracted for the studies that downgrade stream protections—called Use Attainability Analyses (UAAs)--or done them using state employees, at an overall undisclosed cost.

Typically, a facility seeking UAA loopholes that exempt streams from protections would have to fund the UAA study themselves. By paying for the UAAs out of tax payer money, MDNR is encouraging sewage facilities to avoid disinfecting the wastewater they discharge into Missouri streams – and all at our expense. If the exemptions are approved by the Environmental Protection Agency, sewer agencies and other facilities will be allowed to continue releasing bacteria-laden water into our streams. Sewage that has not been disinfected may contain viruses, parasites, and other pathogens that can make people sick with ear infections, typhoid fever, hepatitis, gastroenteritis, dysentery, and other illnesses. Pathogens such as fecal coli form and E. coli bacteria are indicators of poor water quality and contamination with human waste. Waters with elevated levels of fecal coliform and E. coli bacteria are unsafe to swim in or for children to play in.

End the pollution payout.

This is the third year that public money has been spent to reduce clean water protections for streams, and we think it should be the last. In some cases, the state is spending money to re-do UAAs conducted in previous years that were deemed too shoddy to justify removing protections.

The Missouri Coalition for the Environment is calling for a moratorium on state-funded UAAs.

Making water unsafe.

More than 80% of Missouri's water pollution discharge permits are for small streams that feed the state's larger rivers. These small streams often flow through public and private property, including schools and parks, where they may attract youngsters. Failing to ensure that smaller streams are clean and safe is a disservice to the most vulnerable citizens. A UAA that removes protections to make water safe may be a boon for dischargers, but it is a hazard for folks downstream – especially little ones.

Pollution is not the solution.

The solution is to provide technical assistance to help dischargers identify appropriate technologies to treat their discharge, to provide financial assistance, and to establish reasonable time frames for compliance.

For more information visit www.moenviron.org/safestreams.asp