On Tuesday, I had the opportunity to testify on the Sewage Right to Know Bill (H.R. 2452) at a hearing in the House of Representatives. Talk about nervous... but it wasn't as bad as it could have been given that bill sponsors Rep. Bishop (D-NY) and Rep. LoBiondo (R-NJ) were chairing the hearing.

Overall, the testimony was extremely favorable. Dr. Summers, from the Maryland Department of Environment, explained how Maryland's strong monitoring and notification requirements had helped quantify problems and were greatly appreciated by many utilities as it allowed them to explain and justify why more investment is required. Stuart Whitford, from the Kitsap County Health Department explained his support of H.R. 2452 by telling a scary story about a sewage spill that went on for two years before anyone realized what was going on (and after 4.8 million gallons of sewage was spilled!).

Microbiologist Erin Lipp did a great job of explaining how potent just a little bit of raw sewage can be and that the illnesses from sewage are vastly underreported.

Finally, even Kevin Schafer, the representative for the wastewater treatment community supported the monitoring and notification, but just wanted to make sure that details were spelled out and that the requirements were not too costly.

All in all a good day for sewage right to know - and the bill now has 45 cosponsors!