EPA targets polluted Mo. streams

EPA says Hinkson Creek is on its list of polluted streams.

By Stephanie Clark

Published Oct. 24, 2008

Surveys from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the state Department of Natural Resources regarding the quality of streams in the state are flowing in opposite directions.

In a report released by the EPA, Hinkson Creek, located south of Columbia, and several other streams in the area were among the 135 streams the agency found to be polluted under regulations stated by the Clean Water Act, which regulates water pollution control in the United States. Federal law requires that each state present a list every two years displaying specific bodies of water that fail to meet the standard of water quality.

"The list isn't the total list but it's the one for which we feel we need additional water quality controls to fix the problem," said John Ford, an official with the state department's Water Protection Program. "The controls are the requirements necessary that have been put into place."

The EPA re-evaluated the pollution levels of the streams in the state after the department, which follows less stringent regulations than the EPA, documented them in 2006.

Ford said, according to the EPA evaluation, the levels of bacteria in the streams targeted by the report were four times higher than in the DNR report.

"The treatment solution for pollution varies," Ford said. "Sometimes it's going to require additional treatment capacity at a water treatment plant. There might have to be additional treatment plants. In other cases, the problem might be something that involves the local community having to get together and be educated as to what the problem is. They take over from there and decide how to solve the problem."

Ford said this year's list, which was released Sept. 23, might be revised due to the release of the EPA report.

Meanwhile, Sustain Mizzou is making efforts toward improving the quality of Hinkson Creek.

Sustain Mizzou member Samuel McKee said the group picks up trash in the area around the creek. Earlier this month, he said, the group picked up 34 bags of trash, 6 bags of recyclables, 15 tires, a truck hood, an old 55 gallon drum and a basketball.

"It sounds like the EPA made a good call," McKee said about the report. "If allowable bacteria levels of Missouri streams were four times higher than that allowed by federal standards, something needs to be done to fix the discrepancy."