Phosphorus rules
could cost billions

By Kurt Krueger
News-Review Editor

Stricter phosphorous standards intended to help lessen nuisance algae in Wisconsin lakes and rivers are being criticized as too costly and relatively ineffective.

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is proposing phosphorous limits that are 90% more restrictive on point source pollutants from wastewater treatment plants and industries such as food processing, dairy, manufacturing and paper.

The rules are based on recognition of phosphorous-related water quality problems that include nuisance algae conditions in many lakes, low dissolved oxygen in many streams, and toxic blue-green algae in a number of lakes, as stated in a DNR report to legislators.

Officials say the revisions are also in response to federal requirements to adopt nutrient criteria. Presently, 172 lakes and streams are included on Wisconsin’s impaired waters list for phorphorous.

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