Gov. Rendell this week signed legislation sponsored by Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-Lancaster) to expand the ban on phosphate detergents statewide to improve water quality.

“Pennsylvania is part of the multi-state Chesapeake 2000 agreement to remove the Chesapeake Bay from the federal list of impaired waters by 2010,” Sen. Brubaker said, noting that under the agreement, the state must reduce its levels of nitrogen going into waterways by 34 percent, phosphorus by 31 percent, and sediment by 11 percent. These reductions are required by both point sources, such as sewage treatment facilities, and nonpoint sources, including farmland and stormwater runoff.

“More often than not, the reductions required by wastewater treatment plants require large capital investments to install nutrient reduction technology,” Sen. Brubaker said.

However, Sen. Brubaker continued, approximately seven to 12 percent of the phosphorus entering such a plant comes from automatic dishwashing detergents.

The new law requires that the phosphate in household automatic dishwashing detergents be reduced from 8.7 percent by weight as allowed under current law to 0.5 percent by weight by July 1, 2010. This is consistent with the detergent industry’s goal to reduce phosphate in these detergents nationwide on the same timeline, which provides time to develop formulas that meet consumer satisfaction for performance and allows for a smooth transition to the new standard.

“Phasing out the level of phosphate in these detergents will help our communities make progress toward their phosphate reduction goals in a small but significant way that is also cost-effective,” Sen. Brubaker said, adding that a similar phase-out has already occurred in liquid hand dish detergents and laundry detergents. “In fact, calculations show that the elimination of phosphorus from automatic dishwashing detergents will reduce total chemical and sludge costs by 23.8 percent, resulting in an average savings for Pennsylvania of about $7 million each year.”

“Passage of this legislation lets every household become part of the solution to reducing pollution going into Pennsylvania’s waterways and we want to thank Senator Brubaker for his leadership on this issue,” said Matthew Ehrhart, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Office of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. “Environmental groups, wastewater plant operators, farmers, county conservation districts and builders are working together to support fair share efforts to reduce pollution and sediment runoff and we welcome leadership from the state and federal government to help with these efforts.”

A coalition of environmental, farm, businesses and municipal groups developed the PA Fair Share for Clean Water Plan to help wastewater plant ratepayers and farmers finance improvements needed to address Chesapeake Bay and statewide water quality improvement mandates while preserving economic opportunity for future homeowners and businesses.

The groups include: PA Municipal Authorities Association, PA Farm Bureau, PA Builders Association, PA Association of Conservation Districts and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. In addition, the PA Association of Realtors, the Federation of Sportsmens Clubs, local government and other groups have voiced their support for the plan.

The seven-year plan includes $500 million to help finance a portion of the upgrades needed by 184 wastewater treatment plants in the region and $390 million to help farmers install conservation practices.

“I am very pleased that my colleagues also recognized the value of this measure and overwhelmingly supported Senate Bill 1017 as it moved through the legislative process,” Sen. Brubaker said. “As a member of the Chesapeake Bay Commission and part of the Lancaster County Task Force on the Chesapeake Bay Strategy, I will continue to monitor this situation and to work with stakeholders to develop ideas that will help Pennsylvania address its role in the Strategy.”

Senate Bill 1017 is now Act 15.

For more information on the Pennsylvania Fair Share Plan for Clean Water, visit the Fair Share Plan webpage.

NewsClip: Gov. Rendell Signs Bill to Limit Phosphate in Water

Where are $$$ for Watershed Cleanup?

Woodward Township Pledges More Work to Meet DEP Mandates

Editorial: Chesapeake Cleanup, Large Costs for Small Municipalities

Video Blog: Remarks By Coalition Partners on the Fair Share Clean Water Plan

Video Blog: Sen. Brubaker’s Remarks on Fair Share Plan

Links: Coalition Proposes Fair Share Clean Water Funding Plan

16,000 Miles of Polluted Streams Add Urgency to Call for Clean Water Funding

CBF, Other Groups Ask State to Be a Partner in Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Plan

40,000 More Acres of Corn, Soybeans Increase Conservation Needs

5/16/2008