Morgantown Dominion Post
1 November 2005
Editorial
Don't worry about getting your feet wet, or anything else for that matter. Although the Monongahela River is on the state Department of Environmental Protection's list of impaired streams, it deserves better than that. Not to suggest DEP has errantly labeled it as such, which doesn't mean it's dangerous to begin with, but recent samples commissioned by our newspaper point to a river clearly within acceptable limits for recreational use. Four samples taken on the river for more than a dozen parameters of different bacteria and pollutants were all well below state minimum limits. Readings from the Monongahela like these may come as a pleasant surprise to some of us, who far too often only regard the river in an alarming and critical context. Few voices tout the Mon's waters as a place for water skiing, fishing and swimming. Recreational use of the river may not seem like it could impact our quality of life much, but that sort of thinking is all wet. Continued development along the Monongahela, recreational events incorporating the river, upgrades of nearby parks along it banks and plans for a $3.5 million marina all add up to reasons for thinking otherwise. We take every opportunity to remind our readers of the importance of infrastructure - this is such an occasion. More specifically, to continue the dynamics of our current growth we cannot rely on antiquated infrastructure to maintain such standards. In this case, continued reliance on sewage facilities incapable of handling recent and future growth can only lead to the Mon's continued listing as an impaired stream - if not worse. The DEP is on record for expecting to develop a pollution-reduction plan by 2012 and follow up with solutions into 2016. Though that timeline sounds like a stretch, one solution in the meantime is the Morgantown Utility Board's planned expansion of its Star City sewage-treatment plant. Probably no single project would go as far to keeping up with the growth of this area and ensuring the Mon's quality continues to improve. The state Public Service Commission must approve the $6.5 million addition before any upgrades get under way. If the PSC rules favorably, building would begin in spring 2006. We encourage the PSC to approve this project as soon as possible. The Dominion Post also contracted with Triad Engineering to conduct another series of tests at Cheat Lake in which it also discovered readings well below minimum standards. This sample was also taken in an area relative to a MUB facility that underwent an upgrade in the recent past. MUB's requests should get serious consideration by the PSC to keep our community on course. Come on in - the water's fine.