"Safer Water Comes With Big Price Tag"

"After decades of inaction, the federal government is finally forcing states to clean up their polluted rivers, lakes and bays, but is providing virtually none of the funding to do so. Neither is the state of Florida, which has appropriated $10 million a year to deal with what state officials estimate will be a $10 billion cleanup. That means cities and counties, which are struggling with money problems of their own, will shoulder most of the financial burden. 'The bottom line is these problems are locally generated and are the results of increased development and increased pressure on water,' said Tom Singleton, whose job at the state Department of Environmental Protection is helping local governments develop cost-effective ways to reduce pollution. For many counties, the costs will be enormous. Pasco County officials estimate they will have to spend $260 million building systems to clean up nutrient pollution that washes into the upper Hillsborough River and tributaries." Mike Salinero reports for the The Tampa Tribune Oct. 25, 2007.