OAK HILL Officials broke ground this week on a$9million project to transition a neighborhood on thenorthern Indian River Lagoon from septic tanks to a more environmentally friendly centralized sewer system.

Oak Hill Mayor Douglas Gibson told The News-Journal the project will improve water quality in the imperiled Indian River Lagoon, hopefully preserving it for his grandkids and their children.

"My feeling is we have to start now," he said. "Ifwe dont clean up the lagoon and quit polluting, they will not be able to enjoy the waterways and springs in the state of Florida."

Aceremony was held Wednesday morningto commemorate the startof the project in Oak Hill, which will connect 285 households to a county-operated sewage collection systemrunning through Indian Harbor Estates.

The homesare surrounded by a network of canals.

"The nitrates and phosphates have no place to go except into the canals, which empty into the lagoon," Gibson said. "Stormwater runoff, overfertilization, all of that plays a part. But if Oak Hillcan remove the nitrates and phosphates created by the septic systems, to me weve done ourpart."

Research by Brian Lapointe, aHarbor Branch Oceanographic Institutescientist, shows that septic tanks are one of theprimary sourcesof pollution in the Indian River Lagoon.

Declining water quality has fueled harmful algal blooms andchoked out seagrasses, leading to a devastating Florida manatee die-off a record-shattering 1,101deaths in 2021 as the creatures starve.

A starvation crisis: For Florida manatees, it will be another long winter, though Blue Spring remains a haven

How to save a species: 9 critically endangered North Atlantic right whale calves were spotted in first month of season

Trying something new: Can this seagrass restoration method work even before Indian River Lagoon gets clean?

This is the first of five phases of septic-to-sewer conversions in Oak Hill, where Gibson said 80% of the city's 2,000 residents were on septic.

Much of the approximately $9 million for this phase came from the state, including$4.8millionfrom the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The St. Johns River Water Management District kicked in $2.5 million and additional money camefrom the city, Volusia County and the Indian River Lagoon Council.

It's been in the works for nearly six years "too many," as Gibson put it.

"I was told at first, 'Never going to happen,'" former Volusia County Councilwoman Deb Denys recalled. "We realized the only way to accomplish this was to break the geographic area into five phases."

Denys praised Gibson's vision and his skill at roping in all the folks needed to make this work.

"Ten years ago nobody wanted to talk about water quality. Septic-to-sewer conversion was not on the radar," she recalled. "Then everybody started waking up and saying weve got to address this."

Gibson said when he switched from an aerobic septic tank to sewer a few years ago, his annual costs actually went down. He said he and his wife pay about $65 or $70 a month for water and sewer in Oak Hill.

Residents will have to pay about $1,000 to condemn their septic tank and hook in, he said.

Residents will have a year to connect, though those with high-functioning septic systems can seek out a permit for an exception.

Construction will take 15 months.

See the original post:
Cleaning up the Indian River Lagoon: Oak Hill breaks ground on $9M septic-to-sewer project - Daytona Beach News-Journal

NEW DELHI :The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Wednesday approved the infusion of 1,500 crore in Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd (Ireda). The investment will help generate 10,200 jobs and reduce carbon emissions equivalent to approximately 7.49 million tonnes per year.

The additional equity infusion will enable the mini-ratna company under the ministry of new and renewable energy to lend approximately 12,000 crore to the renewable energy sector, helping meet the sectors debt requirement for additional capacity of 3,5004,000 MW, the CCEA said after a meeting earlier in the day.

The equity infusion will also enhance the specialized non-banking finance agencys net worth, which will help it in additional financing, thus contributing better to the governments targets. It will also improve the capital-to-risk weighted assets ratio to facilitate its lending and borrowing operations, the CCEA said in a statement.

Information and broadcasting minister Anurag Thakur said that the Ireda has played a big role in the field of renewable energy and its portfolio had increased from 8,800 crore to 28,000 crore in the past six years.

But according to the Reserve Bank of India, the loan can only be lent on 20% of the net worth. The net worth of Ireda is 3,000 crore. It can lend loans up to 600 crore only," he said, noting the importance of the decision.

Separately, the Union cabinet approved a scheme for grant of ex-gratia of 973.74 crore, the difference between compound interest and simple interest for six months to borrowers in specified loan accounts.

The government had approved the scheme for six months during the first wave of the covid pandemic between 1 March and 31 August 2020, providing an outlay of 5,500 crore for FY21 for distressed or vulnerable borrowers that have taken loans of up to 2 crore in the categories of MSME, housing, education and consumer durables, besides credit card dues, auto loans, personal or professional loans and consumption loans.

State Bank of India, the nodal agency under the scheme for consequent reimbursement to lending institutions, told the government that it had received consolidated claims of 6,473.74 crore, higher than the allocated amount, and has therefore sought additional allocation of the balance amount.

The Union cabinet also approved the extension of tenure of the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis for three years beyond 31 March 2022, which will benefit sanitation workers and 58,098 identified manual scavengers in the country. The approval, which will cost the government 43.68 crore, comes ahead of Assembly elections in states, including Punjab (it goes to polls on 20 February).

The government feels that there is a continued need to monitor the various interventions and initiatives of the government for welfare of safai karamcharis and to achieve the goal of complete mechanization of sewer/septic tanks cleaning in the country and rehabilitation of manual scavengers," the cabinet said in a statement.

The government has taken steps for eradicating manual scavenging but sporadic instances do occur, the cabinet said, adding that the deprivation suffered by them in socio-economic and educational terms is yet to be eliminated. [Eradication of] hazardous cleaning of sewers or septic tanks continues to be an area of the highest priority for the government," the cabinet added.

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Cabinet gives its approval for infusion of 1,500 cr in Ireda - Mint

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a three-year extension of the tenure of the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis that was set to end on March 31.

The Cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the extension at a cost of 43.68 crore.

The commission was set up in 1993 under the NCSK Act 1993 for a period of three years, which has been extended since then, despite the Act ceasing to have effect from February 29, 2004.

After that, the tenure of the NCSK has been extended as a non-statutory body from time to time through resolutions, a government statement said.

The commission helps in coming up with programmes for the welfare of sanitation workers and also monitors the implementation of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013. Till December 31, 2021, 58,098 manual scavengers had been identified.

Though the government has taken many steps for the upliftment of the safai karamcharis, the deprivation suffered by them in socio-economic and educational terms is still far from being eliminated. Although manual scavenging has been almost eradicated, sporadic instances do occurHence, the government feels that there is a continued need to monitor the various interventions and initiatives of the government for welfare of safai karamcharis and to achieve the goal of complete mechanisation of sewer/septic tanks cleaning in the country and rehabilitation of manual scavengers, the statement read.

Read more:
National Commission for Safai Karamcharis gets 3-year extension - The Hindu

Caregiver to a loved one.Tricia McMahan, Tri-County EC | Keller

Being a moma single mom.Lori Weidner, Pedernales EC | Spring Branch

The funeral home guy and grave diggers in a small town.Julie Landers, Fannin County EC | Wolfe City

Judging a jam and jelly recipe contest.Jim Whelan, MidSouth EC | Montgomery

The caretaker of a spouse with dementia.Sharon Martin, United Cooperative Services | Granbury

Burying one of your children. I know; I had to do it.David William, MidSouth EC | Montgomery

Raising children. It is also the most rewarding.Rhonda Jordan, San Bernard EC | Hockley

That of a police officer. We are parents, family counselors, ministers, teachers, advocates, lifeline/CPR providers, deliverers of life, personal body shields from gunfire and other weapons, babysitters, negotiators, day and night shift workers, always on duty, and volunteers, just to name a few. We run into danger when most run out.Christella Rodriguez, Nueces EC and Jackson EC | Bay City

Motherhood. It is a lifetime job, no retirement.Connie Hendricks, Guadalupe Valley EC | Seguin

By far, hands down, without a shadow of a doubt, being a good parent to teenagers.Monica Miller, Bluebonnet EC | Bastrop

Watching your rearview mirror for tailgaters.Russell Moore, Pedernales EC | Kyle

Being the parent and full-time caretaker of a child with Rett syndrome.Amie Gettel, Bartlett EC | Jarrell

A lineman in the winter.Jay Johnson, Big Country EC | Anson

Parenting. It doesnt come with an instruction book.Alice Stewart, San Bernard EC | Hempstead

Finishing other peoples sentences.Bruce Looman, Bluebonnet EC | Bastrop

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The Hardest Job in the World Has To Be - Texas Co-op Power

WE DONT REALLY like to think about issues involving our wastewater. Yet, these issues are more regularly coming up to the surface in both a political sense and, more unfortunately, a literal one.

Globally, over four billion people use sanitation facilities that lack adequate wastewater treatment, which results in the contamination of the environment and a severe risk to public health. Ireland is no exception.

We have recently suffered a wave of swimming bans following summer heavy rains. This is a result of ageing wastewater infrastructure such as sewers and treatment plants incapable of supporting population growth and the impacts of climate change.

Irelands means of treating wastewater can be divided into two main types. The first is a centralised system in large urban areas such as Dublin where wastewater mostly flows by gravity across the city and ultimately arrives in facilities like Ringsend where it is stored and treated to remove harmful pathogens, using a lot of energy in the process.

A major concern is the collection systems where rainfall runoff from urban environments end up in the sewer, akin to safety releases, during high rainfall events. When this happens, diluted untreated sewage is released into rivers and bays due to rainwater drains overflowing into the sewers.

Sludge from household septic tank being emptied Source: KaliAntye via Shutterstock

Septic tanks across the island

The second form of treatment for wastewater is on-site or decentralised systems. Due to our sparsely-populated rural areas, we have one of the highest proportions of households around 489,000 in Europe using on-site domestic wastewater treatment systems.

The most common system is a septic tank, which separates wastewater of heavier solids and fats. Following this separation, wastewater is dosed underground into the soil along specially made trenches filled with gravel. Bacteria attached to the gravel and soil naturally treat wastewater as it percolates down to the underlying groundwater.

In my professional experience, if these systems are built according to the EPA code of practice, they should be considered an effective nature-based solution to on-site wastewater treatment. The key issue, however, is that much of the function takes place underground, so it is hard to know if these systems are functioning adequately.

Local authorities do inspect these systems, but with so many systems, and an average inspection rate of 1,000 per year, it will take nearly half a millennium to look at the systems currently in operation.

Aerial view of Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant, August 2020 Source: 4H4 Photography

Solutions to our sewage problem

One thing you come to understand when working in this area, is that there is more than one solution to the sewage problem.

Centralised systems such as those in Dublin are crucial as they treat high volumes of sewage on relatively little land but they do use a great deal of energy to do so.

These facilities could be aided by improvements in rainwater capture reducing the impact of climate change on our drainage network and improving our overall water supply.

On-site wastewater systems, if installed adequately, can also offer a low cost and low-energy alternative to smaller populations currently relying on septic tank systems. A good example is the integrated constructed wetland system at Castle Archdale in Co Fermanagh.

The system consists of a series of artificial wetland ponds over a three acre site, using natural processes with plants and bacteria to clean the wastewater. This system has a treatment capacity of 1,000 people and has resulted in a 100% reduction in electricity usage compared to the now decommissioned wastewater treatment plant.

These systems require little maintenance or technical labour in the long-term. They also have a natural aesthetic value with an abundance of plant life that starkly contrasts the typical austere or brutal facades of wastewater treatment plants.

Aeriel photo of Castle Archdale Treatment System Source: NI Water

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There are already examples of such systems in the Republic of Ireland, including Dunhill in Co Waterford, Glaslough in Co Monaghan, Clonaslee in Co Laois and Lixnaw in Co Kerry. Archdale Castle should inspire us to further develop more systems in the south.

The treatment capacity of a system like Archdale Castle could satisfy the needs of 569 of our 846 population centres accounting for nearly 250,000 people. It may not always be cost effective to replace an existing system with these natural process alternatives, but with 32 sites still pumping raw sewage into the environment daily, there is good reason to examine their potential.

Systems like Archdale would have the capacity to treat 15 of these sites, with minimal need for technical staff and energy to run them. These systems could also be adapted to more densely populated urban areas to passively treat wastewater before arriving at Ringsend and relieve some of the strain on the facility.

If we dont want to drown in our own misfortune, it is crucial that we collectivise our waste management, with the added bonus of diversifying our treatment methods and incorporating nature-based processes with minimal impact on the environment.

Alejandro Javier Criado Monleon is a doctoral candidate at the Department of Civil Structural and Environmental Engineering at Trinity College Dublin. His background is in public health, disease surveillance, water, wastewater, and microbiology. His current work focuses on the soil microbiology in on-site wastewater systems.

EMPTY THE TANK INVESTIGATION

Do you want to know more about Irelands aging wasterwater system?

The Noteworthy team wants to investigate if there are sufficient enforcement resources available to local authorities to ensure that septic tanks are safe and that contents are disposed of in a safe and regulated way..

Heres how to help support this proposal>

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Lets not waste an opportunity: Nature-based solutions to our wastewater woes - thejournal.ie

To the editor:

What has Joe Biden accomplished? A lot. The previous administration attempted to pass an infrastructure bill, however despite having the majority in the House and Senate, was unable to do so. By working together with Republicans, skillfully negotiating and compromising, Joe Biden signed the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act with the support of 17 House Republicans and 18 Republican Senators, including Mitch McConnell and Lindsay Graham. Why would they do that? Because it is GOOD for the country.

According to NBC News in Miami, Florida will get about $19 billion for roads and bridges, new rail lines, projects to mitigate sea level rise, improved broadband access and transitioning neighborhoods from septic to sewer. Thats huge for homeowners, as it raises their property values while simultaneously protecting the aquifer we all rely on for drinking water.

It also includes funding to restore and protect aquatic ecosystems the goal of Captains for Clean Water. Its a big win for Florida and for our country.

Biden has shown the power of bipartisanship by getting done what 4 years of bitter fighting could not. Way to go!

Isabel Francis, MPA, MSN, RN

Bokeelia

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Biden has done a lot for this country - Pine Island Eagle

Jackson Township has adopted the lateral inspection ordinance for any sold or transferred properties.In observance of the upcoming holiday, next week we are on a compressed schedule next week for trash and recycling pickup. Monday and Tuesday routes will both be picked up on Tuesday and the rest of the week will be picked up on the normal scheduled day!

Mark your calendars! Our Electronics Recycling Event is Saturday, June 26, 2021. Check back for more details!!

Solid waste collection is a critical and essential job as part of the response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. You can help protect the health of the men and women who collect your trash and recycling during this vital time. The virus may survive for up to 24 hours on cardboard and two to three days on plastic*. With a few simple steps, you can protect sanitation workers by reducing the possibility they will come into contact with potentially contaminated items.

VISITING FACILITIES If your community still allows members of the public to drop-off waste or recyclables at a facility, please follow all safety policies and procedures required by that facility. These might include not paying with cash, keeping at least 6 feet of distance between you, other customers, and any employees, and unloading in the correct area to avoid requiring staff to handle discarded materials more than necessary. And of course, always follow all safety rules regarding speed limits, cell phone usage, and remaining near/in your vehicle.

Since 1967 Dallas Area Municipal Authority has been a natural resource for those who live and work in Dallas, Shavertown, Trucksville, and adjoining areas of our community.We provide vital services to residents and businesses, including on-lot and public septic, solid waste and recycling, as well as yard waste and composting.

Today, we serve more customers than ever before as the Back Mountain has grown in population and we have kept pace with our customers needs through enhanced services, state-of-the-art processes, and the highest level of customer service.

The Dallas Area Municipal Authority (DAMA) constructed, operates, and maintains the collection, conveyance, equalization and primary pumping station facilities that serve the charter member municipalities of Dallas Borough, Dallas Township, and Kingston Township.

Since the inception of DAMAs Solid waste and recycling program, As a community we have been able to divert almost fifty percent (50%) from the landfill and send it to Northeast Recycling Solutions to be recycled. Thank you for your support and keep up the great work.

Dallas Area Municipal Authority collects residents Recycling for Dallas Borough, Dallas Township, and Kingston Township. Dallas Area Municipal Authority also works together with Luzerne County and PADEP to continue growth and education for the Back Mountain.

Link:
Dallas Area Municipal Authority

The first thing any of us want to do when we encounter unpleasant household odors that wont go away with regular cleaning is to discover how to get rid of bad smells in the house. If your bathroom, kitchen, or laundry room continue to stink no matter how much you clean them, and youre asking yourself why does my house smell like sewage, you may be suffering from sewer odors!

Sewer odors can occur anyplace in your home with a drain or water line; sinks, showers, bathtubs, and yes, toilets, can all lead to a musty smell in the house or a sewer smell in the house.

Youll need to learn how to get rid of bad odors in the house if you ever hope to breathe with ease when you walk into the stinky room.

Instead of turning to chemical-laden air fresheners to mask the odors, look for ways to identify and repair the causes of sewer odors. Read on to discover how to get rid of bad smells in the house and leave your whole home smelling clean once again.

Strong sewage smells in the house may originate from several locations and then spread throughout your home, leaving it smelling like a septic system.

There are several common causes of these smells. Here are four areas in your home that sewer smells may be coming from and the reasons for the smells.

Sewer odors do more than just make you turn up your nose, however. They can be hazardous to your health. Depending on the type and severity of the sewer gas odors, they can cause illness and other problems.

tb1234

Home Sewer Odor Problems

tb1234

Although sewer smells in basements can be strong, you can easily miss these smells if you dont frequently use that part of the home. If you have a sewer smell in your basement, check these three areas first:

While it may seem surprising, sewer smells from shower drains are more common than those from toilets! There are two main culprits for sewer odors in shower drains, and only one is plumbing related.

tb1234

Simple Dirty Drain Cleaning Recipe

tb1234

Luckily, to eliminate biofilm, you just need to clean out your pipes. Using soap, hot water, and a brush, clean drains to the p-trap before rinsing with cold water, which should eliminate future odors.

Infrequently used shower drains most commonly cause sewer odors. Without frequent use, the water in the p-trap can evaporate; without water in the trap, there is nothing to keep sewer gasses from getting in.

Therefore make sure you keep your shower clean disinfected to prevent any smell or odors. This kind of odor typically improves after running the water for several minutes.

If your plumbing is not the problem, a dirty drain may be. Over time, biofilm builds up in our drains and pipes; this buildup can cause a sewer like odor, which worsens when you run water.

Instead of pushing the sewer gasses back down, the water flow disrupts the surface of the biofilm and causes even stronger smells to be released.

tb1234

Powerful DIY Drain Cleaner Recipe

tb1234

Pour a large pot of water (boiling) down the drain and then pour the baking soda into the water-filled drain. Let it sit awhile. End with two cups of white vinegar mixed with one cup of boiling hot water and let it sit for at least 20 minutes.

Flush the drain or toilet with more water. Find more powerful vinegar and baking soda based drain cleaner recipes and how to unclog a drain tips here.

Sidenote: The base ingredients for this natural drain cleaner are similar to homemade carpet cleaner recipes. Make sure you keep white vinegar and baking soda in mind when thinking about powerful home remedies for cleaning.

Sewer smells from toilets are often the worst in the house because they connect directly to a septic system. There are two main reasons why your toilet may be producing sewer odors.

The wax ring seal between the base of the toilet and the flange can become damaged over time. Furthermore, toilets that were installed imbalanced and rock are the most common cause.

A broken wax ring seal can let sewer gas up from the bottom of the toilet. Removing the toilet and replacing the wax ring should eliminate the odor; likewise, using shims can help level the toilet to prevent rocking from breaking the ring again.

Then, use caulk to protect the joint. Make sure you clean and disinfect the area with a strong homemade toilet cleaner.

While less likely, water in the toilet trap may also have evaporated, allowing sewer gas to seep up and into the room.

Infrequently used toilets, such as those in guest bedrooms or basements, are usually the culprit, but a long absence from the house, such as an extended vacation, may also be the problem. If you get home from a trip to discover a sewer odor in your bathroom, check levels in the water trap before calling a plumber.

Kitchen sinks and bathroom sinks alike can cause stinky sewer odors. Similar to both showers and toilets, a lack of water in the trap can cause sewer odors to come up through the sink drains.

Infrequently used sinks, such as those in basements, outbuildings, or wash basins, are most likely to develop these odors. If biofilm build up is the culprit of your sink sewer smell, removing and thoroughly cleaning the pieces may help eliminate unpleasant odors.

You can remove the pivot rod, pop up stopper, p-trap, and gooseneck from the sink and soak them in a mixture of warm water and bleach. After reassembling the parts, pour boiling water down the sink to completely remove any remaining biofilm residue.

>> Related: How to clean and seal kitchen countertops

If sewer odors have taken over your home, think twice before calling local plumbers. Heres how to get rid of bad smells in the house all by yourself. These DIY solutions can help eliminate sewer odors, without the expensive plumbing bill.

Vent openings are often above the main bathroom in the home. Clogged or blocked vents from leaves, debris, or dead animals can prevent sewer gasses from properly venting.

To keep sewer odors from coming back, consider adding preventative drain maintenance to your house cleaning checklist. Regularly cleaning out your drains can prevent biofilm from building up in the pipes. To avoid the use of harsh chemicals or disassembling pipes, use household items.

tb1234

Preventative Drain Cleaning Recipe

tb1234

Pour the vinegar, followed baking soda down a drain, allowing it to sit for two hours. When finished, flush the drain with hot water to wash away the loosened biofilm.

A vinegar, water, and baking soda solution can also be effective as a DIY air freshener spray. Adding a pleasant aroma from an essential oil like lemon or lavender makes it even better.

While its not likely youll have a sewer smell in your vehicle, for unpleasant odors you can also use this solution as a homemade car air freshener.

We hope youve now learned how to get rid of bad smells in the house. Identify and fix the source of the smell toget rid of pesky sewer gas smells for good!

In this article, you learned the answer to the question why does my house smell like sewage. You learned what can lead to a musty smell in the house and what can lead to a sewer smell in the house. Did I leave anything out? Let me know in the comments and use the buttons below to share on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest!

Read more from the original source:
How To Get Rid Of Sewer Smell In Your House - From ...

Greater Noida: A 21-year old working as a sanitation employee, working under a private contractor of the Greater Noida authority, was killed Thursday after stepping into a sewer to clean it.

According to officials, the victim, Krishna (identified by a single name), who lived in Gharbara village of Greater Noida, was sent inside a sewage line in Surajpur area allegedly without any gear or safety equipment.

When Krishna didnt respond for some time, a fire brigade was called to rescue him. A firefighter went down the sewer wearing breathing apparatus to retrieve the victim tied to a rope in a 40 minute-long operation. The victim was soon rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead, the police said.

The sewer was very narrow and about 30 to 40 feet deep and it took around 40 minutes for our personnel to rescue the unconscious man, who seemed to have some life in him at that time. The victim was wearing no gear or safety equipment; he was wearing only shorts and a vest. He was rushed to the nearest hospital. There are poisonous gases in the sewer that make it very unsafe to work without any gear; even our personnel had to wear breathing apparatus before going in, said Jitendra Kumar, fire station officer, Greater Noida.

The police later registered an FIR under Section 304 of the IPC against Neeraj Bhati, the authoritys contractor and Jai Prakash, the site incharge.

The victim was soon rushed to a hospital where he was declared brought dead. He must have suffocated as they are poisonous gases, especially in summers, down the gutter. He was sent down to clean their line manually to reinstate the flow without any safety equipment. We have registered an FIR against the private contractor and the site in charge, and are waiting for the post-mortem report, said Ajay Kumar, SHO, Surajpur.

Manual scavenging - that accounts for manually cleaning sewers, septic tanks and others - is banned under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.

Officials at the authority, meanwhile, said that they have ordered an enquiry into the matter.

We had earlier made it very clear that no worker would be sent down the pit without safety gear. We had also provided all protective gear and oxygen masks however, in this case, it seems the directions were violated. We have ordered an enquiry and it seems that a private contractor with the Greater Noida authority is responsible. The concerned official has filed an FIR. However, the act does not amount to manual scavenging, said Narendra Bhooshan, CEO, Greater Noida authority.

However, activists differed. This is a clear case of manual scavenging. An act that accounts to anyone manually cleaning sewer or septic tank that has human excreta in it accounts for manual scavenging and is prohibited, but unfortunately there is very less awareness on it and it continues across India, including in the national capital, said Bezwada Wilson, the national convener of Safai Karamchari Aandolan a human rights organisation campaigning for eradication of manual scavenging.

A total of 340 people had died due to cleaning sewers in the past five years till December 31, 2020 of which Uttar Pradesh, at 52, accounts for the highest number of deaths, Ramdas Athawale, the minister of state for social justice and empowerment, had informed the parliament in February 2021.

Originally posted here:
21-year-old sanitation worker dies while cleaning sewer in Greater Noida - Hindustan Times

Clean drinking water for Airway Heights, where the groundwater is contaminated with toxic chemicals: $21 million.

A sewer system for Malden, whose residents septic systems were destroyed along with their homes in last years devastating wildfire: $6 million.

Relocating Walla Walla Countys 911 dispatch and emergency operations center, which sits on a location vulnerable to both earthquakes and flooding: $2.75 million.

The return of congressional earmarks, a practice lawmakers banned a decade ago amid allegations of corruption and wasteful spending, could direct billions to local needs across the country.

But a split among Republicans means North Idaho wont see any of that money.

Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Dan Newhouse, whose districts cover Eastern and Central Washington, are among just over half of House Republicans who have submitted requests to direct federal funds to projects in their districts.

Proponents, including every House Democrat but one, say reforms will make the revamped process more transparent and prevent the wasteful spending on lawmakers pet projects that drove Congress to abandon the process.

Supporters say the process also gives individual lawmakers a say in how federal money is spent, helping to foster bipartisanship in an era of intense political division, and puts decision-making power in the hands of representatives who know their communities needs better than the White House and federal agencies.

Thats our fundamental responsibility as legislators, McMorris Rodgers said. I believe that as the representative for the 5th district, I should be able to submit projects for consideration that, in many cases, otherwise would not get consideration.

Critics like Rep. Russ Fulcher, a Republican who represents North Idaho, warn the return of earmarks could pave the way for frivolous federal spending, although the process lets lawmakers direct existing funds and does not increase federal spending.

These funds might be pre-approved on the first go-round, but the policy of earmarks will remain, Fulcher said. The bigger issue for me is the debt. Every single appropriation, every single bill that we sign off on, is an invoice to our grandkids.

The debt will come back and bite us. Its a matter of time. And I think the earmark program, overall, hurts more than it helps.

The new House earmark process, officially called community project funding in the Appropriations Committee and member designated projects in the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, lets each lawmaker request a portion of funds that would already be spent.

Were not talking about new dollars, Newhouse said. This is money that is appropriated, and we have a say in where it goes versus that faceless bureaucrat in some office that has likely never even heard of Yakima, Washington. Why should they be making those choices instead of us?

Not every request will be approved, and House Democrats have said the money available through the process will be capped at 1% of discretionary spending, the money Congress appropriates each year, separate from mandatory spending on programs like Social Security.

President Joe Biden requested $1.5 trillion in discretionary spending for fiscal year 2022. While Congress doesnt appropriate exactly what presidents ask for, Bidens request suggests about $15 billion could be allocated through earmarks.

Earmarks have been part of the federal budget process since the first Congress in 1789, but they gained notoriety after a string of scandals in the early 2000s, including a California Republican who famously drew up a bribe menu showing what it would cost to secure government contracts.

Earmarks went away because a small number of members of Congress abused them, said Kevin Kosar, a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank in Washington, D.C. Unfortunately, in the course of doing that, they kind of threw out the baby with the bathwater.

Wary of repeating those mistakes, House lawmakers made several changes to the process, including banning earmarks to for-profit companies and requiring members to certify they and their immediate families have no financial interest in the projects they request funding for.

There were some huge issues with how earmarks used to be run, said Newhouse, who serves on the Appropriations Committee and strongly objects to applying the baggage-laden term to the new process.

We tried to learn from the past and not put into place a system that would lend itself to some of the things that happened before.

Both committees also require lawmakers to post the details of all their requests on their websites, and all of the requests are listed in publicly available spreadsheets.

Kosar said the return of earmarks could especially benefit rural areas, which often lack the resources cities have to seek out other sources of federal funding.

Through the years I found that there were projects in communities, especially in the small towns and cities that I represent, (where) it was extremely difficult for them to get funding, McMorris Rodgers said.

Larger cities and counties, you would see that they were hiring the people that could help them, the grant writers or others that would advocate with the agencies on their behalf, she said. Versus a small town and Malden is a great example where they dont have the resources to be hiring those kinds of people.

Between the two committees, McMorris Rodgers requested a total of roughly $196 million and Newhouse requested $44 million.

In the Senate, which has to sign off on appropriations proposed by the House, Democrats have supported the return of earmarks, while Republicans are also divided.

In a statement, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said she is excited about the direction were heading in.

My job as senator is to fight for Washington state in the other Washington, Murray said, so I have always been supportive of making sure members of Congress have an opportunity to put funding for specific projects into appropriations bills that meet the needs of communities in their state.

Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, said in an interview he is open to the process, provided it is done appropriately, while his fellow Idaho Republican, Sen. Jim Risch, has said he opposes the return of earmarks.

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Don't call them 'earmarks,' but return of lawmaker-directed spending could send millions to Eastern Washington while North Idaho's Fulcher opts out -...