Clean Water In the News

BANGOR (NEWS CENTER) -- It's been 35 years since Senator Ed Muskie pushed to get the Clean Water Act passed through congress. But one environmental group says more still needs to be done to stop businesses in Maine from over-polluting state waters.

 

According to a new report from Environment Maine, companies and communities across the state are dumping more pollution into the water than their legal limit. The pollutants include mercury, lead, and human waste.

Environmental advocates say the people of Maine should be outraged.

"It's the job of our government to protect our waterways. Facilities across Maine and in the country are polluting above the law, and they should definitely be outraged that 80% of facilities in Maine have polluted in excess of the law's permits more than once," said Kristin Elia from Environment Maine.

Environment Maine says proposed federal legislation, known as the Clean Water Restoration Act, would go a long way to hold polluters more accountable. The group is urging Representative Mike Michaud to sponsor the bill.