Many local governments are concerned about how to pay for cleaning up water polluted by summer flooding.
The rising waters overwhelmed systems that were set up to prevent pollution from run-off, and now many communities are facing expensive clean-up costs. Rich Eggleston with the Wisconsin Alliance of Cities expects the price tag to keep rising, with Southern Wisconsin and the Fox Valley already approaching a $600 million bill.
Eggleston says federal money will only go so far, so recovery efforts need to be efficient. He says that's why local governments should be allowed to work together. Eggleston says tainted water doesn't stay confined to a municipality, and the costs can't either.
However, some state laws may need to be re-written to allow for that cooperation. Eggleston says the DNR needs to craft rules that allow municipalities to work together to do clean up at the lowest possible cost.
The Wisconsin Alliance of Cities is hosting a conference in Manitowoc later this month that's focused on achieving clean water goals in a cost effective manner.
