As nutrient restrictions get stricter, notably for phosphorus, clean-water agencies are looking upstream. Adaptive management regimes in states like Wisconsin allow agencies to control phosphorus not just at the treatment plant but through better management of runoff into waterways.
In this respect, clean-water agencies become like local fire inspectors, visiting properties and looking for preventive measures. Just as it’s better to prevent a fire than to have to put it out, it’s better to prevent pollution than to remove it at the treatment plant.
At NEW Water in Green Bay, Wis., Brian Vander Loop, field services manager, is preparing his team for
