U.S. Water News Online
ROGERS, Ark. -- Complaints from Oklahoma and ensuing efforts by Northwest Arkansas' growing cities to limit phosphorus discharge from their sewer systems have led to a cleaner Illinois River, a study shows.
The Arkansas Water Resource Center tested the water of the Illinois, which starts near Fayetteville and flows into northeast Oklahoma.
Oklahoma authorities have complained the urbanization of Northwest Arkansas and the high number of poultry plants in the area were polluting the river. Oklahoma designated the Illinois as a scenic river, requiring that it contain less than 0.037 ppm phosphorus.
Marc Nelson of the Arkansas Water Resource Center says phosphorus levels from cities' sewer sludge dipped to 0.16 parts per million in 2003, well below the several parts per million registered in many cities in 2002.
Springdale improved its discharge the most, falling from a base-flow rate of 7.5 parts per million to 1.5 parts per million.
The cities of Fayetteville, Rogers, Springdale and Prairie Grove agreed to curtail phosphorus in what they could control -- sewer discharge -- to 1 part per million. Oklahoma accepted that deal late last year.
Oklahoma was not able to reach an agreement with poultry farmers to control runoff of phosphorus rich poultry litter. Arkansas has taken steps to limit that source of pollution, however, with new rules governing how farmers handle poultry litter.
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