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Phosphate control needed

Sat., May 16, 2009

The Spokesman-Review

Did you know that the Spokane River at one time was one of the top 10 endangered rivers in the country?

To help clean up the river, the Legislature made it mandatory that cleaning products in Spokane County be phosphate-free. Since passing that law, the wastewater that went to the treatment plant lowered its phosphate content by 14 percent.

But what I heard a few weeks ago made me angry. Since that law went into effect, many people from Spokane have still been driving 45 minutes to Idaho, where phosphate detergents are still sold. If people are going to Idaho, they are defeating the purpose of the law.

Before we know it, we will have a dirtier Spokane River.

Sue Orlowski

Spokane

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