Dear Source:
Kudos to Terry Conklin for his recent item in The Source.
I am writing from a point just beneath the continental divide in Colorado at 8,000 feet, where literally everyone else lives "downstream."
I have been watching the ongoing struggle for the use of appropriate wastewater management in St, Croix for some time. I myself have experienced the institutional intertia you closed minds you are struggling with on previous visits there to the island over the last 8-10 years.
It is truly sad that, even when faced with the direct 'cause and effect' of an island 'water cycle', local authorities still cannot manage to grasp the profound benefits of wetland treatment–benefits that seem obvious to even grade school children of today.
I have personally installed over 35 wetland treatment systems in the Cold Climates of Colorado, some at 10,000 feet above sea level!! I have been personally involved in educating regulators across the United States, in Mexico, Hungary, Canada. Unfortunately, regardless of culture, bureaucrats are consistently, and irresponsibly closed minded.
Sustainable resource management methods such as wetland treatment ARE NOT EXPERIMENTAL! Instead, they proven, reliable, effective and economical alternatives for wastewater management, particularly for small communities. This undeniable fact is clearly demonstrated in current EPA design manuals that were developed specifically to help educate environmental professionals.
I strongly encourage everyone interested in the subject to get informed! After all, its YOUR WATER!!! Check out the National Environmental Services Center, and their quarterly publication: Small Flows Quarterly Journal. This service was created specifically to help individuals and smaller communites make intelligent decisions on sewage issues. Most importantly, NESC subscriptions are completely FREE! You can find links to this and many other interesting FREE wetland treatment information on line, or simply use direct links at my website: www.justwetlands.com.
Keep up the good work down there! Patient education is the key. When the people lead, the leaders will follow!
WETLANDS—the future of St. Croix.
John Grove
Buena Vista, Colorado
