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SGA debates if phosphorous is not for us

Think you’re drinking clean water? Think again. The Student Government Association senate will be considering the Resolution to Maintain Water Quality to show support for Wisconsin Senate Bill 197. The SGA resolution, written by SGA President Katie Kloth and student Ellie Jackson, is aimed to bring awareness to this state legislation that was first introduced on May 31, 2007.

This state legislation looks to place restrictions on the retail sale and use of phosphorous in fertilizers. The bill does not apply to land use for agricultural production. Fertilizers containing phosphorous will be made available to those who need it.

“It’s been going on for awhile across the country,” said Kloth. ”People have been banning phosphorous in fertilizer; mainly this is geared towards people who live near bodies of water.”

According to the resolution, phosphorus in fertilizers contributes to the destruction and poisoning of water systems. A single pound of this fertilizer can stimulate algae growth up to over 500 pounds according to the Michigan Environmental Council. These algae blooms quickly become an abundance of algae blankets on the water surface blocking sunlight and oxygen for aquatic life and disrupting the ecosystem.

“Phosphorous is a naturally occurring element in nature, it’s in soils,” said Kloth. “What’s happening is that plants only use so much and the rest of the phosphorous runs off into nearby water bodies.”

Not only do the algae kill off aquatic life but they also pose a potentially lethal risk to other animals entering water where large algae blooms are. The Department of Natural Resources officials said that three dogs have died since September due to toxins released by algae when they die, giving the water a blue-green color. In 2002, a Cottage Grove teenager died after being exposed to the algae toxins in a pond he was swimming in on a golf course.

Twenty-two states already have bans or limitations in place on the use of phosphorous. Wisconsin counties Dane and Jefferson have implemented the practice as well as the cities of Oconomowoc, Pewaukee and Delafield.

“We think it’s something that needs to be done and we need to show our support for and maybe through this the city will consider it and hopefully the state,” said Jackson.

If the SGA resolution is passed it will be sent to state senator Julie Lassa and state assemblyman Louis Molepske Jr., to ask them for support. It will also be sent to the Stevens Point mayor, Andrew Halverson.

Kloth and Jackson see the ban as an economic way to save our waters from human induced pollution, thus keeping all that use this water healthier and safer.

“Tuition and budget issues are really important, but if we aren’t ensuring we have healthy water and air, and we’re getting sick, what we do in those other realms doesn’t matter,” said Kloth. “Before people can learn they need to be healthy.”

Some skepticism remains as to the route being taken through SGA. Some members of the SGA senate believe that there are much more relevant things for them to be focusing on that affect students directly.

“There are many other things the state legislature is working on which will have a much more direct impact on students,” said Senator Andrew Letson. “Maybe SGA should focus its time on those issues and allow organizations whose mission more reflects this issue to work on this issue.”

The UW-SP student chapter of the Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group is also working on the phosporous ban issue. Many current and previous members of WISPIRG are also members of SGA, including Kloth and Jackson.

“We think its common sense,” said Kloth, “being a green campus and with the eco-municipality initiatives of the city.”