Towns Say New Storm Water Pollution Regulations Could Raise Costs, Taxes

Towns and Connecticut environmental officials are battling over new rules intended to keep pollutants out of storm water that end up in rivers, streams and Long Island Sound.

Towns say the rules would drive up costs and property taxes.

But the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection says it's critical to keep pollutants such as nitrogen and phosphorous out of streams and rivers.

Last week, the state announced revisions in a compromise attempt. Street sweeping and catch basin cleaning requirements, for example, were shifted from a prescribed schedule to one that allows municipalities flexibility to determine a schedule based on inspection observations.

The legal director at the Connecticut Fund for the Environment says one solution is to give municipalities authority to issue bonds or assess fees to avoid raising taxes.