Regulations can build public confidence

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This Cape Gazette Editorial is chock a block with common-sense.
A reference in the Sept. 22 edition of the Cape Gazette stood out because of its unusual nature. An article discussed the experience level of a California contractor hired by Rehoboth Beach for its treated wastewater outfall project. The reference came in a discussion about the potential perception problem created by dumping treated effluent in ocean waters. A municipal employee for a California water district talked about an ocean outfall built to discharge extra-salty water left over from a reverse osmosis process that removes salt from seawater. The process provides fresh water for a parched region. People there were concerned that the effluent would make kids sick or harm marine animals. "Mulligan said the perception was ... mitigated by public confidence in California's regulatory climate, which is very strict."