Joe Halloran: Pay more to ensure clean water

Thank you for your Sept. 6 editorial “Hog waste hogwash.” However, I think it is misleading to continue to use the term “lagoon” when referring to the open pits of raw sewage generated by the thousands of pigs in these concentrated industrial operations.

In addition to the “education” lottery, the N.C. legislature is playing the “hog waste” lottery with state residents and the future of fresh clean water. Another one-two punch from hurricanes, similar to what was experienced with Dennis and Floyd, and the hog waste gamble will be lost with open sewage pits overflowing irretrievably into creeks, streams and rivers dumping into our coastal sounds.

As you stated, “more effective waste disposal methods” do exist. Paying a bit more for pork is a small price to pay to ensure clean water, air and the health of residents forced to live in proximity to open sewage pits.

This story was originally published September 12, 2015 at 1:56 PM with the headline "Joe Halloran: Pay more to ensure clean water."