By Jack McHugh  Michigan voters will be asked on November 5 to
take on $1 billion in new debt to subsidize local projects
addressing “combined sewer overflows,” or CSOs. Many cities have
one set of sewers to transport both sewage and storm water
runoff. After a heavy rainfall treatment plants can’t handle the
massive influx of storm water, resulting in overflows that
discharge untreated sewage into lakes and streams. Solutions are
expensive – by some estimates Southeast Michigan alone would
have to spend up to $26 billion.  Before answering “yes” on the
ballot question, voters should ask a few questions of their own.
For example: Is spending billions on CSOs a cost effective way
to improve water quality?  CSOs are a highly visible source of
pollution - a ready target when rounding up “the usual suspects”
of beach closings due to high bacteria counts. But are they the
main culprit? Other sources include agricultural runoff, animal
wastes, failing residential septic systems, illegal discharges,
etc. Also, while