San Diego contractors say it's getting even more expensive to build because of tougher water-quality standards. The regional water-quality board is forcing cities and builders to reduce runoff pollution. KPBS Radio's Andrew Phelps reports.
Whenever it rains, all those oils and chemicals on construction sites have to go somewhere. All too often the toxins end up in the ocean. San Diego's Regional Water Quality Control Board says contractors must do more to keep that waste on construction sites. Now builders have to incorporate special design features that would let rain soak into the ground rather than run into storm drains. Brad Barnum represents local contractors. He says the new rules will add thousands to the cost of new buildings.
Barnum: The contractor that builds a high school, for instance, the current stormwater regulations for one new high school costs $180,000 preparing for rainstorms and all that. And that's fine, they have to do that, but there's a cost to it.
Water-quality advocates are also unhappy. They say the measures don't go far enough to stop pollution. For KPBS, I'm Andrew Phelps.
