Wrangell Sentinel -

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing more stringent limits on the bacteria level in water that the Haines wastewater treatment plant releases into Lynn Canal.

Wrangell faces a similar requirement to reduce the bacteria count in its wastewater discharge. A cost estimate this past spring put the price at $12.5 million to add equipment and upgrade the Wrangell facility to disinfect the treatment plant’s outflow.

A section of the Federal Clean Water Act allows waivers for wastewater treatment plants to operate with a lower level of treatment, avoiding expensive operations while di...