Higher water quality standards for river segment

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The Environmental Protection Agency has directed the state of Missouri to raise water quality standards for a 28-mile segment of the Mississippi River at St. Louis.

The new standards will require the stretch of river from North Riverfront Park to the mouth of the Meramec to be clean enough for swimming, fishing and other recreational activities.

EPA regional spokesman Art Spratlin tells KWMU that the change will classify the entire length of the Mississippi River, from the Iowa border to the confluence with the Ohio (River), to the same highest use for recreation.

A spokesman for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources says the Nixon administration will work with the Metropolitan Sewer District and the EPA to make sure the new water quality standards are met.

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Information from: KWMU-FM, http://www.kwmu.org  

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