Cats learn to use a litter box. Dogs can be house broken, and we potty train our children. So why would the state of Viriginia basically allow big business to take a poop in our drinking water? If you pulled your drinking water from a pond at the bottom of a hill, would you build yoru outhouse on the slope above it?

Virginia must take steps to better regulate the application of products such as biosludge. Maybe a first step is to call it what it really is: processed poop.

Please consider regulations that prohibit the application of these products in the flood plain, near places where people live or chilren play or go to school, or in areas that could contaminate drinking water.

It's depressing to drive to a beautiful rural spot on the Rapidan River on RT522, prepare to put in my kayak to fish, only to see signs along the field by the highway and river publicizing the use of biosludge on land that floods every year. I couldn't help but wonder that day I fished what exactly was IN the water along with the smallmouth bass I love to chase and guide other fishermen to.

Ecotourism is a large business in Virginia. Some of my clients come to areas I fish because of the beauty, and the relatively clean water that flows through these streams. If Virginia gains a reputation for deliberately allowing biosludge or other unsavory sounding products to filter into our rivers, the message will damage our economy as people choose to travel to other destinations to fish, costing us sales tax revenue and restaraunts and hotels income.

Regulate the use of these substances to protect our water ways from the harmful impacts of the increased nitrogen and phosphorus load caused by unoff after rainfall on treated properties. I have no desire to fish and swim in a river filled with this crap after our sewage treatment plants have worked so hard to remove it from their discharge. I hope the cats and dogs live together in peace before Virginia will allow these practices to continue.