Not sustainable--the construction industry in Madison

.

Recently, the American Lung Association named Madison as one of the most polluted cities in the nation from particle pollution--dust and smoke.

There's construction all over downtown Madison.  Dust is being tracked onto streets every day, and is being blown out of construction sites on windy days.

Covering sources of dust

Findorff site before covering, & after. Click to enlarge.

Contractors--one cause of bad air in Dane County

.

Dust lofting from Findorff* site in downtown Madison.
Note concrete waste, right center.

The American Lung Association gave the Madison area** a failing grade for particle pollution in the air.  That's right, an "F."

Originally reported on WISC-TV, I decided to delve a little deeper.  It was hard to believe that little old Madison, the city of blue lakes, could be so polluted.

But it's true.  Here's what I found.

Cattell dumps concrete waste to storm sewer

Concrete wastewater is extremely alkaline.  It can cause fish kills upon reaching lakes or streams.

While concrete waste is tightly regulated in some countries, it receives little attention in Wisconsin.  Nevertheless, discharging concrete wastewater into the storm sewers is illegal in Madison.

On June 3, white stains from concrete work by Raymond P. Cattell, Inc., were observed running down the gutter towards a sewer opening near Frances St.