More than $18 million in public and private spending likely will be required to clean up polluted storm water that runs off 39 million square feet — 900 acres — of roofs, driveways, parking lots and streets, Planning Director Juli Beth Hinds told the South Burlington, Vermont City Council recently.

“I cannot envision that we can accomplish this in less than 15 years and it probably will be 20," she said. "(The law) gives us until 2007.”

According to a report in the Burlington Free Press, Hinds said the city already has secured grants to pay for a number of public projects, and some of the costs will be borne by institutions like the University of Vermont.

In all, she said, South Burlington and its residents probably need to find $10 million to attack the challenge.

Source: BFP.com