There used to be a time last summer when a day wouldn’t go by without hearing some joke about phosphorous-free dish detergent. Either people are starting to adjust, or since gas prices are so much lower, they aren’t vocally complaining about having to drive to Idaho for their phosphorous fix. At any rate, The Washington State Lake Protection Association (WALPA) recently sent out a press release urging residents of Spokane County to continue their efforts with phosphorus free dish detergent, and to help their brethren on the west side as the 2010 state-wide phosphorous ban gets closer.

WALPA President-elect Jacob McCann, a Spokane resident, acknowledges that while change can be inconvenient, there are local solutions to the dish dilemma. “We want Spokane County residents to know that there are products available in our local supermarkets that will work in your dishwasher. As with everything else, it’s a matter of finding the one that works best for you. Clean lakes and clean dishes do not have to be mutually exclusive.” So while the WALPA continues to urge us east-siders to, “get the P out”, it is important to take notice to their request to help steer responsible consumer habits for others in this area and for people on the west side who will be dealing with these same issues when the ban is scheduled to go statewide in July of 2010. So do as DTE did and visit the WALPA site to fill out their neighbor survey for Spokane County.

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