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Water Quality Focus Area US EPA Global Change Research Program

Water Quality Focus Area US EPA Global Change Research Program. BOSC Program Review September 26-28, 2005. Why Water Quality?. Research Gap Emphasis of Water Sector Report is supply, management

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Water Quality Focus Area US EPA Global Change Research Program

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  1. Water Quality Focus AreaUS EPA Global Change Research Program BOSC Program Review September 26-28, 2005

  2. Why Water Quality? • Research Gap • Emphasis of Water Sector Report is supply, management • “Key climatic variables, particularly precipitation and temperature, have a relationship to drinking-waterborne disease . . .” Health Sector Report, U.S. National Assessment

  3. Why Water Quality? • Supports EPA’s Mission • Safe Drinking Water Act • Clean Water Act • Opportunity to Contribute to CCSP • Most agencies focus on water quantity • NOAA • USGS • NASA • DOE • EPA has the lead for water quality and decision support in the CCSP water cycle working group

  4. Climate & Climate Variability * * * * * Land Use Choices Water Quality Climate Change and Water Quality • Climate Change will influence watershed hydrology • Pollutant and pathogen loading • Streamflow and receiving water quality • As climate changes, will we still be able to provide clean, safe water? • Water Quality Long Term Goal: • “Decision makers will use scientific information and decision tools to protect water quality by adapting to global change.”

  5. How We Select Our Projects Research Landscape Criteria • Fits EPA Mission • Costly, long term, irreversible decisions • Infrastructure decisions • Major rules • Alternative adaptation options • Sensitive to Climate Variability • Opportunities to inform decisions • Information needs of stakeholders • Other GCRP Focus Areas • EPA offices (OW, Regions, Smart Growth), • Municipal Water Departments • US Green Building Council

  6. DW WW Adaptation Planning and Projects Stakeholder Input Strategic Planning Drinking Water (2005) • SDWAA Violations • Microbial Pathogens • Coastal Water Systems (Sea Level Rise) Long-term Goal Insights Insights New Research and Assessment Needs APG Milestones 2006 2000 2005 2009 • Waste Water (2006) • Combined Sewer Systems • Wastewater Treatment • Future Directions (2009) • Demand Projections • Soft Infrastructure • Non-point Source Pollution • Riparian Buffers See the Water Overview Poster

  7. DW WW Adaptation Strategic Planning Drinking Water New Research and Assessment Needs • Assessed two possible effects of climate change on drinking water infrastructure: • Effectiveness of treatment systems as source water quality changes • Vulnerability of drinking water intakes to Sea level rise and saltwater intrusion (surface waters or ground water) • Expected Outcomes: • Investigations to date suggest that climate change will not affect the ability of communities to provide safe drinking water, provided we maintain infrastructure and protect source water quality. For more information, please see the Drinking Water Poster

  8. DW WW Adaptation Strategic Planning Wastewater New Research and Assessment Needs • Decreases in lowflow streamflow may alter the effects of wastewater treatment plant discharges on receiving waters. • Assessed possible need for Biochemical Oxygen Demand removal at Publicly Owned Treatment Works under two scenarios: • Changes in precipitation will also affect the demands placed on combined sewer systems. • Assessed whether CSO Control Plans based on historical weather patterns will be effective as climate changes • Expected Outcomes: • Partnerships with wastewater managers provide them with information and tools consider how to respond to possible climate change For more information, please see the Wastewater Poster

  9. DW WW Adaptation Strategic Planning Future Directions New Research and Assessment Needs Non-point sources of pollution are important considerations for source and receiving water quality Upcoming projects addressing non-point source pollution: • Estuarine pollutant loading as climate and land use change • Adaptation options to address urban runoff • Tools to assess the effectiveness of management options For more information, please see the Future Direction Poster

  10. Water Quality Posters • Overview • Drinking Water • Wastewater • Future Directions

  11. Water Quality Team • Britta Bierwagen • John Furlow • Chris Impellitteri • Tom Johnson • John Thomas

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