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Water Quality

Water Quality. Standards, Regulations, & Policies. National Recommended Water Quality Criteria. EPA Identifies the pollutant & recommends concentrations for freshwater, saltwater, & human consumption (fish & shellfish) Used by states 158 chemicals & substances

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Water Quality

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  1. Water Quality Standards, Regulations, & Policies

  2. National Recommended Water Quality Criteria • EPA • Identifies the pollutant & recommends concentrations for freshwater, saltwater, & human consumption (fish & shellfish) • Used by states • 158 chemicals & substances • Nutrients, hardness (measure of dissolved Ca & Mg salts), & pH

  3. National Recommended Water Quality Criteria • Criteria Maximum Concentration (CMC) • Highest single concentration beyond which environmental impacts may be expected. • Criterion Continuous Concentration (CCC) • Highest sustained concentration beyond which undesirable impacts may be expected

  4. Drinking Water Standards & Health Advisories • EPA • Covering about 90 contaminants • Enforceable under the authority of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) • Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs)

  5. Applications of the Water Quality Criteria • National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) • Issues permits that regulates point source pollution • Wastewater treatment plants • Industrial sources • NJPDES

  6. Applications of the Water Quality Criteria • Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) • Evaluates all sources of pollution entering a body of water • Point and non-point sources • Determines the water body’s ability to assimilate the pollutant

  7. Are we meeting the recommended water quality standards? • Over 20,000 rivers, lakes & estuaries • 44% of US waters

  8. What are the major pollutants? • Sediments • Excess nutrients • Pathogens • Toxic substances

  9. Are we meeting the drinking water standards? • 94% of the US

  10. Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1972 • EPA has jurisdiction over all point source discharges of pollutants • Required permits • Provided money to build treatment plants for secondary treatment of sewage

  11. Clean Water Act (CWA) 1987 Amendments • Established the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) • Revolving loan fund • Local govts borrow at low interest rates • Repay loans • Funds received are used for more loans • Build treatment plants • Control non-point source pollution

  12. What is the US’s #1 water pollution problem? • Non-point source pollution

  13. Other Significant Issues • Storm water discharges • Combined & separate sewer overflows • Wetlands protection • Animal feeding operations • Refer to Table 17-3 on page 487 for other water legislation

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