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Point Source Water Pollution in the U.S. UK and Canada

Point Source Water Pollution in the U.S. UK and Canada. Rachel Warner-Moore Priscilla Lee Kanishka Singh. Point S ource W ater Pollution is Any Single I dentifiable S ource of Pollution. Oil Refineries Factory Discharge Sewage T reatment Plants

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Point Source Water Pollution in the U.S. UK and Canada

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  1. Point Source Water Pollution in the U.S. UK and Canada

    Rachel Warner-Moore Priscilla Lee Kanishka Singh
  2. Point Source Water Pollution is Any Single Identifiable Source of Pollution Oil Refineries Factory Discharge Sewage Treatment Plants Agriculture feedlot (>1000 animal units)
  3. Point Source Water Pollution is Threatening to Human Health
  4. Regulations Shifted from Treatment to Preventive Approach
  5. Regulations Shifted from Treatment to Preventive Approach When federal governments realized the water problem, federal regulations were passed. However, it was later discovered that state legislations were more enforceable. Upon investigation, a treatment approach was used to regulate water pollution. However, it was noted that a preventive approach would be the most effective solution.
  6. Separate Sanitary & Stormwater Sewer System
  7. Combined Sewer Systems
  8. Effluent Standards are Preferred Ambient standards vs Effluent standards
  9. History of Water Pollution Regulation in the US
  10. The Clean Water Act in the US The CWA made it unlawful to discharge any pollutant from a point source into navigable waters without obtaining a permit. The ultimate goal of CWA is water should be swimmable and fishable. The Clean Water Act enforces control requirements on point sources from major origins of discharge which is an example of the instrument Command and Control. National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits allocation with legal constraints attached.
  11. Structure of CWA Permit System
  12. How permits are allocated Point sources are provided pollution permits Or they can be purchased from non-point source sites If permits are violated, there can be civil penalties of up to $5,000.
  13. US – Federal vs State vs Sites Federal government oversees all standards States are designated different site standards based on cost and benefits, instead of uniform statewide regulations.
  14. History of Water Pollution Control in the UK Sanitation Provision 1850s – 1950s Pollution Control 1950s – 1990s Sustainable Development 1990s onwards
  15. History of Water Pollution Control in the UK 1388 – Legislation passed to make dumping animal waste and litter into rivers illegal 1876 – River Pollution Prevention Act Sanitary boards 1948 – River Boards Act created river boards with regulatory powers over water supply 1951 and 1961 – River (Prevention of Pollution) Acts created coherent system of water pollution control 1989 – Established National Rivers Authority as main regulatory body
  16. History of Water Pollution Control in the UK 1991 – Water Resources Act replaced 1989 Water Act and consolidates existing water laws 1995 – Environment Agency replaced National Rivers Authority as chief regulator for England and Wales 2003 – Water Act gives companies new responsibilities to conserve From 2012 – WA empowers EA to amend or revoke the licenses of water abstractors Historically, nuisance law has been the primary branch of common law to provide legal remedy
  17. Most pervasive water pollutants in the UK Oil and fuels Most reported pollutants in inland waters in the UK (EA) About 5,000 pollution incidents annually Radioactive substances Authorization permit must be obtained Stringent requirements Sewage Authorization permit must be obtained Regulation normally requires waste water to be treated Accounted for almost 25% of serious water incidents (EA- 2006) Fly-tipping In the most severe cases, 50,000 pound fine or 5 years jail
  18. Health Ramifications Heavy metals from industrial processes Slow development leading to Birth Defects Toxic compounds in Industrial Waste Immune suppression, reproductive failure, acute poisoning Organic matter and nutrients lead to rise in aerobic algae and hypoxia Microbial pollutants from sewage cause infectious diseases
  19. Permits Command and Control Method Polluter pays principle Permits issued through EA or local authority Discharge without permit punishable Types of Permits Standard Bespoke Tailored, but more expensive Single Site Permit Consolidated Permit
  20. Who needs a permit? Regulated facilities Installations and mobile plants carrying out industrial, waste and intensive agricultural activities Waste operations Water discharge or groundwater activities Radioactive substance activities Mining waste operations Exempt facilities Those discharging less than 2 cubic meters or less per day of sewage effluent
  21. Enforcement EA can pursue the following means: Enforcement notices/works notices Prohibition notices Where there is imminent risk of serious damage Suspension or revocation of permits Variation of permit conditions Injunctions Carrying out remedial works Recover full cost from those held liable Criminal sanctions, including prosecution Civil sanctions, including financial penalties
  22. Looking Forward: Water Framework Directive Requires at least a ‘good status’ for all surface waters and ground waters within defined river basin districts UK divided into 11 river basin districts Plans will be carried out between 2009-2012 What is a ‘good status’ ?
  23. History of Canada
  24. Water Pollutant Regulated Several investigation after action from EU Organotins PBS Open to public commentary
  25. Different Water Regulations in Canada use Different Instruments The Canada Water Act, 1985 which contains provisions for formal consultation and agreements with the provinces The Department of the Environment Act, which assigns the national leadership for water management to the Minister of the Environment Voluntary Ontario Environmental Farm Plan seem voluntary, incentive based
  26. State Legislative have a Higher Enforcement Power The Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) Regulates the discharge of toxic substances into water. Gives authority not enforcement British Columbia Standards for Managing Contamination
  27. British Columbia Standards for Managing Contamination Command and Control
  28. Enforcement
  29. Comparisons Across US UK Canada
  30. Thank you
  31. Tradable Permit Ratio Want to encourage more Point Source than Non-Point Source Between Point Source Water Pollution and Non-Point Source Water Pollution Optimal Ratio: 2-1 to 4-1
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