Freshwater and Society Module 1, part C

Developed by: Updated: U?-m1c-s2 Water quality degradation

Developed by: Updated: U?-m1c-s3  Beneficial uses:  Aquatic life and wildlife support  Fish/shellfish consumption  Drinking water supply  Recreation  Agriculture Water quality degradation

Developed by: Updated: U?-m1c-s4 Water quality designations  Fully supporting overall use  Threatened overall use  Partially supporting overall use  Not supporting overall use  Not attainable

Developed by: Updated: U?-m1c-s5  The Clean Water Act of 1972 established means by which states and tribal governments report assessed water quality to the EPA  Rivers  Lakes – not including Great Lakes  Estuaries  Great Lakes shoreline waters  Ocean shoreline waters  Coral reefs Water quality designations

Developed by: Updated: U?-m1c-s6 Causes of water quality degradation Rivers & Streams Lakes, Ponds & Reservoirs Estuaries PathogensNutrients Metals (primarily mercury) Siltation (Sedimentation) Metals (primarily mercury) Pesticides Habitat Alterations Siltation (Sedimentation) O 2 -depleting substances

Developed by: Updated: U?-m1c-s7 Sources of water quality degradation Rivers & Streams Lakes, Ponds & Reservoirs Estuaries Agriculture Municipal Point Sources Hydrologic Modifications Urban Runoff/ Storm Sewers Habitat Modifications Urban Runoff/ Storm Sewers Industrial discharges

Developed by: Updated: U?-m1c-s8  19% of total river miles in the U.S. assessed  39% of assessed miles identified as impaired Water quality degradation: Assessed river miles Source: Based on 2000 state Section 305(b) reports.

Developed by: Updated: U?-m1c-s9 Water quality degradation: River use support

Developed by: Updated: U?-m1c-s10  Percentage of assessed river miles impaired by leading pollutants or stressors:  (39% or 269,258 miles impaired) Water quality degradation: River stressors Source: Based on 2000 state Section 305(b) reports.

Developed by: Updated: U?-m1c-s11  Percentage of assessed river miles impaired by specific sources  (39% or 269,258 miles impaired) Water quality degradation: River pollutant sources Source: Based on 2000 state Section 305(b) reports.

Developed by: Updated: U?-m1c-s12  43% of lake acres assessed  45% of assessed acres identified as impaired Water quality degradation: Assessed lake acres Source: Based on 2000 state Section 305(b) reports.

Developed by: Updated: U?-m1c-s13 Water quality degradation: Lake use support Source: Based on 2000 state Section 305(b) reports.

Developed by: Updated: U?-m1c-s14  Percentage of assessed lake acres impaired by pollutants  (45% or 7.7 million acres impaired) Water quality degradation: Lake pollutants Source: Based on 2000 state Section 305(b) reports.

Developed by: Updated: U?-m1c-s15  Percentage of assessed lake acres impaired by specific sources  (45% or 7.7 million acres impaired) Water quality degradation: lake pollutant sources Source: Based on 2000 state Section 305(b) reports.

Developed by: Updated: U?-m1c-s16 Water quality: Assessments problems  Not all bodies of water are assessed  Only a small percentage per year  Supposedly all within a 5 to 10 year window

Developed by: Updated: U?-m1c-s17 Water quality: Assessments problems  Intermittent and small tributaries are either not assessed or are very infrequently measured  States tend to focus on known problems  Random surveys are rare  States have varying standards  Concentration on 2 of 6 use supports  Fish advisories not included

Developed by: Updated: U?-m1c-s18  What is it? Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/1994/ 102-9/focusnonpoint.JPG

Developed by: Updated: U?-m1c-s19 Nonpoint source pollution: What is it? ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/1994/ 102-9/focusnonpoint.JPG

Developed by: Updated: U?-m1c-s20 NPS pollution: Characteristics  Occurs over extensive areas  Enters receiving water in a diffuse manner  Carried by water over land or through soil profile to receiving water  Difficult to trace to point of origin  Magnitude related to climatic events

Developed by: Updated: U?-m1c-s21 NPS pollution: Sources of pollutants

Developed by: Updated: U?-m1c-s22 NPS pollution: Impact from leading stressors

Developed by: Updated: U?-m1c-s23 NPS pollution: Urban storm water  From streets, yards, buildings, and construction sites  Grease, salts, animal wastes, nutrients, sediments, lead, others akedata/lawnfertilizer/ studydesign.htm

Developed by: Updated: U?-m1c-s24 NPS pollution  Agricultural  Nutrients, sediment, pesticides, herbicides p/Graphics4/$file/spraying.gif

Developed by: Updated: U?-m1c-s25 NPS pollution  Forestry / Logging  Sediments  Pesticides logged es/connie200x150.jpg

Developed by: Updated: U?-m1c-s26 NPS pollution  Mining  Sediments  Drainage waters with low pH  Heavy metals and other hazardous mineral

Developed by: Updated: U?-m1c-s27 NPS pollution  Atmospheric deposition  Carbon dioxide - acid rain  Pesticides, herbicides  Sediment  Mercury, PCBs, others

Developed by: Updated: U?-m1c-s28 NPS pollution: Impacts on ecosystem  Impacts ecosystem integrity  Human health  Good water supply  Healthy fish and wildlife populations  Diverse recreational opportunities

Developed by: Updated: U?-m1c-s29  Types of effects  Eutrophication  Temperature increase  Loss of habitat for breading population  Loss of esthetic value NPS pollution: Effects on water quality

Developed by: Updated: U?-m1c-s30  What can be done to manage the problem? Nonpoint source pollution: NPS