1. Defining Water Quality: The U.S. Clean Water Act Chapter 14 © 2004 Thomson Learning/South-Western

2. 2 Understanding Water Resources for Policy Development Identifying Water Resources and Their Interdependence  Surface water – bodies of water open to the earth’s atmosphere as well as springs, wells, or other collectors directly influenced by surface water  Ground water – fresh water beneath the earth’s surface, generally in aquifers Hydrologic cycle – the natural movement of water from the atmosphere to the surface, beneath the ground and back into the atmosphere

3. 3 Understanding Water Resources for Policy Development Targeting Water Quality Policy  Point Source – any single identifiable source of pollution from which pollutants are released, such as a factory smokestack, a pipe, or a ship  Nonpoint Source – a source of pollution that cannot be identified accurately and degrades the environment in a diffuse, indirect way over a relatively broad area

4. 4 Understanding Water Resources for Policy Development Setting the Policy Agenda  Water quality is important not only to protect human health but also to protect the ecology and to ensure that all uses of water are maintained

5. 5 Water Quality Legislation in the United States: Overview Early U.S. Water Quality Laws  Rivers and Harbor Act of 1899  Water Pollution Control Act of 1948

6. 6 Water Quality Legislation in the United States: Overview Evolving Toward Today’s Policy Position  Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA)  Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA)  Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1977  Water Quality Act of 1987

7. 7 Policy Objectives Under the Clean Water Act (CWA) Zero Discharge Goal – a U.S. objective calling for the elimination of all polluting effluents into navigable waters Fishable-Swimmable Goal – an interim U.S. objective requiring that surface waters be capable of supporting recreational activities and the propagation of fish and wildlife No Toxics in Toxic Amounts – a U.S. goal prohibiting the release of toxic substances in toxic amounts into all water resources

8. 8 Policy Objectives Under the Clean Water Act (CWA) Identifying Pollutants Under the Clean Water Act  Toxic pollutant – a contaminant which upon exposure, will cause death, disease abnormalities, or physiological malfunctions  Conventional pollutant – an identified pollutant that is well understood by scientists  Nonconventional pollutant – a default category for pollutants not identified as toxic or conventional

9. 9 Defining Water Quality: Standard-Setting Under the Clean Water Act Receiving water quality standards – state-established standards defined by use designation and water quality criteria Use Designation - a component of receiving water quality standards that identifies the intended purposes of a water body

10. 10 Defining Water Quality: Standard-Setting Under the Clean Water Act Use-Support Status – a classification of a water body based on a state’s assessment of its present condition relative to what is needed to maintain its designated uses Water Quality Criteria – a component of receiving water quality standards that gives the biological and chemical attributes necessary to sustain or achieve designated uses

11. 11 Analysis of Receiving Water Quality Standards Absence of Benefit-Cost Analysis in Setting the Standards  Even in states’ reports to the EPA on use-support status, benefit-cost assessment is not being done, even though the law calls for such an analysis

12. 12 Analysis of Receiving Water Quality Standards Lack of Consistency with the Technology- Based Effluent Limitations  The link between the water quality standards and the effluent limitations is blurred because each is motivated differently Standards are motivated by water usage The effluent limits are motivated by technology

13. 13 Benefit-Cost Analysis of U.S. Water Quality Control Policy Benefit-Cost Analysis of the FWPCA of 1972  Estimating the Benefits of the FWPCA of 1972  Estimating the Costs of the FWPCA of 1972  Benefit-Cost Comparison

14. 14 Benefit-Cost Analysis of U.S. Water Quality Control Policy Figure 14.2(a) Benefit-Cost Analysis of the U.S. FWPCA of 1972, as of 1985

15. 15 Benefit-Cost Analysis of U.S. Water Quality Control Policy Figure 14.2(b) Benefit-Cost Analysis of the U.S. FWPCA of 1972, as of 1985

16. 16 Benefit-Cost Analysis of U.S. Water Quality Control Policy Advances in Benefit-Cost Analysis of U.S. Water Quality Policy  Updated Benefit Estimate of U.S. Water Quality Controls Contingent valuation method (CVM) can capture existence value as well as user value of environmental resources  Comparable Costs of U.S. Water Quality Controls  Updated Benefit-Cost Comparison for U.S. Water Control Policies

17. 17 Benefit-Cost Analysis of U.S. Water Quality Control Policy Figure 14.3 Benefit-Cost Analysis of U.S. Post-1972 Water Quality Policy: Total Social Benefits and Total Social Costs

18. 18 Benefit-Cost Analysis of U.S. Water Quality Control Policy Figure 14.4 Benefit-Cost Analysis of U.S. Water Control Policy for 1985-1990: Marginal Social Cost and Marginal Social Benefit