Freshwater and Society

Freshwater and Society

Module 1, part C

Developed by: Updated: 8-2003 U?-m1c-s2

Water quality degradation

http://geo.arc.nasa.gov/sge/casa/california.html

http://lakeaccess.org/lakedata/lawnfertilizer/studydesign.htm

http://www.epa.gov/region09/features/animalwaste/images/fish.jpg

http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/pubs/vgl/medium/168.jpg


Beneficial uses: Aquatic life and wildlife support Fish/shellfish consumption Drinking water supply Recreation Agriculture

Water quality degradation

http://drinkingwater.utah.gov/


Water quality designations

Fully supporting overall use

Threatened overall use

Partially supporting overall use

Not supporting overall use

Not attainable

http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/glwqa/usdomestic/slide5.html


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

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/cta/ctasummary.html


Causes of water quality degradation

Rivers & StreamsLakes, Ponds &

ReservoirsEstuaries

Pathogens NutrientsMetals (primarily

mercury)

Siltation (Sedimentation)Metals (primarily

mercury)Pesticides

Habitat AlterationsSiltation

(Sedimentation)O2-depleting substances


Sources of water quality degradation

Rivers & StreamsLakes, Ponds &

ReservoirsEstuaries

Agriculture Agriculture Municipal Point Sources

Hydrologic Modifications

Hydrologic Modifications

Urban Runoff/Storm Sewers

Habitat ModificationsUrban Runoff/ Storm

SewersIndustrial discharges


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.


Water quality degradation: River use support


Percentage of assessed river miles impaired by leading pollutants or stressors: (39% or 269,258 miles impaired)

Water quality degradation: River stressors



Percentage of assessed river miles impaired by specific sources (39% or 269,258 miles impaired)

Water quality degradation: River pollutant sources



43% of lake acres assessed 45% of assessed acres identified as impaired

Water quality degradation: Assessed lake acres



Water quality degradation: Lake use support



Percentage of assessed lake acres impaired by pollutants (45% or 7.7 million acres impaired)

Water quality degradation: Lake pollutants



Percentage of assessed lake acres impaired by specific sources (45% or 7.7 million acres impaired)

Water quality degradation: lake pollutant sources



Water quality: Assessments problems

Not all bodies of water are assessed Only a small

percentage per yearSupposedly all within a 5 to 10 year window


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


What is it?

Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution

ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/1994/ 102-9/focusnonpoint.JPG


Nonpoint source pollution: What is it?

•ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/1994/ 102-9/focusnonpoint.JPG

ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/1994/ 102-9/focusnonpoint.JPG


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

http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/watersheds/green/img/Green-River-Flooding-1995.jpg


NPS pollution: Sources of pollutants


NPS pollution: Impact from leading stressors


NPS pollution: Urban storm water

From streets, yards, buildings, and construction sites

Grease, salts, animal wastes, nutrients, sediments, lead, others

http://www.lanl.gov/orgs/pa/News/ParkingClosed.jpg

http://www.planthealth.gov.mt/pest03.JPG

http://lakeaccess.org/lakedata/lawnfertilizer/studydesign.htm

http://www.mqtinfo.org/media/planningeduc/runoff_1.jpg


NPS pollution

Agricultural Nutrients, sediment, pesticides, herbicides

http://www.usda.gov/oc/photo/b93c3671.jpg

http://biology.usgs.gov/s+t/SNT/images/wu108f08.jpghttp://www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/biotechnology/Images/b94c3886.jpg

http://www.iird.vic.gov.au/Web/ORR/ORR.nsf/ImageLookup/Graphics4/$file/spraying.gif

http://pwa.ars.usda.gov/pendleton/cpcrc/snowmelt.gif


NPS pollution

Forestry / Logging Sediments Pesticides

http://www.em.gov.bc.ca/mining/Geolsurv/Surficial/landslid/plate3.jpg logged

http://www.nps.gov/jofl/resources/connie200x150.jpg


NPS pollution

Mining Sediments Drainage waters with

low pH Heavy metals and

other hazardous mineral

http://www.algor.com/news_pub/cust_app/Colorado_Mines/images%5Cosmre-gov-photo147.jpg


NPS pollution

Atmospheric deposition Carbon dioxide - acid rain Pesticides, herbicides Sediment Mercury, PCBs, others


NPS pollution: Impacts on ecosystem

Impacts ecosystem integrity

Human health Good water supply Healthy fish and

wildlife populations Diverse recreational

opportunities


Types of effects Eutrophication Temperature increase Loss of habitat for breading population Loss of esthetic value

NPS pollution: Effects on water quality

http://sacramento.fws.gov/hc/graphics/salmon_sac.jpg http://ks.water.usgs.gov/Kansas/pubs/reports/wrir.00-4177.cover.jpg


What can be done to manage the problem?

Nonpoint source pollution: NPS

Documents

Freshwater and Society