WATER CONSERVATION & WATER CONSERVATION & IMPORTANT LAWSIMPORTANT LAWS

Agricultural ConservationAgricultural Conservation* * agriculture is biggest user & polluter of wateragriculture is biggest user & polluter of water

No-till farming: Retain crop residue- slows No-till farming: Retain crop residue- slows waterwater

Minimize plowing & forest cutting on steep Minimize plowing & forest cutting on steep slopes- use terracingslopes- use terracing

Conserve wetlands- reduces flooding & Conserve wetlands- reduces flooding & retains aquifer recharge zonesretains aquifer recharge zones

Genetic engineering- drought resistant cropsGenetic engineering- drought resistant crops

Domestic ConservationDomestic Conservation

Largest domestic use is Largest domestic use is toilet flushing.toilet flushing.– Before 1982: 5-7 gal/flushBefore 1982: 5-7 gal/flush– 1982-1993: 3.5 gal/flush1982-1993: 3.5 gal/flush– After 1993: 1.6 gal/flushAfter 1993: 1.6 gal/flush

Some people say… If it’s Some people say… If it’s yellow let it mellow, if it’s yellow let it mellow, if it’s brown flush it down.brown flush it down.

What the heck is a What the heck is a waterless toilet?waterless toilet?– Toilet & kitchen waste drop Toilet & kitchen waste drop

into a digester with bacteria into a digester with bacteria that compost wastes to be that compost wastes to be used as yard fertilizerused as yard fertilizer Clivus Multrum model of

waterless toilet

Domestic ConservationDomestic Conservation(inside)(inside)

Check for leaks around Check for leaks around pipespipes

Low flow showerheads; Low flow showerheads; take shorter showerstake shorter showers

Turn water off when Turn water off when washing hands, dishes, or washing hands, dishes, or brushing teethbrushing teeth

Efficient dishwashers & Efficient dishwashers & washing machineswashing machines

Wash full loadsWash full loads Collect grey water from Collect grey water from

bathtub to flush toilets or bathtub to flush toilets or fill washing machine.fill washing machine.

Domestic ConservationDomestic Conservation(outside)(outside)

Use gray water (recycled water) Use gray water (recycled water) for watering lawns, washing for watering lawns, washing cars, etc.cars, etc.

Use rain barrels to catch rain Use rain barrels to catch rain runoff to use in gardens in times runoff to use in gardens in times of droughtof drought

Native plant landscaping- native Native plant landscaping- native plants are better able to handle plants are better able to handle their natural environmenttheir natural environment

Xerophyte Landscaping- plants Xerophyte Landscaping- plants that don’t require much water that don’t require much water (cacti, aloe, prairie grasses)(cacti, aloe, prairie grasses)

Industrial ConservationIndustrial Conservation

RECYCLERECYCLE Recycling things like paper Recycling things like paper

& aluminum consumes less & aluminum consumes less water than primary water than primary manufacturing process.manufacturing process.

Don’t buy or use materials Don’t buy or use materials that contain harmful that contain harmful chemicals.chemicals.

Support companies that Support companies that reuse water (car washes reuse water (car washes that recycle water)that recycle water)

Reduce energy Reduce energy consumptionconsumption

WATER LAWSWATER LAWS

All laws in All laws in yellowyellow are most are most important for you to know…important for you to know…

Water Rights LawsWater Rights LawsHistorically…Historically…

Water policies worked against conservation…Water policies worked against conservation…

Riparian rights- those who lived along a river bank had right to use Riparian rights- those who lived along a river bank had right to use as much water as they wanted as long as it didn’t interfere with as much water as they wanted as long as it didn’t interfere with quality or supply to neighbors downstreamquality or supply to neighbors downstream– Mostly Eastern U.S.Mostly Eastern U.S.– Assumed water was endlessAssumed water was endless

Prior appropriation rights- “1Prior appropriation rights- “1stst come, 1 come, 1stst served”; people served”; people downstream have more rights to the water if they have been there downstream have more rights to the water if they have been there longer.longer.– Mostly Western U.S.Mostly Western U.S.– Water had to be put to beneficial use or they would lose it. Many water Water had to be put to beneficial use or they would lose it. Many water

owners were reluctant to conserve water for fear of losing rights.owners were reluctant to conserve water for fear of losing rights.

Federal Water Pollution Control Act Federal Water Pollution Control Act (1948)(1948)

Created comprehensive programs for Created comprehensive programs for eliminating or reducing the pollution of eliminating or reducing the pollution of interstate water and improving the sanitary interstate water and improving the sanitary condition of surface and underground water condition of surface and underground water suppliessupplies

Reauthorized & amended in 1972 and Reauthorized & amended in 1972 and became known as became known as Clean Water ActClean Water Act

General law that indicated something should General law that indicated something should be done to protect waterbe done to protect water

Water Quality Act (1965)Water Quality Act (1965)

Established water purity standards with Established water purity standards with states retaining initial responsibility for water states retaining initial responsibility for water purity.purity.

Amended in 1987Amended in 1987

Clean Water Act (1972)Clean Water Act (1972)

Determined to “restore & maintain the chemical, physical, Determined to “restore & maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation’s waters”and biological integrity of the Nation’s waters”

Gave EPA authority to implement pollution control Gave EPA authority to implement pollution control programs like setting wastewater discharge standards for programs like setting wastewater discharge standards for industryindustry

Continued water quality standards (see previous law)Continued water quality standards (see previous law) Est. National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Est. National Pollution Discharge Elimination System

(NPDES) which made it unlawful to discharge from a point (NPDES) which made it unlawful to discharge from a point source unless had a permit from EPAsource unless had a permit from EPA– Must disclose what they are dumpingMust disclose what they are dumping

Grant programs to identify & clean up nonpoint source Grant programs to identify & clean up nonpoint source pollutionpollution

Grant programs to fund sewage treatment plants.Grant programs to fund sewage treatment plants.

Clean Water Act (1972)Clean Water Act (1972)

Section 404Section 404– Regulates draining or filling Regulates draining or filling

of wetlandof wetland– Farmers and land Farmers and land

developers especially do not developers especially do not like this part of the law b/c it like this part of the law b/c it dictates how they use their dictates how they use their land.land.

– Mitigation-Mitigation- if wetland must if wetland must be destroyed, a new one be destroyed, a new one must be re-created must be re-created somewhere elsesomewhere else

Clean Water Act (1972)Clean Water Act (1972)

Est. Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL’s)Est. Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL’s)– Set for each pollutantSet for each pollutant– Amount of a particular pollutant that a water Amount of a particular pollutant that a water

body can receive from point and non-point body can receive from point and non-point sources.sources.

– Takes into account seasonal variationTakes into account seasonal variation– Of the 3.5 million miles of rivers, only 300,000 Of the 3.5 million miles of rivers, only 300,000

fail to meet their clean water goals.fail to meet their clean water goals.

Clean Water Act (1972)Clean Water Act (1972)

Goal was to make US surface waters “fishable & Goal was to make US surface waters “fishable & swimmable”swimmable”

Have not reached that goal but have made most Have not reached that goal but have made most waters “boatable”- water quality doesn’t have to be waters “boatable”- water quality doesn’t have to be that high to be boatable.that high to be boatable.

Many fish in surface waters are making a come Many fish in surface waters are making a come back but many are still contaminated with heavy back but many are still contaminated with heavy metals; heavy metal contaminants are still in metals; heavy metal contaminants are still in sediment in soil so are still a problem. Don’t sediment in soil so are still a problem. Don’t dissolve in waterdissolve in water

Most people live within 10 miles of an impaired Most people live within 10 miles of an impaired body of water.body of water.

Great Lakes Water Quality Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (1972)Agreement (1972)

Most important Most important international agreement on international agreement on water qualitywater quality

Expresses the Expresses the commitment of Canada commitment of Canada and the U.S. to restore and and the U.S. to restore and maintain the chemical, maintain the chemical, physical and biological physical and biological integrity of the Great Lakes integrity of the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem Basin Ecosystem

Lake Erie Success StoryLake Erie Success Story

Labeled as “dead” in Labeled as “dead” in 1960’s1960’s

Now, bacteria counts & Now, bacteria counts & algal blooms are down by algal blooms are down by 90%90%

Murky brown water now Murky brown water now clear thanks to introduced clear thanks to introduced zebra mussels which filter zebra mussels which filter water.water.

96% of shoreline safe for 96% of shoreline safe for swimmingswimming

In 1970’s only 100 pairs of In 1970’s only 100 pairs of nesting cormorants- now nesting cormorants- now 400,000 pairs400,000 pairs

Safe Drinking Water Act (1974)Safe Drinking Water Act (1974)

Est. standards for safe Est. standards for safe drinking water in the U.S.drinking water in the U.S.

Est. Maximum Est. Maximum Contaminant Levels Contaminant Levels (MCL’s) for chemicals in (MCL’s) for chemicals in drinking waterdrinking water

Among contaminants Among contaminants regulated:regulated:– Bacteria, nitrates, arsenic, Bacteria, nitrates, arsenic,

barium, cadmium, barium, cadmium, chromium, fluoride, lead, chromium, fluoride, lead, mercury, silver, pesticides, mercury, silver, pesticides, radioactivity, turbidityradioactivity, turbidity

Marine Protection Research & Marine Protection Research & Sanctuaries Act (1972)Sanctuaries Act (1972)

Regulates ocean dumping and established Regulates ocean dumping and established sanctuaries for protection of endangered sanctuaries for protection of endangered marine speciesmarine species

Ports of Waterways Safety Act Ports of Waterways Safety Act (1972)(1972)

Regulates oil transport Regulates oil transport and the operation of oil and the operation of oil handling facilities.handling facilities.

Ocean Dumping Ban Act (1988)Ocean Dumping Ban Act (1988)

Unlawful for any person to dump or Unlawful for any person to dump or transport for the purpose of dumping transport for the purpose of dumping sewage, sludge, or industrial waste into the sewage, sludge, or industrial waste into the ocean.ocean.

Oil Spill Prevention and Liability Act Oil Spill Prevention and Liability Act (1990)(1990)

Strengthened the EPA’s ability to prevent Strengthened the EPA’s ability to prevent and respond to catastrophic oil spills.and respond to catastrophic oil spills.

Law of the Sea Treaty (1990)Law of the Sea Treaty (1990)Also referred to as London Dumping Also referred to as London Dumping

Convention of 1990Convention of 1990

Signed by 64 nationsSigned by 64 nations Phasing out of all Phasing out of all

ocean dumping of ocean dumping of industrial wastes, tank-industrial wastes, tank-washing effluent, and washing effluent, and plastic trash by 1995.plastic trash by 1995.

Hazardous Waste LawsHazardous Waste Laws Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

1976-1976- Regulates the storage, shipping, processing, and Regulates the storage, shipping, processing, and disposal of hazardous wastes and sets limits on the disposal of hazardous wastes and sets limits on the sewering of toxic chemicals.sewering of toxic chemicals.

Toxic Substances Control Act (TOSCA) 1976-Toxic Substances Control Act (TOSCA) 1976- categorizes toxic substances, est. research programs & categorizes toxic substances, est. research programs & regulates use & disposal of poisonous chemicals.regulates use & disposal of poisonous chemicals.

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) 1980Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) 1980 & & Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) 1984-(SARA) 1984- Provide for sealing, excavation, or Provide for sealing, excavation, or remediation of toxic & hazardous waste dumps. Also remediation of toxic & hazardous waste dumps. Also called called Superfund ActSuperfund Act

LAWS ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS…LAWS ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS…

The degree to which they are not weakened The degree to which they are not weakened by later amendments and exceptionsby later amendments and exceptions

The degree to which they are funded for The degree to which they are funded for research and enforcementresearch and enforcement