United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office Of Water
(4503F)
EPA841-F-94-002
April 1994
<>EPA FACT SHEET
NATIONAL WATER QUALITY INVENTORY
1992 REPORT TO CONGRESS
Background
The National Water Quality In-
ventory Report to Congress is
prepared every two years under
Section 305(b) of the Clean Wa-
ter Act. The 1992 Report is the
ninth in its series.
The Clean Water Act gives states
the responsibility to monitor and
assess their waters and report
the results to EPA. EPA pro-
vides technical assistance and
guidance on monitoring and re-
porting, and summarizes the re-
sults of the state assessments in
this Report to Congress.
This 1992 Report is based on
water quality assessments sub-
mitted by 57 states, territories,
interstate jurisdictions, and an
American Indian Tribe (hereaf-
ter collectively referred to as
states). These State assessments
describe water quality condi-
tions during 1990-1991.
Rivers, lakes, estuaries, wet-
lands, coastal waters, Great
Lakes, and ground water are all
covered in this Report. This Re-
port also contains information
on public health and aquatic life
concerns, water quality moni-
toring, and state and federal
water pollution control pro-
grams.
States measure water quality by
determining if individual wa-
ters are clean enough to support
uses such as fishing, swimming,
and drinking. These uses are
part of the state water quality
standards, are set by the States,
and are approved by EPA.
A Summary of Findings
For their 1992 reports to EPA,
the States assessed the quality of
roughly the same amount of
waters as in previous reporting
cycles. Many waters remained
unassessed in the 2-year report
period. States assessed:
• 18% of the Nation's 3.5 mil-
lion river miles
• 46% of the Nation's 39.9 mil-
lion lake acres
• 74% of the Nation's 37,000
estuary square miles.
This represents a near doubling
of waters assessed in the inital
About iwd thirds &f #$«
semtd waters are of good
mougfi quality & support
uses $«£& it* ffehmg mid
M*tiMn$ m& fk&r&fote
ito&t tfo Ctatrt Vfa&& Act
goats established % Con-
two year period for 1984 when
EPA first started to gather this
type of information.
About two thirds of assessed
waters are of good enough qual-
ity to support the uses, states set
for them such as fishing and
swimming, and therefore meet
the Clean Water Act goals es-
tablished by Congress. The re-
Five Leading Sources of Water Quality Impairment
Rank
1
2
3
4
5
Rivers
Agriculture
Municipal Point Sources
Urban Runoff/
Storm Sewers
Resource Extraction •
Industrial Point Sources
Lakes
Agriculture
Urban Runoff/
Storm Sewers
Hydrologic/Habitat
Modification
Municipal Point Sources
Onsite Wastewater
Disposal
Estuaries
Municipal Point Sources
Urban Runoff/
Storm Sewers
Agriculture
Industrial Point Sources
Resource Extraction
Source: 1992 Report to Congress.
Ftecyctodflrtocyctabl*
Printed on paper that contains
at least 50% recycled fiber
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1992 National Water Quality Inventory
Fact Sheet
1 ive Loading Causes of Water Quality Impairment
Rank
1
2
3
4
5
Rivers
Siltation
Nutrients
Pathogens
Pesticides
Organic Enrichment/
Low DO
Lakes
Metals
Nutrients
Organic Enrichment/
LowEO
Siltation
Priority Organic
Chemicals
Estuaries
Nutrients
Pathogens
Organic Enrichment/
Low DO
Siltation
Suspended Solids
Source: 1992 Report to Congress.
maining waters are impaired to
varying degrees.
In the one third of assessed wa-
ters that have water quality prob-
lems, the leading contributors to
problems are agricultural run-
off, municipal sewage treatment
plant discharges, storm sewers
and urban runoff. Agricultural
runoff is the most extensive
source of pollution in the
Nation's waters.
Nutrients, Siltation, pathogens,
metals, and organic enrichment
are the most commonly reported
pollutants in impaired waters.
Nutrients can overstimulate the
growth of algae and weeds; silt-
ation smothers bottom-dwelling
organisms and destroys stream
habitat; pathogens cause shell-
fish harvesting restrictions,
drinking water restrictions, and
recreational beach closures; and
organic enrichment leads to re-
duced levels of dissolved oxy-
gen in water.
Municipal sewage treatment fa-
cilities, industries, and others
that discharge into waterways
from "points" such as pipes con-
tinue to contribute to water qual-
ity problems. Municipal dis-
charges, for example, are the
leading pollution source in estu-
aries and the second leading
source in rivers. Industrial dis-
charges are often the source of
severe problems due to toxicants
Agri&tftwe to the
rvers
7Z% of ifte impaired rfoer
and are the leading source of
fish consumption restrictions
and the second leading source
of fish kills. Storm sewers and
urban runoff have emerged as
significantproblems nationwide
and are the second leading
source of impairment in lakes
and estuaries.
Wetland loss continues at a sig-
nificant rate and is attributed
primarily to residential and ur-
ban development, agriculture,
resource extraction activities
such as mining, and the build-
ing of impoundments and high-
Page 2
ways. Loss of these resources
(1) reduces the biological pro-
ductivity of waters because wet-
lands are nurseries and breed-
ing grounds for many fish, shell-
fish, and birds; (2) increases the
impacts of floods and storm sew-
ers that wetlands would other-
wise attenuate; and (3) deprives
open waters of a natural "filter"
for the removal of pollutants.
Toxic substances, though not as
widely found as other pollut-
ants, continue to cause locally
severe impacts. Among these
impacts are fish consumption re-
strictions, fish kills, and contami-
nation of bottom sediments.
Although, in general, the qual-
ity of the Nation's ground water
is good, an increasing number
of pollution incidents affecting
ground water have been re-
ported. Underground storage
tanks, septic systems, municipal
landfills, agriculture, and aban-
doned hazardous waste sites are
sources of ground water pollu-
tion cited by the states.
In ground water, the leading
pollutants include nitrates, met-
als, pesticides, petroleum prod-
ucts, and volatile organic com-
pounds.
River and Stream
Water Quality
For 1990-1991, fifty-five states
assessed the quality of 642,881
miles of rivers and streams, or
18% of the Nation's total 3.5 mil-
lion miles of rivers and streams.
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April 1994
Section 305(b
Of these 642,881 miles:
• 56% fully support swim-
ming, fishing, and other uses,
and an additional 6% cur-
rently support uses but are
threatened and could be-
come impaired if pollution
control actions are not taken;
maining 13% are not support-
ing uses.
Leading sources - States attribute
72% of problems in assessed riv-
ers to agriculture; 15% to mu-
nicipal dischargers; 11% to re-
source extraction; and 11% to
storm sewers and urban runoff.
38% are impaired. Of these, Leading pollutants - States at-
25% are considered partially tribute 45% of problems in as-
supporting uses and the re- sessed rivers to siltation; 37% to
nutrients; 27% to pathogens;
26% to pesticides; and 24% to
organic enrichment.
River Miles Assessed
(For 1990-1991)
Total rivers = 3.5 million miles
Total assessed = 642,881 miles
18% Assessed
82% Unassessed
Levels of Overall
Use Support - Rivers
Any singlerivtr wile, takeacrt,
or esivarim square mile
ww
**»-
pa irmmt catego tie$ mo# total
Fully Supporting
56%
Threatened
6%
Partially Supporting
25%
Not Supporting
13%
Not Attainable
Lake and Reservoir Quality
For 1990-1991, forty-nine states
assessed the quality of 18.3 mil-
lion acres of lakes, ponds, and
reservoirs, or 46 % of the Nation's
39.9 million lake acres.
Of these 18.3 million acres:
• 43% fully support fishing,
swimming, and other uses,
and an additional 13% cur-
rently support uses but are
threatened and could be-
come impaired if pollution
control actions are not taken;
Page 3
Lake Acres Assessed
(For 1990-1991)
Total lakes = 39,920,000 acres
Total assessed = 18,300,000 acres
46% Assessed
54% Unassessed
Levels of Overall
Use Support - Lakes
Fully Supporting
43%
Threatened
13%
Partially Supporting
35%
Not Supporting
9%
Not Attainable
• 44% are impaired. Of these,
35% are considered partially
supporting uses, and the re-
maining 9% are not support-
ing uses.
Leading sources - States attribute
56% of problems in lakes to agri-
culture; 24% to storm sewers
and urban runoff; 23% to hy-
drologic modifications; 21% to
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1992 National Water Quality Inventory
Fact Sheet
municipal dischargers; and 16%
to onsite wastewater disposal.
Leading pollutants - States at-
tribute 47% of problems in as-
sessed lakes to metals; 40% to
nutrients; 24% to organic en-
richment; and 22% to siltation.
Pollution can accelerate the natu-
ral aging process of lakes, known
as eutrophication. Eutrophic
lakes are characterized by vari-
Estuary Square Miles Assessed
(For 1990-1991)
Total estuaries = 36,890 square miles
Total assessed, = 27,227 square miles
Assessed 74%
Unassessed 26%
Levels of Overall
Use Support - Estuaries
Fully Supporting
56%
Threatened
12%
Partially Supporting
23%
Not Supporting
9%
Not Attainable
0%
ous conditions, such as the
growth of weeds and algae due
to high nutrient levels; reduced
water clarity; and reduced lake
depth due to buildup of silt and
organic matter. Almost half of
all lakes assessed (47%) were
found to be eutrophic or
hypereutrophic.
Estuary and Coastal
Water Quality
For 1990-1991, twenty-five states
assessed the quality of 27,227
square miles of estuaries, or
about 74% of the Nation's total
37,000 square miles.
Of these 27,227 square miles:
• 56% fully support fishing,
swimming, and other uses,
and an additional 12% cur-
rently support uses but are
threatened and could be-
come impaired if pollution
control actions are not taken;
• 32% are impaired. Of these,
23% are considered partially
supporting uses and the re-
maining 9% are not support-
ing uses.
Leading sources - States attribute
53% of problems in assessed es-
tuaries to municipal discharges;
43% to storm sewers and urban
runoff; 43% to agriculture; and
23% to industrial point sources.
Leading pollutants - States at-
tribute 55% of problems in as-
sessed estuaries to nutrients;
42% to pathogens; 34% to or-
ganic enrichment; and 12% to
siltation.
Page 4
Water quality reporting for
ocean coastal waters is limited.
the second
leading p&Uuiion pr&bhm
ifc Out N&foa $
States assessed water quality in
about 6% of the U.S. coastline
miles. Only 14% of the assessed
coastline miles were found to be
impaired.
Water Quality in the
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay Program
has implemented programs to
reduce impacts from nutrients,
oxygen-demanding substances,
and pathogens. Nutrients (pri-
marily phosphorus and nitro-
gen) feed the excessive algal
growth in the Bay that results in
low dissolved oxygen concen-
trations and losses of underwa-
ter grasses that provide critical
food and habitat for waterfowl
and shellfish. Pathogen con-
tamination in shellfish beds re-
sults in shellfish harvesting re-
strictions.
Wastewater plant upgrades, en-
hanced compliance with per-
mits, bans on phosphorus de-
tergents in the Bay watersheds,
and nonpoint source controls re-
duced annual discharges of
phophorus into the Chesapeake
Bay by 40% (4.7 million pounds)
between 1985 and 1991. Over-
all, water quality monitoring
data confirm that the reduction
in phosphorus loading is reduc-
ing phosphorus concentration
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April 1994
Section 305(b)
in Bay waters. Total phospho-
rus concentrations in the Bay de-
creased by 16% between 1984
and 1992. However, total nitro-
gen concentrations have re-
mained stable in the mainstem
of the Bay and increased in some
tributaries.
The Cheaspeake Bay Program's
nonpoint source program em-
phasizes controls for runoff gen-
erated by agricultural activities,
paved surfaces, and construc-
tion in urban areas. Trie pro-
gram includes nutrient manage-
ment for applying animal wastes
and fertilizers to cropland in
amounts calculated to me;et crop
requirements without contami-
nating ground and surface wa-
ters.
Water Quality in the
Great Lakes
For 1990-1991, seven Great Lakes
states assessed 5,319 miles of
Great Lakes shoreline, or about
99% of the Nation's total Great
Lakes' shoreline.
Of these 5,319 miles:
• 2% fully support fishing,
swimming, and other uses,
and an additional 1% cur-
rently support uses but are
threatened and could be-
come impaired if pollution
control actions are not taken;
These statistics only address
nearshore waters, not conditions
in the deeper, less stressed cen-
tral waters of the Great Lakes.
States attribute a high percent-
age of problem waters in the
Great Lakes to fish consump-
tion restrictions in place for
nearshore areas.
Information on sources and pol-
lutants in the Great Lakes is lim-
ited. Atmospheric deposition,
contaminated sediments, and
landfills are the leading sources
of pollution, and leading pollut-
ants include toxic organic chemi-
Since tirte 19#0 JRgpwf f
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1992 National Water Quality Inventory Fact Sheet
Forty-seven States cite 1,279 wa- sing efforts on carefully chosen management activities imple-
terways with fish consumption watersheds. The WPA is not a mented at the state and local
advisories. Mercury, PCBs,pes- new government program, but levels.
ticides,dioxin, and other organic rather a means of pulling to-
chemicals and heavy metals are gether the resources and exper- The EPA is responsible for 20
most commonly cited pollutants tise of existing local, State/ programs related to ground
causing fish consumption re- Tribal, and Federal programs. water protection. EPA issued
strictions. the National Guidance to assist
Point source dischargers are States in developing Compre-
Twenty-seven states discuss regulated through permits is- hensive Ground Water Protec-
problems with toxic contamina- sued by the states or EPA. As of tion Programs (CSGWPPs),
tion of bottom sediments. These June, 1992, most dischargers which are a key component of
states reported 669 incidents of were meeting their permit lim- the Agency7 s Ground Water Pro-
contamination caused primarily its, but 10% of major municipal tection Strategy. The States have
by heavy metals, PCBs, dioxin, dischargers and 7% of directly- adopted a variety of programs
and pesticides. discharging industrial plants to address ground water con-
were not meeting their permit tamination. These include
Forty-three states reported 930 conditions (i.e., were in "signifi- implementing ground water
pollution-caused fish kills affect- cant noncompliance"). protection strategies, enacting
ing more than 5 million fish. Low comprehensive ground water
levels of dissolved oxygen, pes- The National Pretreatment Pro- protection legislation, and estab-
ticides, manure and silage, oil gram protects municipal waste- lishing programs to protect well-
and gas, and chlorine are the water treatment plants and the head areas.
leading pollutants causing the environment from the impacts
fish kills, and the leading sources of toxic discharges into sewers Over the next few years, EPA
include agriculture, industrial from industrial sources. Fifty- and the States are committed to
discharges, municipal sewers, four percent of significant in- implementing a wide variety of
spills, and pesticide applications, dustrial users of sewage treat- water pollution control pro-
ment facilities are reported to be grams. These programs include
Thirty states reported 371 swim- in significant noncompliance the National Combined Sewer
ming area closures, most of with discharge standards and/ Overflow Strategy, storm sewer
short-term duration and attrib- or self-monitoring and report- permitting requirements; and
uted to bacteria from sewage ing requirements. Thirty-five water quality standards for wet-
treatment plants, combined percent of municipalities re- lands.
sewer overflows, and urban run- quired to do so have not fully
off. implemented their pretreatment Improving Nationwide
programs. Monitoring: The Intergovern-
Status of Pollution mental Task Force on Moni-
Control Programs All states have assessed their toring Water Quality
nonpoint source pollution prob-
Since the 1990 Report to Con- lems, and all have developed In 1992, the Intergovernmental
gress, EPA and many States have nonpoint source management Task Force on Monitoring Wa-
moved toward a more geo- programs to address them. EPA ter Quality (ITFM) convened to
graphically oriented approach has approved 51 state nonpoint prepare a strategy for improv-
to water quality management, source management programs ing water quality monitoring
In 1991, EPA highlighted the and portions of all remaining nationwide. The ITFM is a Fed-
Watershed Protection Approach programs. Nonpoint sources are eral/State partnership of ten
(WPA), a framework for focus- primarily addressed through Federal agencies, nine State and
Page 6
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April 1994
Section 305(b)
Interstate agencies, and one
American Indian Tribe. The EPA
chairs the ITFM with the U.S.
Geological Survey (USGS) as
vice chair and Executive Secre-
tariat as part of their Water In-
formation Coordination Pro-
gram pursuant to OMB memo
92-01.
The mission of the ITFM is to
develop and implement a na-
tional strategic plan to achieve
effective collection, interpreta-
tion, and presentation, of water
quality data and to improve the
availability of existing informa-
tion for decisionmaking at all
levels of government and the
private sector. The ITFM is also
producing products that can be
used by monitoring programs
nationwide. For a copy of the
first and second year ITFM re-
ports contact:
USGS Office of Water Data
Coordination
417 National Center
Reston, VA 22092
(703) 648-5023
For more information about the National Water Quality Inventory
Report contact:
Barry Burgan
National 305(b) Coordiantor
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (4503F)
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460
(202) 260-7060
(202) 260-7024 (fax)
For copies of this report or the companion summary document,
use order form on page 8.
Page 7
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1992 National Water Quality Inventory Fact Sheet
For copies of the National Water Quality Inventory: 1992 Report to Congress or the companion summary
document Quality of Our Nation's Waters: 1992 check the appropriate box(es) below and mail or Fax
this form to the address/Fax number indicatated below. Allow 2-3 weeks for delivery.
National Water Quality Inventory: 1992 Report to Congress (EPA841-R-94-001)
Quality of Our Nation's Waters: 1992 (EPA841-S-94-002)
Please print clearly:
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