United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
Washington, DC 20460
EPA841-K-92-OQ1
June 1992
The Quality of Our
Nation's Water: 1990
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CONTENTS
The Quality of Our Nation's Water .2
Key Concepts: A Water Quality Primer 4
What is Water Pollution? 6
Rivers and Streams .-.. .10
Lakes and Reservoirs 12
The Great Lakes ............................. .14
Estuaries 16
Ocean Coastal Waters 18
Wetlands 20
Ground Water 22
Protecting Water Quality 24
You Can Make a Difference 26
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THE QUALITY OF OUR NATION'S WATER
Introduction
This booklet is designed to help
the general reader understand the
problem of water pollution in the U.S.
today. Its focus is on the sources,
types, impacts, and extent of water
pollution, and the actions govern-
ment and citizens are taking to
control them.
The information in this booklet is
condensed from the U.S. Environ-
mental Protection Agency's (EPA's)
National Water Quality Inventory: 1990
Report to Congress, The Report to
Congress, in turn, is the latest in a
series of reports based on water
quality assessments States submit
biennially to EPA. The State assess-
ments and the Report to Congress are
used to determine the quality of our
Nation's water, to evaluate the effect
of current water pollution control
activities, and to help determine
where additional action is needed. If
you would like to learn more about
water quality issues, you may want
to begin by reading the Report to
Congress or other reference material
listed at the back of this booklet.
How Clean Are Our
Waters?
As this report will show, we still
have a long way to go in our work to
maintain and restore the quality of
our Nation's water. We have water
quality data !for only about a third of
our river miles, half of our lake acres,
and three fourths of our estuarine
waters. Of those waters that have
been assessed, about two thirds are
fully meeting the clean water goals
established by Congress and the
States. The rest of assessed waters
show varying degrees of impairment.
Significant water quality problems
remain, including pollutants carried
by wet weather runoff from agricul-
tural farm lands and city streets, toxic
pollutants, ground-water contamina-
tion, and loss of wetlands.
We have, nevertheless, made
progress. The most obvious kinds of
pollution that plagued our waters in
the 1960s and 1970s-discharges of
poorly treated or untreated sewage
and industrial waste-have dimin-
ished in severity and extent as a
result of sewage treatment plant
construction and upgrading and
increasingly stringent controls on
industrial discharges. We are devel-
oping control strategies for the
persistent pollution problem that we
now know is the most widespread:
polluted wet weather runoff. We are
continually learning to what extent
toxic contamination affects our
waters, fish, and sediments.
- Nevertheless, there is more that
water quality managers must learn
about sources of pollution, specific
contaminants, and their extent and
impacts on the aquatic environment.
Without this knowledge,we cannot
design pollution controls to do the
most good or direct them to where
they are most needed. This need for
knowledge is not limited, however, to
water quality managers. Every
citizen has an impact on water
quality. Every citizen must become
informed.
When it rains, runoff carrying
pollutants from streets, paved areas,
and lawns often flows untreated into
streams, lakes, and estuaries.
2
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Why Is It Important To
Learn About Water
Pollution?
The U.S. Environmental Protec-
tion Agency firmly supports the idea
that each citizen should become a
steward of our precious natural
resources. In this day of complex
environmental threats and diminish-
ing funds for pollution control, we
must jointly solve the pollution
problems that foul our swimming
lakes or close the fishing spots we
frequent. It is time to learn about the
problems and become part of their
solution. Once we know about
pollution problems and what is
needed to combat them, we will be
better able to devise sound solutions,
monitor those who are to implement
the solutions, and modify any of our
own personal activities that contrib-
ute to the problems.
This booklet explores some key
water quality definitions and con-
cepts; discusses different types of
waters and their leading pollution
problems, as reported to EPA by the
States; briefly addresses some of the
major Federal and State activities
being carried out to control water
pollution; and offers some water
quality protection ideas for every
citizen to consider. Throughout this
booklet, we also highlight what the
States are discovering about some of
the most visible impacts of water
pollution. *
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KEY CONCEPTS: A WATER QUALITY
PRIMER
How Much Water Is
There in the U.S.?
To anyone who has ever scanned
a detailed map of the U.S., our
Nation's water supplies may seem
infinite. In fact, current estimates tell
us that the US. has
About 2 million stream and river
miles, including waters that flow
only in wet weather;
About 40 million acres of lakes,
ponds, and reservoirs;
About 36,000 square miles of
estuaries;
About a hundred million acres
of wetlands such as marshes,
swamps, bogs, and fens.
We are learning more about the
extent of our water resources as
computerized mapping techniques
become available, and these estimates
of total U.S. waters may well rise in
coming years. However, the point to
remember is that each mile of stream
or estuary, each acre of lake or
wetland, should be capable of
supporting healthy aquatic life and a
wide range of recreational activities.
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...it is the national goal that, wherever attainable, an interim goal of water quality which
provides for the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife and provides for
recreation in and on the water, be achieved by July 1,2983.,,
How Do We Measure
the Quality of These
Waters?
In fact, it is the stated goal of the
Clean Water Act of 1972 - the driving
force behind the Nation's water
pollution control program - that the
waters of the U.S. be of "fishable"
and "swimmable" quality. The U.S.
EPA promotes the use of a water
quality measure based on this
concept.
Designated Uses
According to the Clean Water
Act, all waters of the U.S. must be
designated for specific uses that must
then be protected. Most waters are
designated for support of aquatic
life - the "fishable" goal of the
Act - and for contact recreation - the
"swimmable" goal. A smaller set of
waters are designated as public water
supplies. These are waters that, with
some treatment, may be piped into
homes for drinking and bathing. In
some States, another small subset of
waters may be designated for less
stringent uses such as navigation or
industrial uses.
Once States have designated uses
for their waters, they establish criteria
to protect them. These criteria are
requirements such as specific chemi-
cal concentrations or biological
conditions that must be met if the
uses are to be maintained. If these
criteria are not met, uses may be
impaired.
Together, criteria and designated
uses (including a provision that
waters not be allowed to degrade
from a level of water quality that
protects those uses) constitute each
State's water quality standards. We
determine the quality of our Nation's
waters by measuring the degree to
which standards are met and, there-
fore, designated uses are supported.*
Designated Use Support in Assessed Waters
River Miles
Assessed: 647,066
Total in US: 1.8 million
Fully Supporting
70% (450,376)
Partially Supporting
21% (134,472)
Not Supporting
10% (62,218)
Lake Acres
Assessed: 18.5 million
Total in US: 39.4 million
Fully Supporting
60% (11,076,726)
Partially Supporting
19% (3,471,633)
Not Supporting
21% (3,940,277)
Estuary Sq. Miles I
Assessed: 26,692
Total in US: 36,000
Fully Supporting
67% (18,056)
Partially Supporting
25% (6,573)
Not Supporting
8% (2,064)
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WHAT is WATER POLLUTION?
We tend to think of factories and
sewage treatment facilities as the
primary sources of water pollution;
however, there are other, less obvi-
ous, sources of pollution that are
more widespread. These less obvi-
ous sources include polluted wet
weather runoff from agricultural
fields, city streets, and construction
sites, and hydrologic modifications
such as dam building or stream
channelization. Hydrologic modifi-
cations may increase erosion, remove
natural streamside vegetation, affect
stream flow, and degrade aquatic
habitat.
The 10 general categories of water
pollution sources cited in this report
are described in the box below.
Of the major categories of pollution
sources, agricultural activities,
municipal discharges, and storm
sewers are the sources that States
most commOjiily cite as problems in
surface waters. On page 8 is a
quick-glance summary of those
pollution soiirces most commonly
reported in our Nation's rivers, lakes,
and estuaries.
Pollution Source Categories Usec| in This Report
Category
Industrial
Municipal
Combined Sewers
Examples
Pulp and paper mills, chemical manufacturers, steel
plants, textile manufacturers, food processing plants
Publicly owned sewage treatment plants that may
receive indirect discharges from small factories or
businesses
Storm and sanitary sewers combined, which may
discharge untreated wastes during storms
Storm Sewers/Runoff Runoff from streets, paved areas, lawns, etc., that enters
a sewer, pipe, or ditch before discharge
Agricultural
Silvtcultural
Construction
Resource Extraction
Land Disposal
Crop production, pastures, rangeland, feedlots
Forest management, harvesting, road construction
Highway building, land development
Mining, petroleum drilling, runoff from mine tailing sites
Leachate or discharge from septic tanks, landfills,
hazardous waste disposal sites
Hydrologic Modification Channelization, dredging, dam construction,
stream bank modification
These pollution sources contrib-
ute a wide variety of contaminants,
ranging from excess nutrients and
sediments washed from fields to toxic
metals and pesticides. The leading
contaminants and their impacts are
summarized in the following subsec-
tions. A quick-glance summary of
those contaminants most commonly
reported in the Nation's rivers, lakes,
and estuaries is shown on page 9.
Nutrients
Nutrients include nitrates found
in fertilizers and phosphates found in
detergents. In excess levels, nutrients
overstimulate the growth of aquatic
plants and algae. Excessive growth
of these organisms, in turn, can clog
navigable waters, use up dissolved
oxygen as they decompose, and block
light to deeper waters. This seriously
affects the respiration of fish and
aquatic invertebrates, leads to a
decrease in animal and plant diver-
sity, and affects our ability to use the
water for fishing, swimming, and
boating. Lakes and estuaries are
particularly vulnerable to the effects
of excess nutrients.
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Silt/Suspended Solids
When it rains, silt and other
suspended solids wash off plowed
fields, construction and logging sites,
urban areas, strip-mined land, and
eroded stream banks. As these
sediments enter rivers, lakes, coastal
waters, and wetlands, fish respiration
is impaired, plant productivity and
water depth are reduced, aquatic
habitats are smothered, and our
aesthetic enjoyment of the water is
reduced.
Pathogens
Certain waterborne bacteria,
viruses, and protozoans can cause
human illnesses that range from
typhoid and dysentery to minor
respiratory and skin diseases. These
organisms can enter waterways
through a number of routes, includ-
ing inadequately treated sewage,
storm water drains, septic systems,
runoff from livestock pens, and boats
that dump sewage. Because it is
impossible to test water for every
type of disease-causing organism,
States generally measure fecal
coliform bacteria as indicators that
the water may be contaminated with
untreated sewage and that other,
more dangerous, organisms may be
present.
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Organic Enrichment
Organic material may enter
waterways in many different forms -
as sewage, leaves and grass clippings,
or as runoff from livestock feedlots
and pastures. When natural bacteria
and protozoa in the water break
down this organic material, they
begin to use up the oxygen dissolved
in the water. Many types of fish and
bottom-dwelling animals cannot
survive when levels of dissolved
oxygen drop.
Organic Chemicals/Metals
Metals (such as mercury, lead,
and cadmium) and toxic organic
chemicals (such as PCBs and dioxin)
may originate in industrial dis-
charges, runoff from city streets,
mining activities, leachate from
landfills, and a variety of other
sources. These toxic chemicals can
cause death or reproductive failure in
fish, shellfish, and wildlife. In
addition, they can accumulate in
animal tissue and be absorbed in
sediments, posing long-term health
risks to humans.
Two of the leading sources of pollution
In our Nation's water are agricultural
activities and discharges from
municipal sewage treatment plants.
8
Pesticides/Herbicides
Rainfall, snowmelt, and irrigation
can wash pesticides and herbicides
used on croplands, lawns, and in
termite control into ground and
surface waters. These contaminants
are generally very persistent in the
environment and may accumulate in
fish, shellfish, and wildlife to levels
that pose a risk to human health and
the environment.
Habitat Modification
Loss of habitat occurs when
streams, lakes, and wetlands are
modified by activities such as graz-
ing, farming, channelization, dam
construction, and dredging. Typical
examples of the effects of hydrologic
modification include loss of stream-
side vegetation, siltation, smothering
of bottom-dwelling organisms, and
increased water temperatures.
Top Five Pollution Sources
'.,-,.". ' . ;
Source
Rank
1
2
3
4
5
Source:
Rivers
Agricultural
Municipal
Hydrologic Modification
Resource Extraction
Storm Sewers/Runoff
Lakes
Agricultural
Hydrologic Modification
Storm Sewers/Runoff
Land Disposal
Municipal
Estuaries
Municipal
Storm Sewers/Runoff
-
Land Disposal
Agricultural
Construction
National Water Quality Inventory: 1990 Report to Congress
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Other Pollutants
States also report on the inci-
dence of other pollutants. For
example, fresh waters may become
unfit for aquatic Life and some human
uses when they become contaminated
by salts. Sources of salinity include
irrigation runoff, brine used in oil
extraction, road deicing operations,
and the intrusion of sea water into
ground and surface waters in coastal
areas. Problems of pH are of concern
in areas with many abandoned mines
(acid mine drainage) and areas
susceptible to acid rain. Changes in
pH can alter the toxicity of other
chemicals in water, and can render
lakes and streams unfit for aquatic
life. Other pollutants of concern
include crude oil and processed
petroleum products spilled during
extraction, processing, or transport or
leaked from underground storage
tanks; noxious aquatic plants, par-
ticularly introduced species that
compete against native plants; and
increased water temperatures result-
ing from industrial cooling processes
or habitat modification. *
Top Five Contaminants
Source
Rank
1
2
3
4
5
Source:
Rivers
Siltatiorr '-
Nutrients <
' Organic Enrichment
Pathogens
Metals
Lakes
Metals
Nutrients
Organic Enrichment
Suspended Solids
Estuaries
Nutrients
- Organic Enrichment
Pathogens
Priority Organics ,
Noxious Aquatic Plants- Suspended Solids
National Water Quality Inventory: 1990 Report to
Congress , ,
Contaminated
Sediments
Contamination of stream, lake,
and estaarine sediments by toxic
substances is a growing environ-
mental concern. Toxic substances
may remain in sediments for years
after the pollutant source has been
eliminated. Once in sediments,
they may continue to contaminate
surrounding water and aquatic
organisms. Bottom-dwelling
animals are particularly at risk.
Contaminated sediments are also a
problem affecting the dredging of
harbors and navigation channels;
contaminated dredge material is
difficult to dispose of safely, and
the process of dredging recircu-
lates contaminants back into the
water,-
Many States do not currently
have analytical resources to
conduct sediment monitoring.
Others may not have reported on
available findings because there
are no criteria against which to
screen sediment data. Neverthe-
less, 33 States provided some
information on sediment contami-
nation in their waters. A total of
384 sites with sediment contamina-
tion were reported by the States.
Leading pollutants in sediments
include heavy metals, PCBs,
pesticides, and dioxin.
The EPA is working with
States to provide better tools to
assess problems with contaminated
sediments, Efforts underway
include development of an EPA
sediment management strategy,
sediment criteria, and monitoring
test for sediments. *
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RIVERS AND STREAMS
For centuries, our Nation's rivers
and streams have been at the receiv-
ing end of discharges from a wide
array of polluters. It is only recently,
in a historical sense, that we have
become concerned about what
happens to the pollutants discharged
to rivers by sewage facilities and
factories or to the eroded soil washed
by rainfall from agricultural fields.
Certainly the prevailing belief for
many years was that pollutants
dumped into a river would simply
get washed away and would no
longer be a problem.
In fact, pollutants discharged
upstream often become the problem
of someone who lives downstream (or
of the aquatic life that exists instream),
and all of the activities that take place
in a watershed can have a water
quality impact elsewhere in the
watershed. The term watershed
simply refers to a geographic area in
which water/sediments, and dis-
solved materials (contaminants) drain
to a common; outlet such as a point on
a larger river, lake, underground
water, or ocean. It is therefore impor-
tant to remember that the rivers we
are discussing here are inextricably
connected - by hydrology, ecology,
geology, and social and economic
considerations - to the lakes, wet-
lands, and coastal and ground waters
we discuss later in this booklet.
In 1990, States reported on the
quality of 647,066 river miles, 36
percent of the Nation's total miles
(the terms rivers and streams are
used interchangeably and include
major rivers such as the Mississippi,
small streams that flow only in wet
weather, and everything in between).
This is 128,000 more stream miles
than States assessed in 1988. The
following figures provide a summary
of the water quality of rivers, as
reported to EPA by the States.
Fish Kills
One of the most obvious signs
of water pollution problems is the
fish kill: dead fish floating on the
surface of the water or washed up
on the shoreline. Our fish kill
statistics are incomplete, for a
number of reasons.
Fish kill reporting is an entirely
voluntary process; States are not
required to report on how many fish
kills occur, or what might have
caused them. In many cases it is the
public - fishermen and hunters,
recreational boaters, or hikers - who
first notice fish Mils and report them
to game wardens or other State
officials. Many fish kills may go
undetected or unreported, and
others may be difficult to investi-
gate, especially if they occur in
remote areas. This is because dead
fish may be carried quickly down-
stream, or may be difficult to count
because of turbid conditions. It is
therefore likely that the statistics
presented by.the States underestimate
the total number of fish kills that
occurred nationwide between 1988
and 1990.
Despite these problems, fish kills
are an important consideration, in
water quality assessments, and State
reporting on the number and causes
of kills is improving. In 1990,42
States
reported
on a total
of 1,365
fish kill
incidents.
Almost 26
million fish
were
reported
killed.
Pollutants
most often
cited as the
cause of
kills
included pesticides, biochemical
oxygen-demanding substances, oil
and gas, chlorine, temperature
changes, ammonia, organics, and
acidity. Leading sources of fish kills
include industrial discharges,'agricul-
tural activities, mttnicipal sewage
treatment plant discharges, spills,
and mining activities.,*
I I 0 or Not Reported
1-10
123 11-30
31-70
>70
Number of Fish Kills Nationwide
10
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Do Our Rivers and Use Support in Rivers and Streams
Streams Support Uses? , Not supporting (62,218)
Of the Nation's 647,066 assessed
river miles, 63 percent were found to
fully support their designated uses,
and an additional 7 percent support
uses but are threatened and may
become impaired if pollution control
actions are not taken. Nearly 21
percent were reported as partially
supporting uses, and the remaining
10 percent of river miles were found
to be not supporting designated uses.
Partially Supporting (134,472)
Threatened (43,214)
Fully Supporting
(407,162)
Total River Miles: 1,800,066
What Is Polluting Our
Rivers and Streams?
As reported by the States in 1990,
those pollutants that most commonly
contribute to impairment in rivers are
siltation and nutrients, affecting 36
percent and 28 percent of impaired
stream miles, respectively. Other
leading causes of impairment include
organic enrichment and resultant low
levels of dissolved oxygen, affecting
26 percent of impaired stream miles,
and indicators of pathogens, affect-
ing 19 percent.
Where Does This
Pollution Come From?
Leading sources of these pollut-
ants in rivers include agricultural
runoff - by far the most widely
reported source, affecting 61 percent
of impaired stream miles - municipal
discharges, affecting 16 percent, and
modifications to the hydrology and
habitat of streams, affecting 15
percent. *
Top Ten Pollutants in Rivers and Streams
Siltation
Nutrients
Organic Enrichment
Pathogens
Metals
Salinity
Habitat Modification
Pesticides
Suspended Solids
Flow Alteration
10 20 30
Impaired Miles Affected (%)
Sources of Pollution in Rivers and Streams
Agricultural
Municipal
Hydrologic Mod
Resource Extraction
Storm Sewers/Runoff
Industrial
Silviculture
Construction
40
50
Impaired Miles Affected (%)
60
11
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LAKES AND RESERVOIRS
Many lakes evolve naturally over
time, filling with sediments and
organic matter that alter many basic
characteristics such as depth, biologi-
cal productivity, oxygen levels, and
water clarity. This natural "aging"
process is known as eutrophication.
Human activities can speed
eutrophication by increasing the
amounts of nutrients and organic
substances that enter lakes from their
surrounding watersheds through wet
weather runoff, leaking septic
systems, sewage discharges, eroded
streambanks, and similar sources.
These substances can overstimulate
the growth of algae and aquatic
plants, creating conditions that
interfere with the recreational use of
lakes and the health and diversity of
indigenous fish and plant popula-
tions.
Eutrophication due to human
activities is one of the leading prob-
lems facing our Nation's lakes and
reservoirs. The eutrophication
progression is commonly defined by
a series of trophic states as described
in the box below.
In 1990,38 States reported that
half of the lakes they assessed for
trophic status were either eutrophic
or hypereutrophic, 39 percent were
mesotrophic,10 percent were oligo-
trophic, and less than 1 percent were
dystrophic. This information may be
somewhat biased, as States often
assess lakes in response to a problem
or public complaint or because of
their easy accessibility. It is likely
that more remote lakes - which are
probably less impaired - are
underrepresented in these assess-
ments.
Trophic States
Oligotrophic
Mcsolrophic
Eutrophic
Hypereutrophic
Dystrophic
Clear waters with little organic matter or sediment,
and minimum biological activity.
Waters with more nutrients and, therefore, more
biological productivity.
Waters extremely rich in nutrients, with high biologi- ,
cal productivity. Some species may be choked out.
Murky, highly productive waters, closest to the
wetland status. Many clearwater species cannot
survive.
Low in nutrients, highly colored with dissolved humic
organic matter. (Not necessarily a part of the natural
trophic progression.)
The 1987 amendments to the
Clean Water Act emphasized the
need for information on a number of
significant problems other than the
more traditional indicators of trophic
status. Many States are therefore
expanding their lake monitoring
efforts to detect potential effects of
acid deposition (acid rain), acid mine
drainage, and toxic substances. In
some areas of the country, impacts
from these problems are severe:
increases in lake acidity can radically
alter the community of fish and plant
species in lakes and can increase the
solubility of toxic substances and
magnify their adverse effects.
EPA's Clean Lakes
Program
The Clean Water Act established
the Clean Lakes Program in 1972 in
response to widespread public
support for preserving and protecting
our Nation's lakes. In the Clean
Lakes program, EPA provides
Federal funds to help States carry out
diagnostic studies of lake problems,
determine necessary protection and
restoration measures, implement
those measures, and monitor the
long-term impacts and effectiveness
of those measures.
Successful lake programs require-
strong local support and cooperation
from natural resource agencies at the
local, State, and Federal levels. Many
States have made great progress in
establishing these types of coopera-
tive frameworks for managing lakes
under the Clean Lakes Program.
12
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Do Our Lakes and
Reservoirs Support
Uses?
Of our Nation's 39.4 million acres
of lakes and reservoirs, 47 percent were
assessed by the States in 1990. Of
those, 44 percent were found to fully
support designated uses such as
swimming, fishing, and water supply.
An additional 16 percent were identi-
fied as threatened and could soon
become impaired if pollution control
actions are not taken. States reported
19 percent of assessed lake acres as
partially supporting uses and 21
percent as not supporting uses.
Use Support in Lakes and Reservoirs
Not Supporting (3,940,277)
Partially Supporting {3,471,633)
Threatened (2,902,809)
Fully Supporting
(8,173,917)
Total Lake Acres: 39,400,000
What Is Polluting Our Top Ten Pollutants in Lakes and Reservoirs
Lakes and Reservoirs?
Metals and nutrients were reported
by the States as the most common
causes of nonsupport in assessed lakes,
affecting 48 percent and 32 percent of
impaired lake acres, respectively.
(Three-quarters of the total acres
affected by metals were in one State,
which attributed this problem to
mercury accumulation in fish from
atmospheric deposition.) Another
leading cause of lake impairment was
organic enrichment, affecting 19
percent of impaired lake acres.
Where Does This
Pollution Come From?
Agricultural runoff is reported as
the most extensive source of pollution
in lakes, affecting 57 percent of un-
paired lake acres. Other leading
sources in lakes include hydrologic
modifications, affecting 40 percent;
storm sewers/runoff, affecting 28
percent; land disposal (septic tanks),
affecting 24 percent; and municipal
discharges, affecting 17 percent. * .
Metals
Nutrients
Organic Enrichment
Suspended Solids
Noxious Aquatic Plants
Siltation
Flow Alteration
Priority Organics
Salinity
pH
10 20 30 40
Impaired Acres Affected (%)
50
Sources of Pollution in Lakes and Reservoirs
Agricultural
Hydrologic Mod
Storm Sewers/Runoff
Land Disposal
Municipal
Unknown
Industrial
Resource Extraction
10 20 30 40 50
Impaired Acres Affected (%)
60
13
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THE GREAT LAKES
The Great Lakes, containing
one-fifth of the world's fresh water,
are stressed by a wide range of
pollution sources. These sources
include municipal and industrial
discharges, combined sewer over-
flows, runoff from urban areas,
atmospheric deposition (e.g., acid
rain), contaminated sediments, and
hazardous waste sites associated
with the large urban centers located
on the shores of the Great Lakes.
Many of these sources are
particularly difficult to control
because of their diffuse origins.
Furthermore, because the Great
Lakes are a relatively closed water
system, many of the pollutants that
reach them remain in the system
indefinitely.
All Great Lakes States report
restrictions on the consumption of
certain fish species in nearshore
waters. Pollutants of particular
concern affecting fish are PCBs, DDT,
and mercury. Atmospheric deposi-
tion and sediment contamination
from previous activities such as
industrial discharges are thought to
be significant sources of fish contami-
nation. Sediment contamination is a
major problem in nearshore waters
and harbors.
Since 1973,42 Areas of Concern
have been identified in the Great
Lakes basin where environmental
quality is substantially degraded.
Most Areas of Concern are harbors,
bays, and river mouths. Remedial
Action Plans have been developed for
each Area of Concern. These plans
include identifying impaired uses
and examining how best to restore
the areas.
A Water Quality
Partnership
The Great Lakes are coopera-
tively managed by the U.S. and
Canada under the Great Lakes Water
Quality Agreement of 1978 (as
amended in 1987). The International
Joint Commission, established by the
1909 Boundary Waters Treaty, is
responsible for identifying actions to
protect the Great Lakes. Representa-
tives from State and Federal agencies
and universities work together on the
Commission's two boards to identify
problem areas, plan programs to
reduce pollution, and publish find-
ings and issue papers.
The Great Lakes are stressed by a variety of activities associated with the large cities on their shores.
14
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Do the Great Lakes
Support Uses?
Ninety-four percent of total Great
Lakes shoreline miles were assessed
by the States in 1990. Of these, only 3
percent fully support uses. The
reason for the low rate of use support
is fish consumption advisories
issued by the Great Lakes States and
the Province of Ontario for the
nearshore waters of the Great Lakes.
Twenty-nine percent of assessed
shoreline miles partially support
uses, and the remaining 68 percent
do not support uses. These figures
do not address water quality condi-
tions in the deeper, cleaner, central
waters of the Lakes.
Use Support in the Great Lakes
Not Supporting (3,288)
Partially Supporting
(1,415)
Threatened
(69)
Fully
Supporting
(85)
Unassessed
(312)
Total Great Lakes Shoreline Miles: 5,169
What Is Polluting the Top Pollutants in the Great Lakes
Great Lakes?
Toxic organic chemicals -
primarily PCBs - are the leading
contributor to impairment in 99
percent of impaired Great Lakes
shoreline miles. Other leading causes
of impairment include pesticides,
affecting 14 percent, and metals,
affecting 5 percent.
Priority Organics
Pesticides
Metals
Organic Enrichment
Nutrients
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Impaired Shoreline Miles Affected (%)
100
Where Does This
Pollution Come From?
Although information on sources
of pollution in the Great Lakes is
sketchy, the reported information
suggests that landfills and contami-
nated sediments are the leading
sources impairing Great Lakes
waters. Other sources cited by the
States include atmospheric deposi-
tion, combined sewers, and munici-
pal discharges. *
Sources of Pollution in the Great Lakes
Land Disposal
Contaminated Sediment
Atmospheric Deposition
Combined Sewers
Municipal
Storm Sewers/Runoff
Agricultural
0
10
20
30
40
50
Impaired Shoreline Miles Affected (%)
15
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ESTUARIES
Estuaries are areas partially
surrounded by land where rivers
meet the sea. They are characterized
by varying degrees of salinity,
complex water movements affected
by ocean tides and river currents, and
high turbidity levels. They are also
highly productive ecosystems with a
range of habitats for many different
species of plants and animals.
Among the plant species found in
estuaries are submerged sea grasses,
salt marsh plants, algae and phy to-
plankton. Animal species include
bottom-dwelling organisms such as
oysters, dams, and lobsters; fish such
as sea trout, striped bass, and floun-
der; and birds such as sea gulls,
cormorants, and pelicans. Many
species permanently inhabit the
estuarine ecosystem; others, such as
salmon and shrimp, use the
nutrient-rich estuarine waters as
nurseries before traveling to the sea.
Estuaries are stressed by the
particularly wide range of activities
located within their watersheds.
They receive pollutants carried by
rivers from agricultural lands and
cities; they often support marinas,
harbors, and commercial fishing
fleets; and their surrounding lands
are highly prized for development.
These stresses pose a continuing
threat to the survival of these bounti-
ful waters.
Protecting Estuaries: A
Watershed Approach
Section 320 of the Clean Water
Act (as amended by the Water
Quality Act of 1987) established the
National Estuary Program (NEP) to
protect and restore water quality and
living resources in estuaries. The
NEP adopts a geographic or water-
shed approach by planning and
implementing pollution abatement
activities for the estuary and its
surrounding land area as a whole.
Through the NEP, States nomi-
nate estuaries of national significance
that are threatened or impaired by
pollution, development, or overuse.
EPA evaluates the nominations and
selects those that show evidence of a
committed citizenry, political sup-
port, a range of government involve-
ment (State, Federal, regional, and
local), and available scientific and
technical expertise to tackle the
problem. The EPA convenes man-
agement conferences with representa-
tives from all interested groups (e.g.,
industry, agriculture, conservation
organizations, and State agencies) to
more fully characterize the problems
and seek solutions.
The NEP is also a national
demonstration program. There are
more than 150 estuaries in the U.S.
and only a small fraction can be
targeted for action through the NEP.
It is therefore important that the
lessons learned through the NEP be
communicated to estuarine water
quality managers throughout the
country. As of May 1992,17 estuaries
are included in the NEP.
Casco Bay
Santa Montea-
Bay
Estuaries Participating in the National Estuary Program
-------
^
Do Our Estuaries
Support Uses?
Roughly three quarters of the
Nation's total estuarine waters were
assessed by the States in 1990. Of
these, 56 percent were found to fully
support designated uses. An addi-
tional 11 percent are considered
threatened and could become im-
paired if pollution control actions are
not taken. Twenty-five percent of
assessed estuarine square miles
partially support uses, and the
remaining 8 percent do not support
uses.
What Is Polluting
Our Estuaries?
States report that the most
common causes of nonsupport of
designated uses in our Nation's
estuaries are nutrients, affecting 55
percent of impaired square miles;
organic enrichment and resulting low
levels of dissolved oxygen, affecting
31 percent; and pathogens, affecting
30 percent. Pathogen contamination
is responsible for the closure of
shellfishing beds in many areas of the
country. It should be noted that over
half the States with estuaries did not
provide information on specific
pollutants in their waters.
Where Does This
Pollution Come From?
States report that municipal
dischargers and storm sewers/runoff
are the leading sources of pollution in
their estuarine waters, affecting 35
percent and 30 percent of impaired
estuarine square miles, respectively.
Other leading sources cited by the
States include land disposal (septic
systems) and agricultural runoff. *
Use Support in Estuaries
Partially Supporting
(6,573)
V
Not Supporting
(2,064)
Threatened
(3,052)
Fully Supporting
(15,004)
Total Estuary Square Miles: 35,624
Top Ten Pollutants in Estuaries
Nutrients
Organic Enrichment
Pathogens
Priority Organics
Suspended Solids
Metals
Siltation
Pesticides
Unknown
Ammonia
10 20 30 40 50
Impaired Square Miles Affected (%)
60
Sources of Pollution in Estuaries
Municipal
Storm Sewers/Runoff
Land Disposal
Agricultural
Construction
Industrial
Combined Sewers
Hydrologic Mod
10
15 20 25 30 35
Impaired Square Miles Affected (%)
17
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OCEAN COASTAL WATERS
We know less about the condition
of our ocean coastal waters than we
do about our estuarine or inland
waters. In part, this may be because
we tend to think that only oil spills or
similar disastrous events could
possibly affect a resource as vast as
an ocean.
In fact, we are seeing evidence
that our ocean waters-particularly
the waters near our coasts-suffer
from the same pollution problems
that affect our inland waters. Beach
debris cleanups are cataloging tons of
trash carried into the oceans by
rivers, washed in from city storm
sewers, thrown in by beach visitors,
or dumped overboard by boaters.
Beaches are dosed to swimming
every summer due to pathogens from
inadequately treated wastes. Marine
mammals are suffering from
pollution-related stresses. Fragile
coral reefs in Florida and Hawaii
show signs of pollution impacts.
Coastal development is increasing at
a rapid rate. Clearly we can no
longer pretend that the oceans can
take care of themselves.
Protecting Coastal
Waters
EPA's Near Coastal Waters
Program is a long-term blueprint for
improving environmental manage-
ment of near coastal waters. Like the
National Estuary Program, the Near
Coastal Waters (NCW) Program
focuses on a geographically targeted
watershed approach. Its goal is to
protect all near coastal bays, lagoons,
coves, freshwater Great Lakes coasts,
and other coastal waterbodies.
Demonstration projects have been
developed and regional strategies
implemented to target geographic
areas for special protection. Imple-
mentation projects include restoring
coastal wetlands, tightening enforce-
ment of water quality regulations,
and incorporating best management
practices to control wet weather
runoff in coastal areas.
One of the tools to protect
coastal waters is EPA's National
Coastal and Marine Policy. The goals
of the Policy are to recover the full
recreational use of ocean beaches; to
restore the Nation's shellfisheries,
saltwater fisheries, and other living
resources by controlling pollution
and causes of habitat destruction and
loss; to minimize the use of coastal
and marine waters for waste disposal;
to expand scientific research and
monitoring in coastal and marine
ecosystems; and to take a leadership
role to protect the world's oceans by
promoting international efforts to
stop pollution and protect habitat.
EPA has joined in partnership
with other Federal agencies in the
Coastal America program to coordi-
nate Federal activities and authority
in protecting coastal living resources
and to forge similar alliances at the
State and local levels. Coastal
America will be supporting protec-
tive environmental projects in coastal
areas around the country.
-------
Do Our Ocean Coastal
Waters Support Uses?
Only about 22 percent of the
Nation's estimated 19,200 miles of
ocean coastline have been assessed
by the States. Of these, 89 percent
were found to fully support their
designated uses; and 1 percent are
threatened and likely to become
impaired if pollution control actions
are not taken. Seven percent of
assessed coastal miles partially
support designated uses, and 3
percent do not support uses. These
figures are not necessarily represen-
tative of the Nation as a whole
because they apply to so few coast-
line miles. Data on pollutants and
sources of pollution are too sparse to
be included in this report. *
Use Support in Oceans
Not Supporting Partially Supporting
(116) ^^ /(290)
-Threatened
(49)
Total Ocean Coastline Miles: 19,200
Shellfish
Harvesting
Restrictions
Many coastal States -report
restrictions-on shellfish harvest-
ing in estuarine waters, Shell-
fish - particularly oysters, clams
and mussels -are filter-feeders
that extract their food from water.
Waterborne bacteria and viruses '
may also accumulate on their gills
and mantles and in their digestive ,
systems. Shellfish contaminated
by these microorganisms are a
serious human health concern,
particularly when shellfish are
consumed raw.
States currently sample water
from shellfish harvesting areas to
measure total coliform and fecal,
coliform bacteria. These bacteria
serve as indicators-of the presence
of potentially pathogenic micro-
organisms associated with
untreated or undertreated
sewage, Stales restrict shellfish
harvesting to areas that maintain
these bacteria at concentrations in
sea water below established
health limits.
In 1990,20 States reported
that shellfish harvesting restric-
tions were in effect for portions of
their estuarine and coastal waters
during the 1988-90 reporting
period. A total of 340 restrictions
were reported, covering a total of
2,018 square miles of estuarine
waters, The most commonly
reported reasons for restrictions
on shellfish harvesting include
municipal wastewater treatment
facilities, -urban runoff or storm
sewers, septic systems, marinas,
and industrial discharges. *
19
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WETLANDS
Wetlands are areas that are either
flooded or saturated by water for
varying periods of time during the
growing season. Wetlands are
characterized by plants that are well
adapted to wet conditions and by
certain soil types.
In the past, wetlands were
considered wastelands the source
of mosquitoes, flies, and unpleasant
odors - to be filled or drained and
put to "better use." When European
settlers first arrived in America, over
200 million acres of wetlands existed.
Today, half of our Nation's wetlands
have been destroyed by fUUng,
draining, pollution, charuxelizing,
grazing, clearing, and other modifica-
tions resulting from human activity.
Fragile Treasures
Wetlands are now recognized as
some of the most unique and impor-
tant natural areas on earth. They
vary in type according to differences
in local and regional hydrology,
vegetation, water chemistry, soils,
topography, and climate. Coastal
Sources of Wetland Losses
Urbanization
Agricultural
Impoundments
Mining
Highway Construction
Forestry
Second Home Development
Mosquito Control
I
20
wetlands include estuarine marshes;
mangrove swamps found in Puerto
Rico, Hawaii, and Florida; and Great
Lakes coastal wetlands. Inland
wetlands - common on floodplains
along rivers and the margins of lakes
and ponds - include marshes and wet
meadows, bottomland hardwood
forests, Great Plains prairie potholes,
cypress-gum sVramps, and south-
western playa lakes.
Wetlands provide food and
shelter to countless animal species
including many fishes, birds, reptiles,
and mammals. Forty-five percent of
federally Listed threatened or endan-
gered animals and 26 percent of listed
plants depend directly or indirectly
on wetlands for. some portion of their
life cycles. Wetlands also provide
habitat for a vast majority of the
commercial fish and shellfish species
consumed in this country. In addi-
tion, they also serve as feeding areas
along migration routes for waterfowl
and other wildlife.
Wetland soil and vegetation help
in flood controLby acting as natural
sponges that absorb flooding water.
Wetland plants ;also help control
erosion in two ways: their roots bind
the soil and their leaves slow the
movement of water. Wetlands help
purify water by processing nutrients
and other pollutants and filtering
suspended materials. They also help
regulate water quantity by absorbing
water in wet seasons and releasing it
through seeps, springs, and open
outlets during dry seasons.
In addition, wetlands are widely
enjoyed by hikers, birdwatchers,
hunters, fishermen, photographers,
and boaters and play an important
role in our Nation's natural and
cultural heritage.
Wetland Loss: A
Continuing Problem
Despite what we have learned
about the value of our wetlands,
these national treasures continue to
be threatened by a variety of human
activities. A U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service study of wetland loss found
that 2.6 million acres of wetlands
were lost over the 9-year study
period from the mid-1970s to the
mid-1980s.
In 1990,16 States reported on the
reasons why wetlands are being lost.
Although many historic wetlands
losses were due to conversion of
wetlands for agricultural uses, States
now report that commercial and
residential development currently is
the leading source of wetland loss.
Other reasons include agricultural
and irrigation projects, construction
of impoundments, mining activities,
and highway construction.
Among States that reported on
water quality concerns in their
wetlands, sedimentation and increas-
ing salinity were cited as leading
causes of degradation.
2 4 6 8 10 12
Number of States Reporting
14
-------
Protecting the Treasure
We are making progress in
assessing the threats to our wetland
resources and developing wetland
protection programs. However,
much work remains to be done to
fully identify and assess remaining
wetland resources, develop regula-
tory tools, and implement protection
programs nationwide.
One of the first steps in broaden-
ing wetlands protection is to develop
water quality standards for wetlands
and to define them as "waters of the
State," subject to the same protective
provisions of the Clean Water Act as
apply to other surface waters. EPA
issued guidance in 1990 to help States
develop these standards by 1993.
The leading Federal regulatory
program for the protection of wet-
lands is Section 404 of the Clean
Water Act. Section 404 gives the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers and EPA
the authority to issue permits to
protect the environment from the
adverse effects of the discharge of
dredged or fill material. The Corps
reviews about 13,000 applications a
year for projects that might affect
wetlands. EPA and other agencies
assist in the review and approval or
disapproval of these projects.
States protect their wetlands with
a variety of programs related to
permitting, restoration, wetlands
acquisition, coastal management, and
natural heritage conservation. At
present, however, only a few States
have completed developing water
quality standards for wetlands, and
coastal wetlands appear to receive
more regulatory protection than
inland wetlands.
Beginning in 1990, EPA estab-
lished a grant program to support
State wetland protection programs.
These grants have been used for a
range of efforts such as developing
water quality standards, monitoring
trends in wetland loss, coordinating
State and local planning agencies,
and disseminating educational
materials on wetlands. *
Wetland Water Quality Problems
Sediment
Salinity
Metals
Pesticides
Hydrologic Mod
Nutrients
Dissolved Oxygen
Selenium
PH
Weeds
23456
Number of States Reporting
The leading source of wetland loss
reported by the States is commercial
and residential development.
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GROUND WATER
Ground water - water found in
natural underground rock formations
called aquifers - is a vital natural
resource with many uses. In many
parts of the country, ground water is
the only reliable source of drinking
water. Although the Nation's
ground water is of generally good
quality, an increasing number of
pollution incidents affecting both
public water supplies and private
wells has been reported throughout
the country.
Our Uses of Ground
Water
About 51 percent of the popula-
tion of the U.S. relies to some extent
on ground water as a source of
drinking water. In rural areas, most
residents rely on potable or treatable
ground-water sources to provide
economical supplies of water for
domestic use. In fact, in nine States
ground water provides drinking
water for 75 percent or more of the
population.
Ground water is also used for
irrigation, industrial cooling and
processing, and livestock watering.
In the East and South, ground-water
withdrawals are primarily for indus-
trial and domestic purposes; in the
arid West, most ground water is
withdrawn for irrigation.
Protecting Our
Ground-Water
Resources
Many States are developing and
expanding regulations, legislation,
and programs needed to protect their
ground-water resources. The need to
protect ground water before it
becomes contaminated is critical:
ground-water cleanup is particularly
complex and expensive, and alterna-
tive supplies of water may be difficult
to obtain.
Ground-water protection can be
achieved through a variety of means,
including pollution prevention
programs, source controls, siting
controls, the protection of wellhead
areas and future public water supply
areas, and the protection of aquifer
recharge areas. The primary respon-
sibility for coordinating and imple-
menting ground-water protection
programs is vested in the States,
although Federal, State, and local
activities should all be linked in a
coordinated plan of action.
Ground-Water Uses
Urban Domestic Supply (13.8%)
Rural Domestic Supply (4.4%)
Industry (13.5%)
Livestock (1.5%)
According to information pro-
vided by the States in 1990,44 States
have adopted ground-water protec-
tion strategies. These strategies
typically outline goals for addressing
ground-water problems; outline a
system to classify ground-water
resources and monitor the health of
those resources; provide mechanisms
for coordinated government action
for preventing contamination; and
describe regulatory programs.
In addition, 37 States report
some form of current or pending
ground-water legislation that focuses
on the need for increased data
collection, public education activities,
and the establishment of technical
controls. Forty-one States report that
they have adopted ground-water
protection standards either describ-
ing general goals for nondegradation
of ground-water supplies or estab-
lishing threshold, health-based
concentrations for specific com-
pounds. States are also engaged in
mapping their ground-water
resources and the extent of contami-
nation and are developing innovative
programs to protect vulnerable
wellhead areas.
Although the States have pri-
mary responsibility for protecting
and managing their ground-water
resources, EPA works in partnership
with them through programs man-
dated by the Clean Water Act, the
Safe Drinking Water Act, and other
national legislation. EPA intends to
strengthen the progress the States
have made over the past few years in
ground-water protection by provid-
ing them with the financial, technical,
and management tools they need to
build on their current programs. One
new initiative is to encourage each
State to develop a comprehensive
ground-water protection program to
coordinate all of its programs affect-
ing ground water.
22
-------
Ground-Water Quality Sources of Pollution in Ground Water
In general, States rank their
ground-water resources as good to
excellent in quality, with contamina-
tion occurring only in local problem
areas. Many States are working to
better understand the existing quality
of their ground-water resources, to
identify potential sources of contami-
nation, and to determine the vulner-
ability of the resource to pollution.
In 1990,42 States ranked their
major sources of ground-water
contamination. The most frequently
cited sources were
Leaking underground storage
tanks such as gasoline storage
tanks at service stations and
heating oil supply tanks for
schools and public buildings;
Septic tanks that leak nutrients,
pathogens, and household wastes;
Poorly managed or poorly located
municipal landfills;
Agricultural activities such as
pesticide applications, irrigation,
feedlot management, and manure
spreading; and
Abandoned hazardous waste sites
such as those subject to cleanup
under the EPA "Superfund"
program.
States also identified the con-
taminants that originate from these
sources of pollution. Nitrates were
identified as a problem by 37 States,
metals by 33 States, pesticides by 32
States, and petroleum products and
volatile organic compounds by 31
States. *
Leaching of toxic chemicals from
landfill sites is one of the many
sources of ground-water
contamination.
Underground Storage Tanks
Septic Tanks
Municipal Landfills
Agricultural Activity
Abandoned Hazardous Waste Sites
Surface Impoundments
Injection Wells
Other Landfills
Regulated Hazardous Waste Sites
Industrial Landfills
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Number of States Reporting
Top Ten Pollutants in Ground Water
Nitrates
Metals
Pesticides
Petroleum
Volatile Organics
Brine
Synthetic Organics
Fluorides
Radioactive Material
Arsenic
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Number of States Reporting
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PROTECTING WATER QUALITY
The EPA works in partnership
with State and local governments to
improve and protect water quality.
A number of laws provide the
authority to develop and implement
pollution control programs. The
primary statute providing for water
quality protection in the Nation's
rivers, lakes, wetlands, estuaries,
and coastal waters is the Federal
Water Pollution Control Act of 1972,
commonly known as the Clean
Water Act.
The Clean Water Act
The Clean Water Act of 1972
and its amendments are the driving
force behind many of the water
quality improvements we have
witnessed in recent years. Key
provisions of the Clean Water Act
provide the following pollution
control programs.
Water quality standards and
criteria - States adopt
EPA-approved standards for
their waters that define the uses
for those waters, and specific
limits on pollution (known as
criteria) to protect those uses.
Effluent guidelines - The EPA
develops nationally consistent
guidelines limiting pollutants in
the discharges of industrial and
municipal sewage treatment
facilities. These guidelines are
then used in permits issued to
dischargers under the National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) program. Addi-
tional controls may be required if
receiving waters are still affected
by water quality problems after
permit limits are met.
Permits and enforcement - All
industrial and municipal facilities
that discharge wastewater must
have an NPDES permit and are
responsible for monitoring and
reporting levels of pollutants in
their discharges. EPA issues these
permits or can delegate that
permitting authority to qualifying
States. The States and EPA inspect
facilities to determine if their
discharges comply with permit
limits. If dischargers are not in
compliance, enforcement action is
taken.
New amendments to the Clean
Water Act now require permits for
municipal sewers that carry
stormwater separately from other
wastes and serve populations of
100,000 or more and for
stormwater discharges associated
with industrial activity. The EPA is
developing regulations to establish
a comprehensive program to
regulate storm sewers, including
requirements for State stormwater
management programs.
Grants - The EPA provides States
with financial assistance to help
support many of their pollution
control programs. These programs
include the construction and
upgrading of municipal sewage
treatment plants; water quality
monitoring, permitting, and
enforcement; and developing and
implementing nonpoint source
pollution controls, combined sewer
and stormwater controls, ground-
water strategies, estuary and near
coastal management programs,
and wetland protection activities.
-------
Nonpoint source control - The
EPA provides program guidance,
technical support, and funding to
help the States control nonpoint
source pollution. The States are
responsible for analyzing the
extent and severity of their
nonpoint source pollution prob-
lems and developing and imple-
menting needed water quality
management actions.
Control of combined sewer
overflows Under the National
Combined Sewer Overflow
Control Strategy of 1989, States
develop and implement measures
to reduce pollution discharges
from combined storm and sanitary
sewers. The EPA works with the
States to implement the national
strategy.
Other Water Statutes
Other statutes that also guide the
development of water quality protec-
tion programs include:
The Safe Drinking Water Act,
under which States establish stan-
dards for drinking water quality,
monitor wells and local water supply
systems, and implement drinking
water protection programs.
The Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act, Which establishes State
and EPA programs for ground-water
protection and cleanup and empha-
sizes prevention of releases through
management standards.
The Comprehensive Environ-
mental Response, Compensation,
and Liability Act, which provides
EPA with authority to clean up
contaminated ground water. *
Fish Consumption Restrictions
Toxic chemicals that enter rivers,
lakes, wetlands, 'and -estuaries may be
absorbed or ingested by aquatic
organisms that are/in turn, con-
sumed by larger, predators. These
toxic pollutants can bioaccumulate in
the tissues offish and shellfish,
which pose a potential health hazard
to people who eat them. When States"
find toxic substances in fish tissue at
concentrations exceeding established
health standards, they issue fish
consumption advisories or bans for
the areas affected.
National statistics on fish con-
sumption restrictions are incomplete,
For example, in 1990, some States
reported, hundreds of restrictions and
some reported very few. This may be
more the result of differences in how
fish are monitored and advisories are
set than actual differences in water
quality conditions.
In 1990, a total of 47 States
provided information on the number
of waterbodies with fish consump-
tion restrictions in their waters,
Forty-five States reported fish
consumption advisories on 998
waterbodies.
The pollutants most commonly
' identified as causing fish consump-
tion restrictions include PCBs,
, pesticides, dioxm, mercury, organ-
ics, and other heavy metals. States
report that the leading sources of
these pollutants are industrial
discharges and polluted wet
weattier runoff from urban areas,
storm, sewers, agricultural lands,
and resource extraction activities.
Reporting on fish consumption
restrictions is improving'as States
increase their monitoring of fish
tissue and establish stronger links ,
between the reporting agency and
the agency setting the consumption
restriction. EPA has developed a
computerized database of fish ,
consumption restrictions based
on State-reported-data arid expects
that information sharing between
database users will further improve
the process used to establish
and report fish consumption
advisories. *
dl 0 or Not Reported
1-10
Fvl 11-30
31-70
>70
Number of IFIsh Consumption Restrictions NatlortwWe
25
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You CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Federal and State programs have
helped dean up many waters and
slow the degradation of others. But
government alone cannot solve the
entire problem, and water quality
concerns persist. Wet weather runoff,
in particular, is everybody's problem,
and everybody needs to solve it.
Examine your everyday activities
and think about how you are contrib-
uting to the pollution problem. Here
are some suggestions on how you can
make a difference.
Be Informed
You should learn about water
quality issues that affect the commu-
nities in whichyou live and work.
Become familiar with your local
water resources. Where does your
drinking water come from? What
activities in your area might affect the
water you drink, or the rivers, lakes,
beaches, or wetlands you use for
recreation?
Learn about procedures for
disposing of harmful household
wastes so they don't end up in
sewage treatment plants that can't
handle them of in landfills not
designed to receive hazardous
materials.
Be Responsible
In your yard, test your soil before
you apply fertilizers, and look for
alternatives where fertilizers might
run off into surface waters. Consider
selecting plants and grasses that have
low maintenance requirements.
Water your lawn conservatively.
Preserve existing trees and plant new
trees and shrubs to help prevent
erosion and promote infiltration of
water into the soil. Restore bare
patches in your lawn to prevent
erosion. If you own or manage land
through which a stream flows, you
may wish to consult your local
county extension office about meth-
ods of restoring stream banks in your
area by planting buffer strips of
native vegetation.
Around your house, keep litter,
pet waste, leaves, and grass clippings
out of gutters and storm drains. Don't
waste water when you wash your
car. Never dispose of any household,
automotive, or gardening wastes in a
storm drain. Keep your septic tank in
good working order.
Within your home, fix any
dripping faucets or leaky pipes, and
install water-saving devices in
shower heads and toilets. Always
follow directions on labels for use
and disposal of household chemicals.
Take used motor oil, paints, and
other hazardous household materials
to proper disposal sites such as
approved service stations or
designated landfills.
Citizen volunteers in Texas catalog
and clean up beach debris.
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Be Involved
As a citizen and voter there is
much you can do at the community
level to help preserve and protect our
Nation's water resources.
Look around. Is soil erosion
being controlled at construction sites?
Is the community sewage plant being
operated efficiently and correctly?
Is the community trash dump in or
along a stream? Is road deicing salt
being stored properly?
It is important to know where
your elected officials stand on water
quality and environmental issues -
and let your opinions be heard! Many
communities have recycling pro-
grams; find out about them, learn
how to recycle, and volunteer to help
out if you can. One of the most
important things you can do is find
out how your community protects
water quality, and speak out if you
see problems.
Volunteer Monitoring:
You Can Become Part
of the Solution
In many areas of the country,
citizens are becoming personally
involved in monitoring the quality of
our Nation's water. As a volunteer
monitor, you might be involved in
taking ongoing water quality mea-
surements, tracking the progress of
protection and restoration projects, or
reporting special events, such as fish
kills and storm damage.
Volunteer monitoring can be of
great benefit to State and local
governments. Some States stretch
their monitoring budgets by using
data collected by volunteers, particu-
larly in remote areas that otherwise
might not be monitored at all.
Because you are familiar with the
water resources in your own neigh-
borhood, you are also more likely to
spot unusual occurrences such as
fish kills.
The benefits to you of becoming a
volunteer are also great. You will
learn about your local water
resources and have the opportunity to
become personally involved in a
nationwide campaign to protect a
vital, and mutually shared, resource.
If you would like to find out more
about organizing or joining volunteer
monitoring programs in your State,
contact your State department of
environmental quality, or write to:
U.S. EPA
Volunteer Monitoring (WH-553)
401MSt.SW
Washington, DC 20460
For further information on water
quality in your State, write to your
State department of environmental
quality. Additional water quality
information may be obtained from
the U.S. EPA and Regional offices
of the U.S. EPA (see inside back
cover). *
For Further Reading
U.S, EPA, 1988, America. '$ Wetlands; Our Vital link Between Lund and
Water, Office of Water, OPA 87-016.
U,S, EPA, 1988, Environmental Backgrounder; Wetlands, Office of Water,
U.S. EPA. 1989, EPA Journal: Can Our Coasts Survive More Growth?
Volume 15, Number 5.
U.S. EPA. 1991. EPA Journal: Nonpoint Source Pollution: Runoff of Rain and
Snozvmelt, Our Biggest Water Quality Problem. Volume 17, Number 5.
U,S, EPA, 1992, National Water Quality Inventory; 1990 Report to Congress,
Office of Water. EPA 503/99-92-006, ^ . .
* TJS. GOTERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1992 - 617-003 - 1302/67041
27
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Offices
EPA Region 1
JFK Federal Building
Boston, MA 02203
(617) 565-3424
Connecticut, Massachusetts,
Maine, New Hampshire,
Rhode Island, Vermont
EPA Region 2
26 Federal Plaza
New York, NY 10278
(212) 264-2515
New Jersey, New York,
Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands
EPA Region 3
841 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 597-9072
Delaware, Maryland,
Pennsylvania,
Virginia, West Virginia,
District of Columbia
EPA Region 4
345 Courtland Street, NE
Atlanta, GA 30365
(404) 347-3004
Alabama, Florida, Georgia,
Kentucky, Mississippi, North
Carolina, South Carolina,
Tennessee
EPA Region 5
77 West Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604
(312) 353-2072
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan,
Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin
EPA Region 6
1445 Ross Avenue
Dallas, TX 75202
(214) 655-2200
Arkansas, Louisiana,
New Mexico,
Oklahoma, Texas
EPA Region 7
726 Minnesota Avenue
Kansas City, KS 66101
(913) 551-7003
Iowa, Kansas, Missouri,
Nebraska
EPA Region 8
One Denver Place
999 18th Street, Suite 500
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 293-1119
Colorado, Montana, North
Dakota, South Dakota, Utah,
Wyoming
EPA Region 9
75 Hawthorne St.
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 744-1585
Arizona, California, Hawaii,
Nevada, American Samoa,
Guam
EPA Region 10
1200 Sixth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 553-4973
Alaska, Idaho, Oregon,
Washington
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