v>EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water Regulations
and Standards (WH-551)
Washington DC 20460
EPA 440/4-85-029
August 1985
National Water Quality
Inventory
-------
This report was prepared pursuant to Section 305(b) of
the Clean Water Act, which states:
"(b)(l) Each State shall prepare and submit to the
Administrator by April 1, 1975, and shall bring up to date
by April 1, 1976, and biennially thereafter, a report which
shall include—
"(A) a description of the water quality of all navigable
waters in such State during the preceding year, with
appropriate supplemental descriptions as shall be
required to take into account seasonal, tidal, and other
variations, correlated with the quality of water required
by the objective of this Act (as identified by the
Administrator pursuant to criteria published under
section 304(a) of this Act) and the water quality
described in subparagraph |B) of this paragraph,
"(B) an analysis of the extent to which all navigable
waters of such State provide for the protection and
propagation of a balanced population of shellfish, fish,
and wildlife, and allow recreational activities in and on
the water;
"(C) an analysis of the extent to which the elimination
of the discharge of pollutants and a level of water quaht)
which provides for the protection and propagation of a
balanced population of shellfish, fish, and wildlife and
allows recreational activities in and on the water, have
been or will be achieved by the requirements of this Act,
together with recommendations as to additional action
necessary to achieve such objectives and for what waters
such additional action is necessary;
"(D) an estimate of (i) the environmental impact, (n) the
economic and social costs necessary to achieve the
objective of this Act in such State, (111) the economic and
social benefits of such achievement; and (iv) an estimate
of the date of such achievement; and
"(E) a description of the nature and extent of nonpomt
sources of pollutants, and recommendations as to the
programs which must be undertaken to control each
category of such sources, including an estimate of the
costs of implementing such programs.
"(2) The Administrator shall transmit such State reports,
together with an analysis thereof, to Congress on or before
October 1, 1975, and October 1, 1976, and biennially
thereafter."
Cover Photo: Steve Delaney
-------
United States Washington DC
Environmental Protection 20460
Agency
£EPA
The Administrator
Dear Mr. President:
Dear Mr. Speaker:
As required by Section 305(b) of the Clean Water Act of 1972 (P.L. 92-500) and its 1977 amendments, I am
transmitting to the Congress the National Water Quality Inventory Report for 1984. This report is the fifth
in the series of national inventory reports published since 1975. It is based primarily on reports submitted by
the States in 1984; in some cases, State-reported information has been supplemented by EPA data. Although
EPA has analyzed and summarized the water quality information in the State reports, the views and
recommendations presented are generally those of individual States, not those of EPA or the Administration.
The 1984 State reports are being transmitted to the Congress in their entirety.
The 1984 State Section 305(b) reports show that significant progress has been achieved in the cleanup of the
Nation's waters. Of the rivers, lakes and estuaries that were assessed by the States, most are supporting the
uses for which they have been designated. These uses, such as fishing, swimming, and the propagation of
aquatic life, were found to be supported in 73 percent of assessed river miles, 78 percent of assessed lake
acres, and 82 percent of assessed estuarine and coastal areas. Thirty-four States cite the effectiveness of
municipal construction grants in improving water quality. Twenty States provide examples of water quality
improvements attributable to industrial controls.
Despite the high percentage of waters supporting designated uses, some States report elevated levels of a
variety of pollutants from point and nonpoint sources. Also, while significant improvements have been
realized as a result of pollution control programs, problems due to operation and maintenance needs for
treatment plants, permitting and enforcement backlogs, and funding needs are cited. States reporting toxic
pollutant problems and ground-water contamination are only beginning to address these special concerns. In
addition, difficulties inherent in the very nature of nonpoint source pollution continue to impede rapid
progress in its control.
Over the past two years, EPA and the States have worked together to improve and standardize their reporting
methods for this Section 305(b) process. Through a cooperative project with the Association of State and
Interstate Water Pollution Control Administrators, the States and EPA have selected a number of common
measures to describe water quality; many States were able to use these measures in their reports. This
document is the first of its series to incorporate them.
This document is also the first of its series to discuss ground-water and estuarine quality. Special topics of
current concern such as acid deposition and wetland loss are also covered. EPA will continue to work with
the States in developing and improving future reports in this series.
Lee M. Thomas
Honorable George M. Bush
President of the Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Honorable Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr. tf.S. tPVirOMmers* >' PfQteetlen Aaaafu
Speaker of the House of Representatives Reg/Ofl 5 I ihr- • nn *«W9r
Washington, D.C. 20515 J-f* ' l'r 19"
-------
Acknowledgements
This report is based primarily
on submissions from the
individual States and other
jurisdictions of the United
States. The Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) greatly
appreciates the time and effort
expended by State agencies and
regional commissions in
preparing these reports and
reviewing this summary
document.
The following individuals
from EPA's Monitoring and Data
Support Division were primarily
responsible for the
preparation and writing of this
report: Frederick Leutner, Alice
Mayio, Thomas Murray, and
Susan Svirsky. Significant
contributions were also made by
the ten EPA regional water
quality assessment coordinators
and a number of reviewers from
various EPA program offices.
The report was edited by Alice
Mayio.
Photographs were provided by:
the Center for the Great Lakes;
Steve Delaney; the Michigan
Department of Natural
Resources; James Plafkin,-
Research Triangle Institute;
Susan Svirsky; and William
Vocke. Illustrations were
provided by Sophie Burkheimer
(duotones) and Georgia Minnich
(ink drawings). Typesetting was
provided by Robert Flanagan of
EPA. Eileen Gordy, of Research
Triangle Institute, was the
graphic designer under contract
no. 68-01-6904, work
assignment no. 25. Production
was assisted by the staff of the
Graphics Department at
Research Triangle Institute.
-------
Contents
Acknowledgements ii
Preface iv
Executive Summary 1
Chapter One: Introduction 9
Chapter Two: Surface Water Quality 11
What is water pollution? 11
Rivers and Streams 15
The 1983 Goal of the Clean Water Act 24
Lakes and Reservoirs 2,5
The 1983 Goal of the Clean Water Act 2,7
The Great Lakes 2,8
Estuaries and Coastal Waters 32
The Islands 37
Chapter Three: Ground Water 39
Introduction 39
EPA's Ground-Water Protection Strategy 41
Ground-Water Problems as Reported by the States 42
Chapter Four: Special Issues and Concerns 45
Introduction 45
Toxics and Public Health Concerns 45
Acid Deposition 52
Wetland Loss 54
Abandoned Mines/Acid Mine Drainage 56
Funding Needs 58
Chapter Five: The Nation's Water Pollution Control
Programs 59
Controlling Water Pollution 59
Point Sources 60
Treating Municipal Wastewater 60
Water Quality Improvements 61
Treating Industrial Wastewater 63
Water Quality Improvements 64
Municipal and Industrial Compliance 65
Remaining Problems 65
Combined Sewer Overflows 66
Nonpoint Sources 67
Costs and Benefits of Pollution Control 73
State Recommendations 75
References 77
Appendix: Excerpts from the State Section 305(b) Reports A-l
-------
Preface
This document, the fifth in a
series of National Water
Quality Inventories published
since 1975, summarizes water
quality reports submitted by
the States and other
jurisdictions of the United
States in 1984. These State
reports are submitted to the
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) pursuant to
Section 305(b) of the Clean
Water Act. All but four States
and jurisdictions—Indiana,
Nevada, West Virginia, and the
District of Columbia-
submitted reports in time for
their inclusion in the tables,
figures, and text of this
document. Reports are now
available from these four
States and are summarized
in the Appendix. It should
be noted that some of the State
reports on which this document
is based were submitted in
draft form, and may contain
additional information in their
final form. The State reports
are based for the most part on
field data collected in 1982
and 1983.
Section 305(b) of the Clean
Water Act requires each State
to submit a biennial report to
the EPA describing the quality
of its navigable waters. This
report is to include the
following: an analysis of the
extent to which the State's
waters support fish, shellfish,
and wildlife populations and
allow water-based recreation,-
an analysis of the extent to
which pollution control
actions have achieved this
level of water quality, and
recommendations for needed
additional actions; an estimate
of the environmental impacts,
economic and social costs and
benefits, and date of achieving
this level of water quality; and
a description of the nature and
extent of nonpoint sources of
pollution and
recommendations for their
control. The EPA is required to
transmit the State reports to
Congress, along with an
analysis of these reports
describing the quality of the
Nation's water. Although EPA
has analyzed and summarized
the State water quality
information, the views and
recommendations presented
here are generally those of
individual States, not of EPA
or the Administration.
Over the past two years, the
EPA and States have worked
together to improve and
standardize their reporting
methods for this Section 305(b)
process. Through a cooperative
project with the Association of
State and Interstate Water
Pollution Control
Administrators (the States'
Evaluation of Progress (STEP)
project), the States and EPA
have selected a number of
common measures to describe
water quality; many States
were able to use these
measures in their reports. This
document is the first of its
series to incorporate them. It
should be noted that in some
cases the States may be
reporting the best professional
judgement of water quality
analysts, and not necessarily
quantifiable monitoring data.
This document is also the
first of its series to discuss
ground-water and estuarme
quality. Special topics of
current concern such as acid
deposition and wetland loss
are also covered. In some
cases, State-reported
information has been
supplemented by EPA data.
Because water quality trends
cannot be usefully calculated
on a biennial basis, trend
information has not been
included in this report but will
be an integral component of
the 1988 edition.
In addition to serving as
major sources of water quality
information, the State Section
305(b) reports are proving
valuable in directing and
supporting State and Federal
water quality management and
planning activities. Continuing
efforts are being made to
improve the quality of these
reports, and hence their
usefulness both as water
quality assessments and as
management tools.
-------
Executive Summary
The information provided by
the 1984 State Section 305(b)
reports, together with other
data, show that significant
progress has been made in the
cleanup of the Nation's waters.
Many of the most severe
pollution problems that
plagued our waterways in the
1960s and 1970s have been
abated. Many of the Nation's
rivers, lakes, and estuaries are
able to support, to a significant
degree, the uses for which they
have been designated.
Nevertheless, a number of
serious problems remain to be
solved, in particular the
cleanup of toxic substances in
fish, sediments, and water; the
management of nonpoint
sources of pollution; the
protection of ground water;
and the continuing need for
maintaining and improving
levels of water quality and
waste treatment in the face of
resource shortages. These and
other challenges can only be
met if Federal, State, and local
water protection authorities,
together with an educated and
involved citizenry, continue to
work in partnership to identify
problems, devise and
implement practical solutions
to those problems, and
anticipate future problems
before they arise.
To What Extent do the
Nation's Surface Waters
Support Beneficial
Uses?
As a measure of water quality
status, the States were asked
to provide information on the
extent to which their rivers,
lakes, and estuaries support
the beneficial uses (such as
fishing, swimming, and the
propagation of aquatic life) for
which they have been
designated. The States were
asked to provide this
assessment using the best
available information, which
could include the professional
judgement of water quality
experts and direct observation,
as well as actual chemical and
biological monitoring data.
The rivers, lakes, and
estuaries that were assessed for
designated use support in 1984
are only a small percentage of
the Nation's total waters. This
is because not all States
provided information on
designated use support, and
because, of necessity, the
States that did report generally
focus limited monitoring
resources on waters most
likely to be affected by
pollution. In some States, this
may be a small fraction of
total waters; however, the
remaining unassessed waters
are most likely to be of equal
or better quality. A recent
Many of the Nation's
rivers, lakes, and
estuaries are able to
support, to a
significant degree,
the uses for which
they have been
designated.
-------
Despite the high
percentage of wafers
supporting
designated uses, a
variety of pollutants
continue to be
detected in US.
wafers at levels that
exceed State water
quality standards or
other criteria
statistically-designed survey of
the biological condition of the
Nation's waters, conducted
jointly by the U.S. EPA and
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (1982 National
Fisheries Survey) compares
well with this designated use
information.
In 1984, the States reported
that designated beneficial uses
were found to be supported in
most assessed waters,
including 73 percent of
assessed river miles, 78
percent of assessed lake acres
(excluding the Great Lakes),
and 82 percent of assessed
estuarine and coastal waters
(see Figure E-l).
Despite the high percentage
of waters supporting
designated uses, a variety of
pollutants continue to be
detected in U.S. waters at
levels that exceed State water
quality standards or other
criteria such as U.S. Food and
Drug Administration action
levels.
• Across the Nation, the most
commonly reported statewide
pollutant of concern is fecal
coliform bacteria. Nutrients,
biochemical oxygen
demand/dissolved oxygen
depletion, turbidity/total
suspended solids, metals, and
other toxics were also
commonly reported, (p.12)
• Thirty-seven States reported
the occurrence of toxic
pollutants in their waters at
elevated levels, (p.46)
• Metals were the most
frequently reported toxic
pollutants, followed by
pesticides and other organic
chemicals. Industry was cited
as the leading source of toxic
pollutants, jp.48)
• The most commonly
reported problem affecting the
Nation's lakes is
eutrophication, the premature
"aging" of waterbodies caused
by excess nutrient levels.
Thirty-six percent of assessed
lakes were classified as
eutrophic, according to the 19
States that provided
information, jp 27)
Figure E-1
A Summary of Water Quality Status
Rivers &
Streams
325,619 mi.1
Lakes &
Reservoirs
9,577,270 ac.2
Fully Support Uses
Partially Support Uses
1 Based on data from 40 States with a total
of 1,200,000 stream miles
2Based on data from 30 States with a total
of 16,000,000 lake acres
Estuaries & Coastal
Waters
12,968 sq. mi.3
Do not Support Uses
Unknown
3Based on data from 12 States with a total
of 13,825 square miles of estuaries and
coastal waters.
Figure E-2
Geographic Regions* Used in This Report
Key
Centra! Plains
Mid/South Atlantic
Southwest
Central/Gulf Coastal
Northeast
Western Mountains
Great Lakes
Pacific Coast
'Determined for purposes of analysis and based roughly on hydrological, climatic, and geographic considerations
-------
Cause of Nonsupport of Use in Rivers, Lakes, and Estuaries
Rivers 50,852 miles
Lakes 1,537,812 acres
Estuaries 1,934 sq. miles
Figure E-3 1
A Summary of Sources of Pollution1
2%
Key
Municipal
Industrial
.; ;'•.*.'! Combined sewer
Nonpoint Sources
Natural
Other/Unknown
What are the Sources
of Pollution in those
Waters that Fail to
Support Uses?
The States were asked to rank
the sources of pollution
affecting those waters where
uses are not fully supported. In
the Nation's lakes and
estuaries, nonpomt sources
(such as runoff from
agricultural areas) were
reported as the leading cause
of failure to support uses; in
the Nation's rivers, point
sources (such as municipal and
industrial discharges that enter
the aquatic environment from
a pipe) were the leading
reported cause. This latter
finding may be due, in part, to
the fact that State monitoring
and assessment activities in
rivers and streams historically
have been focused on those
waters that are most affected
by point sources of pollution.
Figures E-3 and E-4 summarize
this State-reported
information, first by source for
the Nation as a whole, and
then by geographic region (see
also Figure E-2 for a map of
geographic regions).
Figure E-4. 2
A Summary of the Relative Importance of Sources, by Geographic Region
Northeast
Mid/South Atlantic
Central/Gulf Coastal
Great Lakes
Central Plains
Southwest
Western Mountains
Pacific Coast
Key
Point Sources
More Important
Northeast
Mid/South Atlantic
Central/Gulf Coastal
Great Lakes
Central Plains
Southwest
Western Mountains
Pacific Coast I
HH Nonpoint Sources
More Important
Northeast
Mid/South Atlantic
Central/Gulf Coastal
Great Lakes
Central Plains
Southwest
Western Mountains
Pacific Coast
1 Based on information from States that
reported on sources of pollution in waters
with impaired uses in 1984 (30 States for
rivers, 20 States for lakes (excludes Great
Lakes), and 10 States for estuaries)
28ased on information from States (see
above). Relative importance of sources
determined on the basis of percent
contributions of individual sources to
waters with impaired uses. Great Lakes
not included.
-------
Specific problems
associated with
ground-water
contamination are
among the most
complex
environmental
issues EPA and the
States have ever had
to deal with.
What is the Condition
of the Nation's Ground
Water?
In the last decade, the public
has grown increasingly aware
of the potential for
ground-water contamination.
According to a report by the
Congressional Office of
Technology Assessment
(October 1984), every State has
some degree of ground-water
contamination. Specific
problems associated with
ground-water contamination
are among the most complex
environmental issues EPA and
the States have ever had to
deal with: ground-water
contamination is extremely
difficult to detect and monitor,
and is not readily amenable to
conventional cleanup
measures
EPA has developed a
Ground-Water Protection
Strategy that provides a
common reference for
responsible institutions as they
work toward the shared goal of
preserving clean ground water
while protecting the health of
citizens who may be exposed
to contamination that occurred
in the past. As a followup to
the Strategy, EPA is developing
ground-water reporting
measures that will be included
in future reports.
In their 1984 Section 305(b)
reports, 42 States provided
limited information on
ground-water issues. While
this information is largely
anecdotal and must be tied to
information provided through
other studies, it does indicate
the dimensions of the problem
facing the Nation's
ground-water supplies.
• Thirty-five States reported
some problem with
ground-water contamination.
The most commonly reported
sources of this contamination
are industrial and municipal
landfills/lagoons, underground
storage tanks; pesticide
applications; septic tanks,- and
chemical, oil, and brine spills.
(p.42)
• The most commonly
reported pollutant groups
affecting ground-water supplies
are chlorinated solvents;
pesticides; miscellaneous
hydrocarbons, such as gasoline;
metals; salinity; and
radionuclides. (p.42)
• Ground-water depletion
problems and saltwater
intrusion problems are reported
by several States, (p.43)
*• - ,i
^ :,
-------
What Issues are of
Special Concern to
the States?
Many States identified issues
that are of special concern,
either because they are current
water quality problems or
because they are expected to
become problems in the near
future. Several of the more
commonly reported issues go
beyond State boundaries and
are national in scope.
Ground-water problems and
their mitigation are reported as
a special concern in 28 States.
(p.42)
Nonpoint sources of
pollution—difficult to assess
and manage, and having an
increasing impact on the
Nation's waters as point
sources are coming under
control—are reported as a
special concern in 19 States,
(p.16)
Toxic substances in water, fish
tissue, and sediments are
reported as a special concern
in 19 States. The problem of
fish contamination is
especially significant.
Thirty-three States report
detectable levels of toxics in
fish tissue, and 21 States
report finding toxics in fish
from some waters at
concentrations exceeding Food
and Drug Administration
action levels. Fifteen States
report that 42 bans on fish
consumption and 88 fish
consumption advisories are
currently in effect. Some of
these bans and advisories are
on segments of the same
waterbody, or apply differently
to different species of fish in
the same waterbody. These
results probably understate the
problem, since accounting may
be incomplete in some States
and since about half of the
States did not report at all on
fish bans and advisories.
Information on the
pervasiveness and effects of
toxics in the aquatic
environment is not yet
comprehensive, but will
improve as State toxics
monitoring programs develop.
(p.46)
i"i*iLniiPr
f *!**,,
' 1
Acid deposition, reported as a
special concern by 14 States,
appears to have greatest
impact in the Northeastern
region of the U.S., although
other regions are also
reportedly affected, (p.52)
Loss of valuable wetland
acreage is reported by 14 States
and jurisdictions as a special
concern. Competing land use
pressures (for example,
residential expansion, stream
impoundment activities, and
agricultural practices) are the
most commonly cited causes
of wetland loss, (p.54)
Abandoned mines and acid
mine drainage are reported as a
special concern in 9 States.
Extensive, often severe water
degradation occurs in streams
affected by acid mine drainage.
(p.56)
Funding needs are listed as a
special concern by 11 States.
The adverse impact of lessened
Federal and State support for
construction, upgrading, and
operation and maintenance of
municipal treatment facilities is
most commonly discussed, (p.58)
-------
In many cases the
signs of progress
are mixed with
evidence of
continuing problems
Are the Nation's Water
Pollution Control
Programs Working?
Significant improvements in
water quality are noted by the
States as a result of the
pollution control programs
instituted under the 1972
Clean Water Act. Particular
examples of site-specific
cleanup successes are widely
cited, as are reductions in the
amounts of conventional
pollutants (such as
oxygen-demanding substances
and suspended solids) being
discharged by municipal and
industrial waste treatment
facilities. In addition, a recent
report published by the
Association of State and
Interstate Water Pollution
Control Administrators found
that the Nation's tremendous
investment of resources in the
control of water pollution has
resulted in an overall
maintenance of water quality
despite substantial increases in
population, industry, and
development pressures—a
major accomplishment. This
report found that, in the 49
States that reported on water
quality conditions between
1972 and 1982, 296,000 stream
miles were reported to have
maintained the same water
quality, 47,000 miles
improved, and 11,000 miles
degraded. Pollutant loadings
from municipal sources were
seen to have decreased
dramatically between 1972 and
1982, and treatment of
municipal and industrial
wastes vastly improved.
Because early pollution
controls and monitoring
activities were primarily aimed
at conventional (i.e., non-toxic)
substances, this information
does not allow any assessment
of trends in toxic
contamination over the
1972-1982 decade.
Despite the improvements
noted above, continued
problems are cited by the
States due to municipal
wastewater treatment plant
operation and maintenance
needs, permit backlogs, and
funding needs. Combined
sewer overflows have proven
difficult and expensive to
control. Many States are only
beginning to address emerging,
complex special concerns such
as acid deposition and toxic
substances; solutions to these
problems will be elusive. In
addition, difficulties inherent
in the very nature of nonpomt
source pollution continue to
impede rapid progress in its
control. As this summary of
program highlights shows,
therefore, in many cases the
signs of progress are mixed
with evidence of continuing
problems.
• Thirty-four States cited the
effectiveness of the municipal
construction grants process in
improving water quality. A
number of site-specific
examples of water quality
improvement are noted, (p.60)
• Twenty States provided
examples of water quality
improvements attributable to
industrial controls, (p.64)
• The performance of
nonpoint source controls is
proving difficult to assess.
Solutions to nonpoint source
problems are complex for a
number of reasons: they must
generally be applied on a
case-by-case basis; many
different agencies share
responsibilities; technical gaps
remain to be filled; and
resource limitations impede
progress at all levels, (p.68)
• A review of State-reported
information on the Great
Lakes shows that levels of
many conventional pollutants
are declining, due largely to
improved levels of wastewater
treatment. Declining levels of
some toxic pollutants such as
DDT and mercury are also
noted, although fish
consumption advisories are
still in effect in parts of all
the Great Lakes, (p.28)
• The States noted that
improved levels of sewage
treatment have substantially
improved the quality of many
estuarine waters, but that
difficult-to-control problems
such as near-shore
development and resource
exploitation are growing threats
to water quality, (p.34)
-------
What Program Actions
do the States
Recommend to Further
Improve Water Quality?
Sixteen States provided
recommendations for future
program actions that will
allow the "fishable and
swimmable" water quality
objective of the Clean Water
Act to be met. Underlying
many of these
recommendations is the need
for continued or additional
funding. It should be noted
that these recommendations
were made by the States, not
by EPA or the Administration.
• Among the most commonly
reported recommendations are
to continue the construction
and upgrading of municipal
sewage treatment plants and
improve their operation and
maintenance; address existing
ground-water problems and
strengthen ground-water
protection programs; increase
the effectiveness of nonpomt
source controls; and collect
and assess data on toxic
substances in water, (p.75)
• Also discussed were
recommendations to improve
permitting, compliance and
enforcement activities;
continue and coordinate water
quality monitoring efforts,
address lake issues; improve
and expand water quality
standards and criteria; mitigate
the impact of combined sewer
overflows; and protect the
Nation's wetlands, (p. 76)
-------
Introduction
Water is one of the Nation's
most precious resources.
According to best estimates,
there are 1.8 million miles of
streams in the Nation, and
nearly 33.5 million acres of
publicly owned lakes and
reservoirs. The volume of
known ground water is about
fifty times greater than the
Nation's average surface water
flow. These waters have served
many varied purposes
throughout the Nation's
history.
Surface waterways
functioned as navigation and
supply routes for early
American explorers and
settlers. As populations grew
and spread, settlements sprang
up along the shores of these
routes to take advantage of
flowing water to power mills,
generate electricity, and carry
off wastes. Rivers were
dammed and diverted to
provide irrigation water for
agricultural enterprises on land
that was otherwise too arid for
farming.
In the 1960s, we began to
realize that some of these uses
conflicted with—and in many
cases prevented—other
water-based activities we had
been taking for granted.
Fishing, swimming, wading,
boating, bird-watching,
hunting, and simply enjoying
the beauty of rivers and lakes
became less and less possible
as waters grew stressed by the
poorly-treated byproducts of an
urban, industrial society.
Alternative drinking water
sources had to be found, or
expensive water treatment
methods adopted. Fish
populations declined or
disappeared in many
waterways once renowned for
their yields of sport and
commercial fish. Shellfish
harvests declined in estuaries
and coastal waters. Some
rivers and streams seemed
little more than open sewers
for miles downstream from
urban centers. Among those
were the Cuyahoga River in
Ohio and the Buffalo River in
New York, so polluted and
oil-slicked they had actually
been known to catch on fire.
Lakes and reservoirs, once
pristine, were choked by weeds
and algae growing at unnatural
rates. One famous victim of
such pollution, Lake Erie, was
dramatically declared "dead"
in 1969. The unseen threat of
toxic substances in our rivers
and lakes was only beginning
to be recognized.
In the late 1960s and early
1970s, a number of States
began pioneering individual
water pollution control
programs to deal with these
problems. The Congress,
recognizing the need for a
national agenda to bring these
problems under control,
-------
established the Clean Water
Act in 1972.
The objective of the Act is
to "restore and maintain the
chemical, physical, and
biological integrity of the
Nation's waters." An interim
goal established to achieve this
objective is that "wherever
attainable...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, 1983." The water
pollution control programs
that were developed to meet
this objective are not solely
EPA's responsibility; in fact,
many are the responsibility of
the States themselves, in
partnership with the Federal
government. For example,
thirty-seven States have been
approved to issue National
Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES)
discharge permits to factories
and municipal wastewater
treatment facilities; 21 States
have full charge of programs to
construct and upgrade
wastewater treatment plants.
In addition to these programs,
the States are responsible for
monitoring water quality
conditions, setting water
quality standards, and
establishing water
quality-based effluent
limitations. EPA, through its
ten regional offices, oversees
these programs to ensure
consistency and provide
guidance and technical
assistance to the States where
needed.
As State and Federal water
monitoring and pollution
control programs mature, we
are learning more and more
about the changing quality of
the Nation's waters. Only
recently, however, have the
States been urged to present
their water quality data using
consistent measures that
permit meaningful trend
assessments over time. For
this reason, and because trend
assessments require at least
several years of data in order
to be useful, an analysis of
water quality trends is not
provided in this report. There
are, however, some general
conclusions that can be
reached about trends in the
Nation's water quality since
the passage of the Clean Water
Act. A recent document
published by the Association
of State and Interstate Water
Pollution Control
Administrators (ASIWPCA),
entitled America's Clean
Water, discussed trends in
the Nation's water quality
between 1972 and 1982. This
publication, based on reports
prepared by the States in 1983,
found that the Nation's
tremendous investment of
resources in response to the
Clean Water Act resulted in an
overall maintenance of water
quality despite substantial
increases in population,
industry, and development
pressures. In the 49 States that
reported on water quality
conditions between 1972 and
1982, 296,000 stream miles
were reported to have
maintained the same quality,
47,000 miles improved, and
11,000 miles degraded. This,
according to the report,
represents a major
accomplishment. Pollutant
loadings from municipal
sources were seen to have
decreased dramatically during
the 1972-1982 decade, and
treatment of municipal and
industrial wastes vastly
improved. However, no
assessment of trends in toxic
contamination can be made
from this data, because early
pollution controls and
monitoring activities providing
much of this data were
primarily aimed at
conventional (i.e., non-toxic)
substances. The report
concludes that while great
strides have been made over
the decade through water
pollution control programs and
as a result of cooperative
efforts between the Federal
government and the States,
great problems and challenges
still require resolution. This
1984 National Water Quality
Inventory supports these
findings. In 1988, the
Inventory will attempt to
present substantive water
quality trend assessments
based on the measures
developed through the
ASIWPCA project.
10
-------
Surface Water Quality
For generations, little attention
was paid to contaminants in
rivers and lakes except when
they caused serious outbreaks
of disease. But in recent years
there has been a growing
awareness of water pollution
problems, their sources and
effects, and what can be done
to correct them. Discussed
below are eight of the more
commonly reported water
pollutants, or categories of
water pollutants, and their
effects.
Biochemical Oxygen
Demand/Dissolved Oxygen:
Aquatic organisms such as fish
and water-dwelling insects
require minimum levels of
dissolved oxygen (DO) if they
are to survive. Biochemical
oxygen demand (BOD) is the
term applied to organic loads
that reduce dissolved oxygen
levels.
Bacteria: Fecal cohform bateria
are indicators of the possible
presence of harmful
disease-causing organisms that
make waters unsafe for human
contact recreation and that can
make shellfish unsafe for
human consumption. Bacteria
are widely used as a measure
of "swimmability."
Nutrients: Nutrients are
substances such as nitrogen
and phosphorus that support
and stimulate aquatic plant
growth. In excess, nutrients
over-stimulate weed and plant
growth, causing unpleasant
tastes, odors, and unsightly
conditions.
Suspended Solids/Turbidity:
Particles of organic and
inorganic matter suspended in
water create turbid water
conditions. Turbidity interferes
with the recreational use and
enjoyment of waterbodies, has
direct effects on fish
respiration, reduces the
productivity of aquatic plants
by blocking light, and disrupts
fish habitat and reproduction.
Toxicants adsorbed onto
particulate matter may also be
a problem.
Total Dissolved
Solids/Salinity: The term
"total dissolved solids" refers
to inorganic salts, small
amounts of dissolved organic
matter, and other dissolved
materials in water. Salinity
problems are often naturally
occurring in the West, and are
aggravated by low flows and
the heavy use and reuse of
water for irrigation and other
agricultural purposes. Excess
dissolved solids are also
objectionable in drinking
water; they can affect the
health of people on low
sodium diets, cause unpleasant
What is Water
Pollution?
-------
mineral tastes, and increase
the chances of plumbing
system corrosion.
pH: pH is a measure of the
acidity or alkalinity of water.
Waters that are too acid (low
pH) or alkaline (high pH) are
unfit for animal or plant life,
can contribute to plumbing
system corrosion, and can
become sterile. pH can also
affect the toxicity of other
pollutants in water.
Ammonia: Ammonia is a
pungent, colorless, gaseous
compound of nitrogen and
hydrogen that is highly soluble
in water. In higher
concentrations, it is toxic to
aquatic life, and its toxicity
varies with the pH of the
water.
Toxic Substances: Toxic
substances include heavy
metals such as arsenic,
cadmium, lead, and mercury;
industrial chemicals such as
cyanides, phenols, and
polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs); pesticides such as
DDT and chlordane; and other
organic chemicals such as
dioxin. Many can accumulate
in tissues and are highly
persistent, they can cause
death or reproductive failures
in fish and wildlife, and can be
carcinogenic or cause other
health effects in humans.(See
Chapter 4 for further
discussion of toxics.)
Figure 2-1 illustrates the
frequency with which these
pollutants were reported by the
States in 1984 as being
"statewide concerns" The most
widely reported parameter of
concern is bacteria. High
nutrient levels, biochemical
oxygen demand/low levels of
dissolved oxygen, and
turbidity/total dissolved solids
were also widely reported.
Metals and other toxics also
figure highly among statewide
parameters of concern. In
addition, a number of other
pollutants were reported, but
less frequently; these included
temperature, sulfates, and oil
and grease. Figures 2-2 through
2-10 depict the States in which
those pollutants were widely
reported as statewide
Figure 2-2. Bacteria Problems Widely Reported
NR = No Report
I I No
Yes
Figure 2-3. Nutrient Problems Widely Reported
NR = No Report
I I No
I Yes
Figure 2-1. Most Widely Reported Pollutants
Figure 2-4. BOD/DO Problems Widely Reported
Pollutants
Source: 1984 State Section 305(b) Reports
NR = No Report
I I No
I Yes
Source- 1984 State Section 305(b) Reports
12
-------
Figure 2-5. Turbidity/TSS Problems Widely Reported Figure 2-8 pH Problems Widely Reported
0
NR = No Report I I No
I Yes
Figure 2-6. Metals Problems Widely Reported
Figure 2-9. Salinity—Total Dissolved Solids Widely Reported
Figure 2-7. Other Toxics Problems Widely Reported
Figure 2-10. Ammonia Problems Widely Reported
0
NR = No Report d]No
I Yes
Source. 1984 State Section 305(b) Reports
13
-------
concerns.
Pollutant sources can be
divided into two general
categories of concern, point
and nonpomt. Point sources
are those that discharge
through a pipe or other
discrete point. Examples of
point sources are municipal
sewage treatment plants,
factories, confined animal
feedlots, combined sewers, and
operating mines. Nonpomt
sources of pollution, on the
other hand, are diffused over
wide areas and cannot be
traced to any one point.
Among the various types of
nonpomt sources are runoff
from agricultural operations,
urban areas, construction sites,
abandoned mines, and forestry
activities.
Table 2-1 depicts the major
point and nonpomt sources
that discharge these pollutants
into the Nation's waters. This
table indicates that most
pollutants can come from an
extremely wide variety of
sources.
This chapter will discuss in
some detail the current
impacts and extent of
pollution on the different types
of waters of the United States.
River and stream quality will
be discussed first, both from a
national perspective and on a
regional basis. The chapter
will then address lake water
quality (again, both nationally
and by region), and will
conclude with a discussion of
estuarme and coastal water
quality.
Throughout this chapter, the
reader will note examples of
degraded waters for each of the
geographic regions depicted in
Figure E-2. It is important to
note that these highlighted
examples, drawn from the
State Section 305(b) reports,
are provided solely to illustrate
the varied nature of pollution
problems facing our States
These rivers, lakes, and coastal
areas are not necessarily the
lowest quality waters in their
regions or States, and in many
cases pollution control actions
are underway to alleviate their
reported problems.
Table 2-1.
Sources of Pollution
Pollutant/Pollutant
Category
Bacteria
Nutrients
Suspended solids/
Turbidity
Total dissolved solids
PH
Ammonia
Toxics
Possible Sources
Municipal wastewater treatment plants, industries (particularly pulp and paper mills) combined sewers natural
sources
Municipal wastewater treatment plants, combined sewers, urban runoff, feedlots. pastures and rangeland septic systems
natural sources
Municipal wastewater treatment plants, agriculture, septic systems, silviculture combined sewers construction
runoff
Agriculture, urban runoff, silviculture, construction runoff, mining, industries, combined sewers
Agriculture, mining, urban runoff, combined sewers
Atmospheric deposition, mine drainage
Municipal wastewater treatment plants, combined sewers
Industries, municipal wastewater treatment plants, agriculture, land disposal of wastes, silviculture, urban runoff
sewers
, spills, combined
14
-------
Each of a State's waterbodies
has one or more specific uses
designated for it. These water
uses may range from support
of coldwater fisheries and
primary contact recreation, to
irrigation or industrial cooling
where fishable and swimmable
uses are not attainable. The
State must ensure that the
waterbody is of sufficient
quality that these uses can be
met In their 1984 Section
305(b) reports, the States were
asked to assess the quality of
their rivers and streams in
terms of the extent to which
these designated activities or
uses are supported. Again it
should be noted that these
assessments may reflect the
professional ]udgement of State
water quality experts as well
as quantifiable monitoring
data In future reports,
information should be
available on the ratio of
monitored waters versus those
that were assessed solely on
the basis of professional
judgement.
The proportion of total
waters versus assessed waters
varies from State to State, and
depends on factors such as the
total amount of waters in a
State, the distribution and
severity of pollution sources,
and the availability of funds
for monitoring. States
generally focus their resources
on waters directly affected by
human activities or likely to
be used by the public. In some
States, this may constitute
only a very small percentage of
total waters. However, for the
most part, those waters that
were not evaluated are
believed to be of equal or
better quality than those that
were assessed. In fact, a recent
statistically-designed survey of
the biological condition of the
Nation's waters (1982
National Fisheries Survey, U.S
EPA-U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, June 1984), compares
well with the State-reported
designated use data discussed
below.
A total of 40 States and
jurisdictions reported on the
degree to which their rivers
supported uses. (See Figures
2-11 and 2-12.) In these States,
there are an estimated 1.2
million stream miles. The
States assessed 325,619 of
these stream miles for this
report, of these, 237,154, or 73
percent, were reported to fully
support their designated uses
Partial support of uses was
reported in 45,692 river miles,
or 14 percent, and 19,600
miles, or 6 percent, did not
support their uses. Degree of
use support in an additional
23,173 miles (7 percent) was
unknown. (See Figure 2-13.)
Three States—Pennsylvania,
Texas, and Vermont—reported
on the quality of their rivers
and streams in terms of the
number of miles meeting/not
meeting State water quality
standards. For the purposes of
this report, "meeting
standards" was considered to
be equivalent to "meeting
designated uses," even though
there are technical differences
between the two terms.
The States were also asked
to supply estimates of the
extent (in percentages] to
which individual pollutant
sources cause less than full
support of water uses.
Twenty-eight States provided
such information for a total of
50,852 stream miles. In these
States, the leading causes of
nonsupport of designated uses
are point sources, which
combine to affect 48 percent of
those assessed river miles in
which uses are impaired.
Municipal sources of pollution
affect 36 percent of assessed
stream miles with impaired
uses; industrial sources affect
11 percent, and combined
Rivers and Streams
NORTHEAST REGION
-------
Figure 2-11. Percent of Total Stream Miles Assessed
o
NR = No Report
I 1 Not Reported l|40 to 60
^B Less than 20 JJJ60 to 80
• 20 to 40 dU More than 80
Source 1984 State Section 305(b) Reports
Figure 2-12. Percent of Assessed Stream Miles Fully
Supporting Designated Uses
O
NR = No Report
I I Not Reported ^H40 to 60
^B Less than 20 HI 60 to 80
^H 20 to 40 I I More than 80
Figure 2-13.
Designated Use Support for
Assessed Stream Miles
(in percentages)
Fully Supporting
Partially Supporting
Not Supporting I I Unknown
Source 1984 State Section 305(b) Reports
Note Includes miles meeting standards
as fully supporting, and miles violating
standards as not supporting
Source 1984 State Section 305(b) Reports
sewer overflows affect one
percent. According to these
estimates, nonpomt sources
affect 39 percent of assessed
stream miles. In addition,
natural sources affect 2
percent, and the remaining 11
percent of streams are affected
by "other" or undetermined
sources of pollution. Figure
2-14 illustrates the national
summary of those
assessments.
This figure illustrates what
tasks lie ahead in cleaning up
the Nation's waters In
particular, it makes clear the
magnitude of remaining point
source problems, particularly
from municipal wastewater
treatment plants. Industrial
discharges, too, remain a
continuing concern, in large
part because of their potential
toxic effects. Water pollution
control efforts have
traditionally focused on point
sources of pollution because
these were the most noticeable
and the easiest to devise
solutions for, on the other
hand, to some extent point
sources may appear to be a
greater cause of pollution
because of this focus. As this
report will show, a great deal
of progress has been made to
date in solving point source
pollution problems since the
Clean Water Act was passed in
1972.
This figure also illustrates
the widespread impact of
nonpomt sources. Many States,
in fact, cite nonpomt source
pollution as an "emerging
issue" which is becoming
more evident as point sources
are coming under control.
Nineteen States cite nonpomt
sources as a special concern.
MID/SOUTH ATLANTIC REGION
VSj'-,? 7*!rr#»'"--
»M'T&V*d-v^-)«i*mfe3«il/.yl^^
16
-------
Figure 2-14.
Cause of Use Impairment in
Stream Miles Not Fully
Supporting Designated
Uses
Percent of Impaired Miles
50
Point Nonpoml Natural Other
Source of Pollution
Industrial HI Nonpoint
I I Municipal Natural
^H CSOs I ",'.] Other
Source 1984 State Section 305(b) Reports
Figure 2-15, based on
assessments made by 47
States, depicts lust how
pervasive nonpomt source
pollution is in the U.S.
Twenty-four States found that
nonpomt source pollution was
a ma) or source of water
degradation, 21 more reported
that nonpomt sources were a
problem of as yet
undetermined magnitude, and
two States classified nonpomt
sources as potential pollution
problems. In addition, Figures
2-16 through 2-25 depict
State-reported information on
the geographic distribution of
specific nonpomt sources, by
both severity and extent of
impact. Information is also
provided on the contribution
of specific pollutants from the
various nonpomt source
activities, as reported by the
States in 1984.
To further illustrate the
national summary statistics
presented above on the degree
of designated use support and
the impacts of the various
sources of pollution on our
rivers and streams, Figure 2-26
depicts a summary of this
information by geographic
region. In some cases, these
geographic assessments are
based on reporting from only a
small number of States, and
will be expanded and improved
in future reports. However,
some conclusions can be
drawn from this information.
In general, Figure 2-26 reveals
that point sources are reported
as the primary cause of use
impairment in assessed rivers
and streams in the four
"eastern" regions,- nonpomt
sources are reported as the
primary cause of use
impairment in rivers and
streams in three of the
"western" regions, and
combined sewer overflows are
reported as an important cause
of use impairment primarily in
the Northeast.
Figure 2-15. Level of Nonpoint Source Contribution
NR = No Report
I | Potential Problem
ggg Problem
HI Major Problem
Source 1984 State Section 305(b) Reports
CENTRAL/GULF COASTAL REGION
-------
Reported Seventy of Pollution
Figure 2-16. Nonirrigated Agriculture*
Reported Extent of Pollution
ffc, I I Not Reported
I I None
NR = No Report |~~1 Minor
(Moderate
I Severe/Mod
I Severe
NR = No Report
_ | Not Reported
I I None
I I Localized
Wide /Mod
Widespread
•The most common pollutants associated with nomrngated agriculture, as reported by the States, are turbidity/total suspended solids (TSS), bacteria- nutrients heavy metals and
biochemical oxygen demand/low dissolved oxygen (BOD/DO) ' '"««<»=>.«""
Reported Severity of Pollution
Figure 2-17. Irrigated Agriculture*
Reported Extent of Pollution
NR = No Report
I I Not Reported
I I None
I ... I Minor
(Moderate
| Severe/Mod
I Severe
o
NR = No Report
I I Not Reported
I I None
II Localized
(Moderate
Jwide./Mod
I Widespread
•The most common pollutants associated with irrigated agriculture, as reported by the States, are turbidity/TSS, nutrients, bacteria, and toxics including pesticides
Source 1984 State Section 305(b) Reports
GREAT LAKES REGION
The Black River
Biological and water quality
sampling between 1979 and
1982 has documented severe
degradation of a five-mile
segment of the Black River
between Elyria, Ohio and the
Lake Erie embayment.
Macroinvertebrate sampling
indicates very poor water
quality below the Elyria
wastewater treatment plant
(WWTP), with some recovery
occurring less than two miles
downstream-
Biological, chemical, and
physical conditions m the
lower five miles of the river
have been classified as
marginally degraded, but are
judged to be markedly better
than indicated by previous
surveys. This improvement is
attributed to greatly reduced
steel production and resultant
pollutant loading reductions
from the U.S. Steel plant at
Loram, Ohio at the Lake Erie
embayment. A special concern
in this river segment has been
the indication that
contaminated bottom
sediments are causing high
incidences of tumors in certain
catfish species (brown
bullheads).
Recovery of biological
communities in the Black
River downstream from the
Elyria WWTP depends on
improved wastewater
treatment. Decreased loadings
of BODg and ammonia-N are
the most critical factors;
loadings of heavy metals,
cyanide, and phenols do not
appear excessive based on the
number and severity of water
quality standards violations
and observed biological
conditions. Healthy
warmwater communities
upstream of the Elyria WWTP
and near Lake Erie, French
Creek, and smaller tributaries
to the degraded segment
should allow rapid recovery of
biological communities in the
Black River following
pollution abatement at the
Elyria WWTP.
18
-------
Reported Severity of Pollution
Figure 2-18. Urban Runoff*
Reported Extent of Pollution
NR = No Report
I I Not Reported Moderate
| | None BBSevere/Mod
I I Minor ••Severe
a &
O I I Not Reported
I I None
NR = No Report [ I Localized
|Moderate
j Wide /Mod
(Widespread
•The most common pollutants associated with urban runoff, as reported by the States, are turbidity/TSS, bacteria, nutrients, heavy metals, and BOD/DO
Reported Severity of Pollution
Figure 2-19. Construction*
Reported Extent of Pollution
Not Reported Moderate
None Hi Severe/Mod
I I Minor ••Severe
O I I Not Reported
I |None
NR = No Report I '-j Localized
Moderate
Wide /Mod
Widespread
•The most common pollutants associated with construction activities, as reported by the States, are turbidity/TSS and nutrients
Source 1984 State Section 305(b) Reports
CENTRAL PLAINS REGION
19
-------
Reported Severity of Pollution
Figure 2-20. Silviculture*
Reported Extent of Pollution
NR = No Report
C> I I Not Reported
I I None
I J Minor
Moderate
Severe/Mod
Severe
NR = No Report
I I Not Reported •§ Moderate
I I None ^BWide /Mod.
I -I Localized •• Widespread
*The most common pollutants associated with silvicultural activities, as reported by the States, are turbidity/TSS and nutrients
Reported Severity of Pollution Figure 2-21. Animal Waste*
Reported Extent of Pollution
NR = No Report
I I Not Reported
I I None
[~~1 Minor
I Moderate
| Severe/Mod
I Severe
NR = No Report
I I Not Reported
I I None
[ I Localized
[Moderate
j Wide /Mod
(Widespread
•The most common pollutants associated with animal management activities, as reported by the States, are bacteria, nutrients, BOD/DO, and turbidity/TSS
Source. 1984 State Section 305(b) Reports
WESTERN MOUNTAIN REGION
-------
Reported Severity of Pollution
Figure 2-22. Residuals*
Reported Extent of Pollution
NR = No Report
I I Not Reported Moderate
I | None |^| Severe/Mod
II Minor BHSevere
NR = No Report
Not Reported
I | None
ES3 Localized
Wide /Mod
Widespread
*The most common pollutants associated with activities involving residuals (landfills, dump sites, sludge disposal, septic systems, etc), as reported by the States, are toxics includ-
ing metals, nutrients, BOD/DO, bacteria, and organics
Reported Severity of Pollution
Figure 2-23. Mining*
Reported Extent of Pollution
£> I I Not Reported Moderate
I I None •• Severe/Mod
NR = No Report I I Minor ^•Severe
NR = No Report
I | Not Reported ^HModerate
[~ [None IBWide /Mod
I | Localized H Widespread
'The most common pollutants associated with mining, as reported by the States, are turbidity/TSS, metals, and pH
Source 1984 State Section 305(b) Reports
SOUTHWEST REGION
w *iw
21
-------
Reported Severity of Pollution
Figure 2-24 Saltwater Intrusion*
Reported Extent of Pollution
0
NR = No Report
I I Not Reported
I I None
I I Minor |
I Moderate
I Severe/Mod
I Severe
NR = No Report
C> I I Not Reported
I I None
I I Localized
Moderate
Wide /Mod
Widespread
"Dissolved solids are the most common pollutants associated with saltwater intrusion problems
Reported Severity of Pollution Figure 2-25. Hydrologic Modification*
Reported Extent of Pollution
NR = No Report
I I Not Reported
f I None
I i Minor
| Moderate
| Severe/Mod
I Severe
NR = No Report
I I Not Reported
I I None
I I Localized
[Moderate
j Wide /Mod
IWidespread
"The most common pollutants associated with hydrologic modification, as reported by the States, are turbidity/TSS, low flow, BOD/DO; and nutrients
Source 1984 State Section 305{b) Reports
PACIFIC COAST REGION
The Yakima River
The Yakima River from
Sunnyside, Washington to the
Columbia River—a distance of
104 miles—is classified by the
State as a priority waterbody,
with impaired uses.
This segment of the Yakima
is designated for fish
propagation, wildlife habitat,
secondary contact recreation
(fishing and boating), stock
watering, and industrial and
agricultural water supply.
Washington reports that
pollution is impairing a
number of these uses. Salmon
migrations and other fish
rearing, spawning, and
harvesting activities are
affected; wildlife habitat uses
are impaired; and sport fishing,
boating, and recreational
enjoyment are limited by the
impacts of pollution.
Before this area was
developed and water
withdrawn for irrigation
purposes, the Yakima River
supported large runs of salmon
and steelhead trout. Since the
construction of irrigation
projects and resultant
depressed summer low flows,
elevated nutrients, and higher
temperatures, sockeye salmon
runs have stopped and other
salmon and trout runs have
seriously declined. In addition
to irrigation withdrawals and
return flows, municipal and
industrial discharges also affect
the segment's quality. Only
two small creeks enter this
segment, and they too are
affected by irrigation
withdrawals; as a result,
during the irrigation season
much of the river's flow
consists of wastewater and
irrigation return water.
Washington is engaged in a
number of activities to
improve the Yakima's water
quality. In addition to standards
monitoring and NPDES
permitting activities, several
sewage treatment facilities
discharging to the river are
being upgraded and best
management practices are
being implemented to manage
irrigated agriculture and dairy
waste problems.
22
-------
Figure 2 26. Geographic Summary of Designated Use Support for Streams
Designated Use
Degree of designated use
support:
• No. of States reporting
• Total assessed miles
Miles fully supporting (%)
Miles partially supporting (%)
Miles not supporting (%)
Miles unknown (°/o)
Causes of non-support:
• No. of States reporting
Percent municipal
Percent industrial
Percent CSOs
Percent nonpoint
Percent natural
Percent other
11,80?
8,147(69)
2,876(24)
786(7)
Source: 1984 State Section 305(b) Reports
23
-------
The 1983 Goal of the
Clean Water Act
The degree to which rivers and
streams meet the fishable and
swimmable goal of the Clean
Water Act is a traditional
measure of water quality.
National progress toward this
goal is displayed in Table 2-2.
These numbers are depicted
for 19 States in terms of the
percent of assessed river miles
meeting the Clean Water Act
goal, these percents can be
seen to vary widely between
the States, from 43 percent of
Delaware's 491 assessed river
miles, to 95 percent of
Montana's 14,544 assessed
river miles. In some cases,
these variations may be
attributed as much to different
assessment techniques as to
actual differences in stream
water quality. For instance,
one reason for such differences
is variations in how
"swimmable" conditions are
evaluated.
Five States reported on their
progress toward the goal by
separating the fishable from
the swimmable component. In
each case, a far greater percent
of the assessed river miles
were found to be fishable than
were found to be swimmable.
The two components are often
separated for reporting
purposes because the fecal
coliform bacteria standard,
used as a measure of
swimmabihty but not affecting
fishing uses, is frequently
exceeded. In response to
questions that have arisen
about how effective the
measure is as an indicator of
the presence of waterborne
disease organisms, and how
frequently bacteria levels must
be sampled in order to assess
their pervasiveness, EPA is
developing a new standard for
the measurement of fecal
coliform contamination.
Another explanation is
offered by other States for the
low swimmability numbers
depicted in Table 2-2.
Delaware reports that the
majority of its miles not
meeting the goal are not
swimmable due to the strong
currents and turbid conditions
of estuanne nvers; therefore,
the goal is not being met
because of physical, and not
water quality, reasons
Arkansas also notes that most
of its streams that fail to meet
the swimmable goal are not
even designated for swimming
because of natural aesthetic
qualities. Intermittent, shallow
waters, sluggish or naturally
turbid waters, and streams
with steep banks are all
unsuitable for swimming
purposes.
Table 2-2.
River Miles Meeting the Fishable/Swimmable Goal of the Clean Water Act
State
Arkansas
Delaware
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
New Hampshire
New Mexico
North Carolina
Ohio
Oregon
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Texas
Vermont
Total River
Miles
11,202
—
31,806
9,300
10,704
91,871
10,274
18,750
19,168
24,000
14,544
3,500
40,207
43,919
90,000
724
9,679
80,000
4,863
Assessed River Percent
Miles Fishable
11,202 94
491 —
2,652 —
7,440 —
1,630 —
2,708 94
10,274 —
18,670 99
17,251 95
7,152 74
14,544 —
3,500 100
37,378 —
4,949 —
3,500 —
724 —
2,489 —
16,120 —
2,325 —
Percent Percent Fishable/
Swimmable Swimmable
53 —
— 43
— 66
- 92
— 47
39 -
— 90
21 —
96 95
19 —
- 93
— —
- 81
— 62
— 74
- 81
— 57
- 90
- 93
'Based on 19 states providing information in their 1984 Section 305(b) reports on their achievement of the fishable/swimmable goal
Source 1984 State Section 305(b) Reports
24
-------
In 1984, thirty States and
jurisdictions reported on the
degree to which their lakes
and reservoirs support
designated uses. In these
States, there are an estimated
16 million acres of lakes and
reservoirs. The 30 States
assessed a total of 9,577,270
acres of lakes for this report, of
these, 7,442,034 acres, or 78
percent, were determined to be
fully supporting their
designated uses. Partial
support of uses was reported in
1,524,300 acres (16 percent),
and 530,286 acres (5 percent)
were reported as not
supporting their designated
uses. In 80,640 acres (1 percent
of the total) the degree of use
support was unknown This
information is depicted in
Figure 2-27, it indicates that
the Nation's assessed lakes are
of good overall quality.
As noted earlier for rivers,
despite the high percentage of
waters that support their
designated uses, significant
pollution problems remain.
Nineteen States and
jurisdictions reported on the
sources causing use
impairment in a total of
1,537,812 acres of lakes and
reservoirs (See Figure 2-28.) In
these States, nonpomt sources
were reported as being the
leading cause of use
impairment, affecting 52
percent of assessed lake acres
Municipal sources were
reported to affect 31 percent of
lake acres not supporting uses,
industrial discharges followed
as a cause of use impairment,
and were reported in 10
percent of lake acres. Natural
sources were reported as a
cause of use impairment in
four percent of lake acres, and
the remaining three percent
were affected by other or
unknown sources. Combined
sewer overflows were not
specifically reported as a cause
of use impairment in lakes.
Nonpomt sources are
reported as the most important
cause of lake water quality
problems in all geographic
regions except the Mid/South
Atlantic, where municipal and
Figure 2-27.
Designated Use Support
for Assessed Lake Acres
(in percentages)
Lakes and
Reservoirs
Egjgl Fully Supporting
HH Partially Supporting
Not Supporting I I Unknown
Figure 2-28.
Cause of Use Impairment
in Lake Acres Not Fully
Supporting Designated
Uses
Note Includes acres meeting standards
as fully supporting, and miles violating
standards as not supporting.
Source 1984 State Section 305(b) Reports
Point Nonpomt Natural Other
Source of Pollution
Industrial ^^B Nonpomt
I I Municipal tl^al^ Natura
I I Other
Source 1984 State Section 305(b) Reports
NORTHEAST REGION
25
-------
Figure 2-29. Geographic Summary of Designated Use Support for Lakes
Designated Use
Degree of designated use
support:
• No. of States reporting
• Total assessed acres
Acres fully supporting (%)
Acres partially supporting (°/o
Acres not supporting (%)
Acres unknown (%)
Causes of non-support:
• No. of States reporting
Percent municipal
Percent industrial
Percent CSOs
Percent nonpoint
Percent natural
Percent other
1,058,577
242,490(23)
551,933(52)
264,154(25)
.a «
26
Source 1984 State Section 305(b) Reports
-------
industrial dischargers are
reported as the two leading
causes of use impairment in
lakes. This information is
presented by geographic region
in Figure 2-29.
The most widely reported
problem impairing uses m the
Nation's lakes is
eutrophication. Eutrophication
is the "aging" of waterbodies,
primarily lakes and other
standing waters, caused by
excessive nutrient levels.
Eutrophication is a natural
process that occurs over long
periods of time. However, in
many cases man's activities
have accelerated the process.
As we saw in Table 2-1,
nutrients enter lakes from a
variety of sources, agricultural
and rangeland runoff, leaking
septic systems, and municipal
wastewater treatment facilities
are leading sources. These high
nutrient levels can stimulate
the growth of algae and
aquatic weeds which, in turn,
affect fish populations and
recreational water uses
Lakes can be classified
according to their trophic
status or level of
eutrophication. Oligotrophic
lakes are those "younger"
lakes with low nutrient levels
and resultant low productivity
Eutrophic lakes are highly
productive and nutrient
enriched, with high levels of
organic matter in the water
column and in sediment.
Mesotrophic lakes are those in
an intermediate stage between
ohgotrophy and eutrophy
In 1984, 19 States provided
information on the trophic
status of their lakes and
reservoirs A total of 3,755
lakes were included in this
assessment. Thirty-six percent,
or 1,358 lakes, were classified
as eutrophic, 48 percent were
classified as mesotrophie, and
14 percent were classified as
ohgotrophic. In the remaining
2 percent of lakes, trophic
status was unknown. Figure
2-30 depicts this information
for these 19 States.
Figure 2-30.
Trophic Status of Lakes
(in percentages)
Eutrophic I I Ohgotrophic
Mesotrophic I I Unknown
The 1983 Goal of the
Clean Water Act
The Nation's lakes and
reservoirs, like its flowing
waters, are also traditionally
measured in terms of their
ability to meet the fishable
and swimmable goal of the
Clean Water Act Table 2-3
depicts information available
from the 1984 State 305(b|
reports on the degree to which
assessed lakes meet the goal.
This table does not include the
Great Lakes. Only 9 States
provided this information for a
total of 1,941,101 acres, in
these States, a high percentage
of lake acres are of fishable
and swimmable quality.
Table 2-3.
Assessed Lake Acres Meeting the Fishable/Swimmable
Goal of the Clean Water Act
State
Delaware
Kentucky
Maryland
Mississippi
Nebraska
New Hampshire
North Carolina
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Assessed Lake
Area (acres)
1,517
358,214
20,696
495,191
107,726
185,620
315,335
16,520
440,282
Percent Fishable/
Swimmable
92
100
100
96
99
85
81
96
72
Source 1984 State Section 305(b) Reports Source 1984 State Section 305(b) Reports
MID/SOUTH ATLANTIC REGION
Lake Chesdin
Lake Chesdin, a rnanmade
reservoir on central Virginia's
Appomattox River, has a
surface area of 3,200 acres and
serves as a public water supply
for a number of towns in the
area. It is also used for fishing,
boating, and swimming.
However, soon after the
reservoir was finished, in 1968,
problems developed: algae
blooms and high levels of
manganese in the water
resulted in taste and odor
problems. More recently, the
fishery has been declining,
possibly because of copper
accumulation due to prolonged
algicide use. Boating activities
have been hampered due to
nuisance algal growth,
excessive aquatic vegetation,
and excessive sedimentation.
In 1980, EPA awarded two
grants to local authorities to
study the lake's water quality
and develop a management
plan. The study found that
nonpoint sources—primarily
agriculture and to a lesser
extent forestry activities and
erosion—account for most of
the suspended solids and
nutrient loadings to the lake.
Water quality was found to
have been deteriorating since
1973. The study determined
that although massive
reductions in phosphorus loads
would be necessary to move
the lake out of the
"eutrophied" category, smaller
reductions would produce
beneficial effects and reduce
the rate of eutrophication. The
study recommended continued
monitoring and the use of
appropriate agricultural and
forestry best management
practices.
27
-------
The Great Lakes
The Great Lakes were formed
by receding glaciers some ten
to fifteen thousand years ago.
These lakes are an
interconnected system; water
flows from the Upper Great
Lakes (Superior, Huron, and
Michigan) to the Lower Great
Lakes (Erie and Ontario) and
eventually to the Atlantic
Ocean via the St. Lawrence
River. With the exception of
the polar ice caps, the Great
Lakes System is the earth's
largest surface fresh water
reservoir, in fact, it holds
one-fifth of all standing fresh
water.
The U.S. and Canada
cooperate through the
International Joint
Commission (IJC) to resolve
problems in the Great Lakes.
The first Great Lakes Water
Quality Agreement was signed
in 1972 and established
ob)ectives and criteria for
restoring and protecting the
Great Lakes System. In 1978, a
new Agreement was signed
that outlined programs and
practices necessary to reduce
pollutant discharges to the
Great Lakes.
The information that follows
was drawn only from the 1984
Section 305(b) reports. In some
cases, the States were unable
to provide current data.
Available information shows,
in general, that'
» Declines in nutrients and
other conventional pollutants
are evident and are due, in
large part, to improved levels
of wastewater treatment at
discharges along the shores of
the lakes;
• Declining levels of toxics
such as DDT, mercury, and to
a lesser extent PCBs are also
apparent;
• Despite these declines, FDA
action levels continue to be
exceeded in certain fish
species, although at somewhat
lower levels, and fish
consumption advisories remain
in effect in all of the Great
Lakes;
• Of the toxics, PCBs appear
to be the most widely cited;
• Water quality conditions are
adversely affected by the rivers
that flow into the Great Lakes;
and
• Conditions are worst near
major urban areas, where
municipal and industrial
dischargers are concentrated,
and where combined sewer
overflows and urban runoff
Lake Superior
According to the Michigan
1984 Section 305(b) report, an
extensive study of Lake
Superior was conducted in
1983 by U.S. and Canadian
Agencies, but its results are
not yet available. The last
intensive study, carried out in
1973 and published in 1976,
indicated that only a few
localized areas of degraded
water quality existed along the
shoreline. The lake is
classified as ohgotrophic.
A Michigan Public Health
Advisory is in effect for Lake
Superior lake trout. Analyses
conducted in 1980 determined
that levels of DDT and PCB in
lake trout had declined from
levels reported in 1972,
although PCB concentrations
continue to exceed the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) action level and the IJC
Water Quality Agreement
objective.
Minnesota reports on a
dramatic change in water
quality along the North Shore
of Lake Superior over the last
four years. A mining company
at Silver Bay, Minnesota, had
been discharging 67,000 tons
per day of waste tailings as a
result of its tacomte processing
operations. These tailings were
associated with asbestos-like
fibers. The mining company
ceased discharging to Lake
Superior in 1980 after the
Minnesota Supreme Court
ordered construction of an on-
land disposal basin for the
tailings. The decrease in total
suspended solids and fibers
concentrations has been quick
and dramatic as a result of this
action. Levels of fibers
monitored at Lake Superior
water intakes are now
one-tenth the levels present
when the discharge existed.
Continued improvement is
expected.
CENTRAL/GULF COASTAL REGION
28
-------
Lake Michigan
Northern Lake Michigan is
classified as ohgotrophic. The
southern portions of the lake
are more mesotrophic due to
heavy urban activity and
nutrient inputs around the
southern shore.
Michigan reports that a State
public health advisory is in
effect for a variety of fish
species throughout the lake.
Levels of DDT, dieldnn, and
PCBs are consistently highest
in fish taken from the
southern half of the lake.
These high levels in fish
correspond closely with high
levels of contaminants in the
sediments of the southern end
of the lake. Levels of DDT,
and to a lesser extent PCBs
and dieldrin, have been on the
decline but still exceed FDA
action levels in some species
of fish.
Illinois notes that municipal
sources account for 70 percent
of the water quality problems
along its Lake Michigan
shoreline. The two most
serious parameters of concern
are coliforms and nutrients;
toxics affect 0.3 miles of
Illinois shoreline, and PCBs are
reported of highest concern
among the toxics.
Illinois also reports,
however, that water quality
improvement was documented
in 58 of its 63 miles of Lake
Michigan shoreline between
1972 and 1982. This
improvement is evident from a
pattern of decreasing levels of
phosphate, ammonia nitrogen,
cohform, and phenol.
Swimming conditions have
also improved. The number of
beach closings associated with
discharges into the lake has
been reduced.
These improvements are
attributed largely to a remedial
program developed and
implemented with State, local,
and Federal funds. This
program diverted the
discharges of several large
wastewater treatment plants
from Lake Michigan and
regionalized a number of
smaller overloaded plants.
However, Illinois reports that
there is still a need to
continue remedial programs
and address combined sewer
overflows, nonpoint sources,
and toxics.
Lake Huron
According to a 1980
international study, Lake
Huron is classified as
ohgotrophic. Michigan reports
that water quality is generally
better in the northern half of
the lake, although the
southern half has improved
considerably due to
improvements in Saginaw Bay.
The loading of total
phosphorus to the bay from
the Saginaw River decreased
between 1974 and 1980, due
largely to phosphorus removal
efforts by municipal treatment
works. Changes in
communities of phytoplankton
(minute, floating aquatic
plants) also indicate improved
water quality within the bay.
On a lakewide basis, PCBs
have not affected Lake Huron's
fishery to the same extent as
in Lake Michigan and Lake
Superior. However, Public
Health Advisories are in effect
for a variety of fish species in
the southern half of the lake
and in Saginaw Bay. Fish
sampled in Saginaw Bay in
1980 showed levels of PCBs
exceeding FDA action levels.
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is classified a"s
eutrophic due to high nutrient
inputs and abundant algae.
Michigan and New York report
that some signs are evident
that algal productivity is
declining in western Lake Erie
based on data collected in 1978
and 1979, and that phosphorus
concentrations are leveling off
throughout the lake. New
York attributes the lake's
nutrient enrichment to
municipal and industrial
discharges, urban stormwater
runoff, combined sewer
overflows, vessel wastes,
dredge spoil disposal,
agricultural runoff, and runoff
and seepage from other
nonpoint sources. Ohio notes
that agricultural runoff is a
contributing factor to Lake
Erie phosphorus loadings.
According to the Michigan
report, sampling conducted
between 1977-1981 showed
decreases in DDT, DDE, and
mercury levels in fish; PCB
concentrations varied but
generally exceeded the IJC
Agreement objective in some
species. A fish consumption
advisory is in effect for some
fish species in western Lake
Erie.
Ohio reports on the quality
of bathing beaches along its
Lake Erie shore. The ma)onty
of beaches had good to
excellent bathing water quality
between 1978 and 1983. All
beaches classified as having
poor water quality are located
GREAT LAKES REGION
Lake Le-Aqua-Na
Lake Le-Aqua-Na is a publicly
owned lake in Stephenson
County; in northwestern
Illinois. Formed in 1956 by the
damming of.Waddams Creek,
it has a 40-hfeie surface area
and an average depth of 12
feet.
The State park that
surrounds the lake supports a
variety of year-round activities
including fishing, camping,
picnicking, hiking, and winter
sports. Yearly park attendance
in recent years has ranged
between about 300,000 to
350,000 visitors; the lake and
park could potentially meet
the needs of at least 530,000
visitors per year. It is thought
that this potential is not being
met because of the lake's
progressive degradation.
The lake suffers from severe
eutrophication and
sedimentation problems,
primarily because of nonpoint
source runoff from crop and
pasture lands within the
watershed. Algicides and
herbicides have been applied
since the lake's early years to
control algae and plant growth
encouraged by high nutrient
levels. Blooms of nuisance
blue-green algae occur during
the summer, and about a third
of the lake surface area is
covered by dense growths of
aquatic weeds. Storms add
large amounts of suspended
sediments, which are filling in
the lake at a rate of about 0.6
percent of its original volume
per year, During the summer,
depths below six feet are
without oxygen due to thermal
stratification; this aggravates
the lake's eutrophic
conditions.
A Clean Lakes study was
conducted in 1981-1983 to
develop a management plan for
the lake. A number of control
measures were proposed,
including
aeration/destratification,
shoreline stabilization, weed
harvesting, and periodic
chemical treatment. In
addition, the U.S. Department
of Agriculture is working with
local landowners to improve
agricultural practices and
streambank protection
measures.
29
-------
near urban areas. Moderate
levels of fecal contamination
are geographically widespread,
generally coincide with urban
development, and are related
to the occuirence and intensity
of rainfall events.
A lack of consistency in
beach closing criteria and local
monitoring programs has
existed since water quality
evaluations began. Recently,
more extensive monitoring at
some communities may be
responsible for more frequent
detections of violations of
water quality standards and,
hence, more frequent beach
closings. In many cases,
improvements in water quality
depend on reducing the impact
of combined sewer overflows
during periods of heavy rain.
Many beaches along the
Lake Erie shore have lost
popularity as bathing beaches
due to extensive erosion.
Erosion problems continue to
threaten Lake Erie beaches all
along the Ohio shoreline.
Lake Erie, as well as the
Niagara River and other
tributaries used for shipping
and boating, is sub)ect to water
quality problems resulting
from the occasional spillage of
oil and other hazardous
substances, and the disposal of
dredge spoil following dredging
operations.
Lake Ontario
New York notes that a steady
decrease in phosphorus loading
to Lake Ontario has been
observed since the signing of
the 1972 IJC Agreement. The
median total phosphorus
concentration reported for
1982 was the lowest in the last
13 years. Improving conditions
are also evident in the
phytoplankton community,
where a shift has taken place
toward species more indicative
of ohgotrophic than
mesotrophic conditions.
One of the major water
quality problems in Lake
Ontario is the
bioaccumulation of toxic
substances such as Mirex,
mercury, PCBs, and DDT.
Sediment analyses have shown
that the major sources of
Mirex are the Niagara and
Oswego Rivers, which, along
with the Genesee River,
significantly affect the
near-shore waters of Lake
Ontario. Lake Ontario
sediments have the highest
levels of toxics of all the Great
Lakes. Fish from Lake Ontario
contain levels of persistent
organochlonne toxics that are
higher than those found in
Lakes Superior, Huron, or Erie.
A ban on consumption of
certain species of fish in Lake
Ontario has been in effect
since 1976. PCB and DDT
levels in some fish species
exceed the IJC Agreement
objectives, although some
decreases in these two
substances were noted
between 1977 and 1981.
Toxics enter the near-shore
waters of Lake Ontario and
tributary streams through
runoff and leaching from solid
waste disposal sites, municipal
and industrial discharges,
combined sewer overflows,
urban stormwater runoff,
on-lot disposals, oil and
hazardous material spills, and
nonpomt sources. It is
suspected that atmospheric
inputs contribute half of the
lead loadings to the lake.
The lakeshore metropolitan
areas of Rochester and Oswego
contribute major discharges of
organic oxygen-demanding
wastes to Lake Ontario.
Industrial plants, combined
sewer overflows (CSOs), and
urban stormwater runoff,
among other sources, also
contribute to the problem of
low dissolved oxygen levels in
the lake. In addition, high
levels of infectious bacteria
have been detected in Lake
Ontario at the mouth of the
Genesee and Niagara Rivers
and are attributed to factors
such as urban runoff, CSOs,
and septic systems.
Despite the problems noted
above, New York reports that
steady progress has been made
in cleaning up the waters of
the Lake Ontario basin.
Regionahzation of treatment
facilities in the Rochester area
has resulted in the elimination
of twelve significant discharges
to Lake Ontario and its
tributaries.
CENTRAL PLAINS REGION
-------
WESTERN MOUNTAIN REGION
SOUTHWEST REGION
at
'T^;p«jfft-*"'v~'"•'" ""'
ning in 1981. These
$»&*
-
management recotn "
Al tf
Cleaw
,
lewtiito be
one or more resewMJ*
included oxygen depletion and
blue-green algal blooms during
levels ofnutrients (phosphorus
masses and weeds;
and1 «xces$ive aquatic
conditions
wete tttiitwftfd- to heavy
nutrient inputs from
of watershed ar& to
surface water area, typical of
artificial resemiKs, wew cited
as a teasoa ^y these
isservoiji w«w so diasaatically
influenced by their
surrounding watersheds.
SwdovaJ Cwiaty,
Quemado Lake in Gatron
Cawtty) aiatf Uke Roberts ift
Giant Cwaty— wew adieeted
for IwAer st«df . AH toei
exhibit advanced
6ttt»pfaieatiQn, aesthetic
i, and bi8tt»jB& nrf
pa** fish kills. The sources of
nutrients were found to be
cattle paaag, silviculture, and
ttoat hatchery effluent.
General watershed
ipaaaa^aDaettt reco»merid*tians
•were flftade to staWize or
reduce nutrient loadings,
ose
recommendations were: ;', .
parenting catfle access tft
degraded rangeland; reducing
logging disturbances;
stabilizing stream channels;
alum fcreatnmit » coatrol
Mutrient leveb} and sedinieat
screens to contf ol aqaatie
PACIFIC COAST REGION
Lake Tahoe
Located on the border between
California and Nevada, the
195-square-rnile Lake Tahoe is
a popular resort area
supporting a wide variety of
recreational uses. California
has designated the lake for
primary contact recreation (for
example, swimming and water
skiing), as wildlife habitat,
cold freshwater fish habitat,
for municipal and domestic
supply, and for agricultural
uses. The lake is classified as
oligotrophic, i.e., low in
nutrients and associated
enrichment problems.
Nevertheless, California
reports that some of the lake's
beneficial uses are being
adversely affected by major
development pressures in the
area.
Problems associated with
rapid development in the Lake
Tahoe area include nutrient
contamination from septic
systems and wastewater
treatment facilities, and
sedimentation caused by
erosion from construction sites
and by urban runoff. A Lake
Tahoe Basin Water Quality
Plan is in effect to mitigate
these and other problems
arising from development
pressures. For example, erosion
control and monitoring
projects are continually under
review; waste discharge
requirements for new
development projects are being
reviewed and issued;
enforcement actions are
carried out following
wastewater spills and in
response to erosion and leach
field problems at an area ski
resortj and stormwater
discharge permits are being
drafted.
31
-------
Estuaries and
Coastal Waters
The Nation's estuaries and
coastal waters are immensely
valuable resources. They serve
as vital fish, shellfish, and
wildlife habitats and nurseries;
are of great economic
importance for their
commercial yields of fish and
shellfish; provide unique
recreational opportunities to
vast segments of our
population; and serve as sites
for much of the Nation's
industrial activity.
Most estuaries are dynamic
and resilient ecosystems.
Active circulation patterns
(created by tides, wind, and the
mixing of fresh with saltwater)
can in some cases successfully
flush estuaries clean of natural
and manmade pollutants. In
Figure 2-31.
Designated Use Support for
Assessed Estuarine Square
Miles (in percentages)
O53 Fully Supporting
^B Partially Supporting
Not Supporting I I Unknown
Source 1984 State Section 305(b) Reports
addition to this natural
cleansing, large-scale efforts
made over the past decade to
upgrade the level of
wastewater treatment
nationwide have improved
water quality in many
estuanne and coastal areas.
However, clear signs are
emerging that estuaries and
coastal areas are being stressed
by growing development
pressures and by a variety of
difficult-to-control sources of
pollution such as combined
sewer overflows and
agricultural runoff.
Water quality information
on estuaries and coastal water
gathered from the 1984 State
Section 305(b) reports is largely
descriptive rather than
quantitative. However, 12 of
the 20 coastal States have
provided numerical
assessments of use
impairments in 12,968 square
miles of their estuanne and
coastal waters. This
information, depicted in Figure
2-31, indicates that 82 percent
of assessed estuarine waters
(10,597 square miles) fully
support their designated uses;
13 percent (1,689 square miles)
partially support their uses; and
4 percent (572 square miles) fail
to support their uses. Degree of
use attainment is unknown in
the remaining one percent of
estuarine square miles.
Ten States reported on the
sources of pollution in those
estuarine waters that do not
fully support their designated
uses (Figure 2-32). The leading
reported cause of nonsupport
in assessed estuaries is
nonpomt sources, which affect
48 percent of the area of
assessed waters with impaired
uses (919 square miles).
Municipal sources affect 36
percent (669 square miles);
natural sources affect 7 percent
(143 square miles); and
industries affect 4 percent (82
square miles). Combined sewer
overflows reportedly affect 2
percent of the area of assessed
estuarine water (44 square
miles), and other or
undetermined causes of
nonsupport are cited in 3
percent (55 square miles).
Figure 2-33 illustrates this
information, by geographic
region, for the ten States that
reported in 1984. Three of the
four regions reported that the
Figure 2-32.
Cause of Use Impairment in
Estuary Square Miles Not
Fully Supporting
Designated Uses
Percent of Impaired Square Miles
50
Point Nonpomt Natural Other
Source of Pollution
Industrial
I I Municipal
^^H Nonpomt
I I Other
Source 1984 State Section 305(b) Reports
a»as adjacent to Mexico,
Synthetic orgaaies, trace
aaetato, and fecal eeiilorto
confiBatinatioa of shellfish
ajrc the imajor
in. poor
Marine water quality,
. ParMg the report p&tic$ of
- s&dtesh
.«d;in-ifc Siiuijppj ''feasts*!
,.M parts of Sail
.Pajbfe, and
lays, and ia other .
isolated arias along the central
. coast. Jfeftch closures for body
contact recreation haw
generally been confined to the
southern beaches, near the criteria, -were expeeded to
Oottcentratiora of organics and
been detected akmg the entire' -zinc, mt-t dMWiifeMi
coast, '"fioi spots" ]ai:etts with * ""* *'•>—*—n.-^«*.iBii& JL
the highest concentration of
poilHtapts coiuMred to all
other at ess) iadictte- . _ ••
coastal eiivttoipnent. Th^
Sootheai Califeaia Vtsfrt *e^ :
."hot spm&" an4 pajtametssra
exceeding criteria th«tt db
central or noith^rn Califotni*;
Other "hot spots'* where water
32
-------
Figure 2 33 Geographic Summary of Designated Use Support for Estuaries
Designated Use
Degree of designated use
support:
• No. of States reporting
• Total assessed sq. miles
Sq. miles fully supporting (%)
Sq. miles partially supporting
Sq. miles not supporting (°/o)
Sq. miles unknown (°/o)
Causes of non-support:
• No. of States reporting
Percent municipal
Percent industrial
Percent CSOs
Percent nonpoint
Percent natural
Percent other
Source. 1984 State Section 305(b) Reports
33
-------
Atlantic Ocean-New
York Halter-Long
Island Sound
Over ten million people live in
the 1,406-square-mile basin
that drains directly to the
Atlantic Ocean, Long Island
Sound, and New York Harbor.
This is the most densely
developed area in New York;
water quality problems result
from the high concentration of
wastewater discharges from
municipal, industrial, and
other activities, and are
considered extremely serious
because they affect so many
people.
In the New York City
metropolitan area in particular,
water resources continue to be
characterized by low dissolved
oxygen levels, high bacterial
contamination, isolated
thermal pollution, and high
levels of heavy metals, oil, and
grease. Primary factors
contributing to the critical
water quality problems
throughout the basin include
municipal and industrial
discharges? urban storm runoff;
combined sewer overflows;
in-place pollutants; oil and
hazardous material spills;
nonpoint source activities such
as construction and
agriculture/ landfill leachate;
leading cause of nonsupport in
their estuanne waters was
nonpoint sources. Point
sources were cited as the
leading cause of nonsupport
only in the Northeast, where
municipal sources affect 54
percent of the 603 square
miles of assessed estuarme
waters with impaired uses, and
nonpoint sources affect 30
percent.
By and large, the picture that
emerges from the States'
narrative discussions of
estuarme and coastal water
quality is a mixed one. Most
States classify their estuanne
and coastal water quality as
"good." Recent improvements
in water quality have resulted
in opened shellfishing acreages
and increased recreational uses
in many coastal areas.
However, even States that
dredge spoil disposal; excessive
water use,- complex pound,
surface, and saltwater
intrusion; thermal discharges;
and residual wastes, including
sewage treatment sludge
generated in the metropolitan
region and discharged at ocean
dump sites. Bathing beaches
have had to be closed
periodically, especially in
western Long Island, because
of waste discharges and tirban
runoff. There is also concern
that offshore port and oil
extraction activities on the
Outer Continental Shelf will
bring about a further reduction
of water quality in this area.
Pollution from toxic
substances (heavy metals and
synthetic organics) has not
been assessed in detail in the
metropolitan region, although
concentrations of metals,
pesticides, and organic
compounds of all types are
prevalent in New York harbor,
Inventories developed by the
Interstate Sanitation
Commission indicate that
there are not enough data
available today to assess the
extent and character of toxic
contamination to metropolitan
waterways. Once existing
conditions have been better
documented, effective
strategies to manage these
problems can be implemented,
report improving or stable
trends note problems that may
threaten these critical
environments.
In almost all States that
reported on their estuarme and
coastal water quality,
improved levels of sewage
treatment resulting from the
Nation's construction grants
program have had substantial
impact. For example:
• In Connecticut, corrective
actions by local health
departments and improved
wastewater treatment plant
facilities have led to the
opening of previously closed
shellfish beds in Stamford,
Norwalk, Westpomt, Danen,
and other shoreline
communities. The State's
commercial oystermg industry
has improved significantly
since 1970, as has the lobster
harvest.
• In Rhode Island, a total of
1,123 acres have been opened
to shellfishing in the Point
Judith Pond and Little
Narragansett Bay areas due to
improved sewer treatment.
• New Jersey reports that
reduced bacteria
concentrations in certain
coastal bays and estuaries have
occurred because of improved
municipal sewage treatment
plants, and have resulted in
less restrictive shellfish
harvesting classifications. This
is considered New Jersey's
greatest water quality
improvement over the past
decade.
• New York reports that
estuarme waters under the
)unsdiction of the Interstate
Sanitation Commission (ISC)
have clearly shown improved
water quality over the past
several years. This trend is
attributed to the upgrading of
wastewater treatment plants to
secondary levels. Minimum
standards are increasingly
being met even in highly
industrialized areas, where
water quality has historically
been poor. However, dissolved
oxygen levels still drop below
standards for extended periods
in some locations. The ISC has
recommended that current
point source abatement plans
continue and that emphasis
shift to the problem of
combined sewers. New York
notes that a number of serious
problems continue to plague
the State's harbors and bays.
• In Maryland, the general
trend since 1972 has been
toward increasing numbers of
acres open to shellfishing. In
recent years this trend has
stabilized, about five percent
of total surface water acres are
now closed to shellfishing
activities. The reduction in the
number of closed harvesting
areas after 1972 is generally
attributed to improvements in
wastewater treatment facilities
made under the Clean Water
Act.
Despite these improvements,
a number of problems
continue to be noted as a
result of point source
discharges. In Rhode Island,
municipal sewage treatment
plant discharges are cited as a
primary cause of nonsupport of
designated uses and result in
34
-------
fecal cohform bacteria
contamination of shellfish
growing areas. In Puerto Rico,
municipal and industrial
sources of pollution are
responsible for 68 percent of
use impairments in coastal
waters. Critical water quality
problems in New York's
Atlantic Ocean/Long Island
Sound drainage basin, while
attributed to many sources, are
caused in large part by
wastewater treatment plant
discharges from metropolitan
New York and 39 ma) or
dischargers in the Long Island
area. South Carolina also
attributes shellfish closures
to sewage treatment plant
discharges, among other
sources.
Combined sewer overflows
(CSOs) are a significant source
of degradation in some of the
Nation's estuaries and coastal
areas. In Rhode Island and
Connecticut, in particular,
CSOs are cited as a major
cause of nonsupport of
designated uses. Rhode Island
discusses the impact of CSOs
in Narragansett Bay, noting
that in the past five years, the
most productive northern area
of the Upper Bay has been
closed 91 percent of the time
due to CSOs. Although this is
attributed in part to
increasingly restrictive
interpretation of bacterial
standards, the closures are
likely to continue unless major
CSO improvements are made
in the Providence metropolitan
area.
Development of coastal
areas and subsequent nonpomt
source pollution are also major
causes of water degradation.
Delaware reports that between
1954 and 1973, the amount of
land used for development
purposes in that State
increased over 120 percent.
The acreage of land used as
pasture also increased
dramatically, while wetland,
beach, and forest areas
decreased. Shoreline
development has further
accelerated in recent years.
Large amounts of sediment are
cited as a likely reason for
steep reductions in
commercial hard clam
landings in Delaware's inland
bays. Excess sediments can
destroy the conditions clams
need in order to feed and grow.
Delaware notes that the major
sources of these excess
sediments are farming,
residential construction, and
Alaskan Oil and
Gas Development
Offchoi* oii and Mas
deyetapnmt e^a-flaw .
substantial effects on water
quality. Asi foffer Isoine
adwrte effecte. Appiropdate
. the
y
wetland modification. Fish
kills, which often occur in
manmade dead end lagoons or
canals, are cited as a second
"alarming environmental
quality warning."
In North Carolina,
waterfront development
(particularly the building of
condominiums, vacation
homes, golf courses, and
marinas) is occurring along
both the ocean and sound sides
of barrier islands, as well as
along estuarme creeks, rivers,
and inland bays. Areas subiect
to these development pressures
are often adjacent to valuable
shellfishmg waters.
Conversion of coastal forests
to agricultural land uses also
has an adverse impact on
shellfish. The State notes that
fresh water draining quickly
off the land due to such
alterations may change
short-term salinity patterns in
estuaries and carry significant
amounts of sediment,
nutrients, pesticides, and other
pollutants.
South Carolina reports that
although levels of dissolved
oxygen, pH, and bacteria have
improved in the State's tidal
areas, development pressures
are a growing concern.
Heightened interest in
water-related recreation has
led to increased permit
applications for new
commercial and private
marinas, marina expansion,
and community and private
docks. Marinas are a potential
source of bacterial pollution
(particularly from vessel
discharges) and may
contaminate valuable
shellfishmg areas.
35
-------
submerged aquatic vegetation
Maryland reports on recent
research on the Chesapeake
Bay and its major tributaries
conducted uader the auspices
of the UvS. Environmental
Protection Agency's
Chesapeake Bay Program, This
program directed its research
efforts to threi areas: the loss
of submerged aquatic
vegetation, the increase in
toxic chemicals, and nutrient
enrichment. The study found
that:
* The Upper Bay, Mid-Bay,
Western, and Eastern Shore
tributaries are highly or
moderately nutrient-enriched.
• The Upper and Middle Bays
are contaminated with toxic
substances.
* Nonpoint sources contribute
significant nutrient loadings,
particularly nitrogen, to the
Bay system.
• Point sources are the
dominant source of
phosphorus discharged to the
severely enriched areas.
• The Susquehanna River
carries a major portion of the
nutrients and toxicants that
must be assimilated within the
Chesapeake Bay mainstein,
• Resources such as
_
changes irrdiver*i%r, aatfpther '
trends within- the ' sjune lay " -
regions that have tind
-------
One State and six jurisdictions
of the U.S. are islands; the
factors influencing their water
quality are markedly different
from those affecting waters of
the continental U.S. All seven
island groups—Hawaii, Puerto
Rico, the Virgin Islands,
Guam, American Samoa, the
Trust Territories of the Pacific
(Micronesia), and the Northern
Marianas Islands—submitted
Section 305(b) reports in 1984.
Islands are unique
hydrologic systems. They have
few streams; often these are
intermittent or "flashy," and
rapidly change from low or no
flow to flood level, depending
on rainfall. These streams
drain relatively small areas
that cannot really be compared
with the larger, more complex
drainage basins of the
continental U.S. Island streams
drain into coastal areas; these
coastal areas therefore receive
the bulk of island wastes and
suffer most from water quality
degradation. Many of the
islands depend heavily on
ground water as their primary
source of drinking water.
Some island water quality
conditions are analogous to
those of the continental U.S.
Inadequate municipal
wastewater treatment facilities
and nonpomt sources are
primary causes of pollution on
the islands. Sedimentation
problems are widely reported
as erosion occurs on land being
cleared for farming or
road-building. Fecal coliform
bacteria and nutrients are also
problem parameters. Wetlands
in Puerto Rico, the Virgin
Islands, American Samoa, and
the Northern Marianas Islands
are being severely stressed by
development pressures; in
Puerto Rico, for example, the
acreage of mangrove wetlands
has been reduced from 60,045
original acres to 16,054
acres—a 73 percent loss.
Ground water is a growing
concern because of
diminishing supplies, growing
populations, and problems
with saltwater intrusion. On
the other hand, as in the
continental U.S., water quality
improvements are noted in
Hawaii, Puerto Rico, American
Samoa, and Guam due to the
building and upgrading of
wastewater treatment
facilities.
In many ways, however,
island water quality problems
are unusual, especially in
those areas where pollution
control efforts are not far
advanced. For example:
• Human health problems
such as dysentery and hepatitis
are reported in the Trust
Territories of the Pacific due
to lack of adequate sewage
treatment and safe drinking
water supplies.
• The rate of solid waste
generation has risen in
American Samoa and the Trust
Territories because of new
trends in urbanization,
economic development, and
population growth.
• Fragile coral reef
environments are being
increasingly threatened by
turbidity in the Virgin Islands,
the Trust Territories of the
Pacific, American Samoa, the
Northern Marianas Islands,
and Guam. Erosion from
construction and agricultural
sites, dredging, channel
blasting, and dynamite fishing
are commonly cited as
affecting these coral reefs.
In many of these islands,
development is accelerating
faster than the capabilities of
existing management plans
that were designed to protect
environmental quality.
Circumstances that are new to
the islands—such as the
growing use of pesticides, the
mounting generation of solid
waste, and the movement of
populations from isolated
villages to governmental
centers—must be met with
comprehensive management
plans if valuable island water
resources are to be kept from
degradation.
The Islands
37
-------
Ground Water
Ground water is a vast
national resource and is used
for many agricultural,
industrial, and domestic
purposes. It occurs beneath the
surface of the earth in
aquifers—geologic formations
that contain enough water in a
sufficiently permeable setting
to yield usable amounts to
wells and springs. A variety of
geologic and geochemical
factors influence the
movement and characteristics
of ground water, making it a
complex resource to
understand.
Usable aquifers are present
nearly everywhere in the
United States. In fact, the
volume of known ground
water is about 50 times greater
than the Nation's annual
surface flow. In general, the
degree to which ground water
is used depends on a number
of factors such as its
availability, quality, and the
relative cost of delivering it to
individual users.
The Nation's use of ground
water has been steadily rising.
Between 1950 and 1980, total
ground-water withdrawals
increased 162 percent, ground
water is now being used at
twice the rate of surface
sources of fresh water. In some
parts of the country, ground
water is often the only
available source of drinking
water and can generally be
used with little or no
treatment. Over 50 percent of
the population of the U.S.
relies on ground water for its
supply of drinking water.
Ground water is not,
however, a trouble-free
resource. Ground water may
contain chemical constituents,
collected naturally through
contact with dissolving rock
materials, that make it unfit
for drinking or agricultural
uses. Common natural
constituents in ground water
include calcium, magnesium,
sodium, and nitrates. A variety
of human activities also
significantly affect ground
water, either by contaminating
or depleting it. Major sources
of contamination include
abandoned hazardous waste
dumps and poorly operated
hazardous waste facilities;
landfills, ponds, and lagoons
used for storing wastes; and
storage tanks containing
gasoline and other liquids.
There are also literally
hundreds of other sources of
ground-water contamination.
For example, failing septic
systems can contribute
bacteria, viruses, organic
compounds, detergents, and
chlorides; accidental spills of
liquid wastes, toxic fluids,
gasoline, and oil can occur
Introduction
39
-------
wherever these substances are
handled and transported,
underground inaction wells
are used in many States to
dispose of wastes and brines,
and can leak them if
improperly designed and
operated. Agricultural
activities such as the
application of pesticides and
fertilizers are another source of
ground-water pollution in
some areas, as are wastes from
operating and abandoned
mines. A special problem
exists in coastal areas, where
depleted aquifers are
threatened by saltwater
intrusion. The storage and use
of salt as a road de-icing
compound is a source of
ground-water contamination in
a number of northern States.
This list of sources of
ground-water contamination
keeps growing as new sources
are identified and verified.
Specific problems associated
with ground-water
contamination are among the
most complex that EPA has
ever had to deal with.
Ground-water contamination
is extremely difficult to detect
and monitor, and is not readily
cleaned up by conventional
measures. Ground water
moves very slowly, generally
at a rate of between five feet
and fifty feet per year; thus
very little dilution and mixing
occurs. Some pollutants may
be removed as ground water
infiltrates through the soil.
However, once contaminated
water reaches the zone of
saturation, additional cleanup
is limited. Contaminated
water may remain within its
aquifer for hundreds or
thousands of years. At present,
we simply do not know
how—or cannot afford—to
clean up most ground-water
pollution.
It is also extremely difficult
and costly to accurately assess
ground-water quality. Complex
geologic features and
ground-water flow paths
severely limit attempts to
measure the extent of
contamination problems
within aquifers, or to separate
the influence of adjacent
aquifers and wells from those
being sampled.
In the last decade, the public
has grown increasingly aware
of the potential for
ground-water contamination.
Reports of chemicals
threatening drinking water
supplies have mobilized State,
local, and Federal governments
to respond. But these responses
have suffered from a lack of
coordination among
responsible agencies, limited
information about the health
effects of exposure to some
contaminants, and a limited
scientific foundation on which
to base policy decisions.
Officials at all levels of
government have begun to
look for a definable strategy to
protect ground water. In
response to these concerns,
EPA in August 1984 issued a
Ground-Water Protection
Strategy that provides a
common reference for
responsible institutions as they
work toward the shared goal of
preserving, for current and
future generations, clean
ground water for drinking and
other uses, while protecting
the public health of citizens
who may be exposed to the
effects of past contamination.
40
-------
EPA's
Ground-Water
Protection Strategy
EPA's Ground-Water
Protection Strategy seeks to
build an institutional
capability within the States
and within EPA to cope with
ground-water problems on a
comprehensive basis. The
Strategy provides for greater
coherence and consistency
among EPA programs aimed at
protecting ground water, and
initiates new steps to deal
with major forms of
ground-water contamination
not now fully controlled. The
core elements of the Strategy
are:
Building and enhancing
institutions at the State level.
EPA plans to offer several
types of assistance to the
States. EPA will make existing
grant funds available to help
States develop ground-water
protection programs and
strategies. In addition, the
Congress has earmarked new
funds specifically for ground
water. States will also be
provided with technical
assistance in solving
ground-water problems. EPA
will also continue to support a
strong ground-water research
program more directed toward
State needs.
Addressing problems
associated with inadequately
controlled sources of
contamination. One principal
area of concern has been
leaking storage tanks;
legislation was recently passed
mandating Federal controls in
this area of ground-water
contamination. EPA is also
initiating efforts to determine
whether land disposal
facilities, including surface
impoundments and landfills
handling other than hazardous
waste, require further State or
Federal regulation. Another
recognized source of
ground-water contamination is
the use of pesticides; EPA is
stepping up efforts to assess
the leaching potential of
pesticides and to adopt and
implement appropriate
controls.
Issuing guidelines for EPA
decisions affecting
ground-water protection and
cleanup. This component
recognizes the need for
consistency in decisions
affecting ground water that are
made by EPA's regulatory
programs. In building
consistency, EPA considered
two basic questions: how to
define the resources to be
protected, and to what extent
those resources should be
protected. EPA is developing
guidelines that define three
classes of ground water, based
on the use of the water and its
vulnerability to
contamination. To improve
the consistency and
effectiveness of EPA's current
ground-water protection
programs, the guidelines will
support specific requirements
in each of the agency's
relevant program areas. Many
programs are delegated to the
States, and for authorization to
implement programs, States
must demonstrate that their
efforts are "no less stringent"
than the Federal program.
However, in implementing
these guidelines, EPA will not
require States to adopt the
Federal classification scheme
as part of their total State
program. As much flexibility
as possible will be provided
under existing statutes.
Strengthening EPA's
organization for ground-water
management. EPA has
formally established a new
Office of Ground-Water
Protection. This office will
direct the development of EPA
policies and guidelines for
ground water, and will
coordinate the relevant
activities of program offices. In
addition, EPA regional
ground-water offices will assist
in ground-water policy
development and
implementation; will
coordinate regional
ground-water programs, data,
training, and public response;
and will provide technical and
institutional support for States
devising ground-water
strategies of their own.
EPA's Ground-Water
Protection Strategy provides a
focus for protecting this
important resource and
making sense out of the many
programs affecting ground
water. The strategy does not
propose simple solutions to
the complex problem of
protecting the Nation's
ground-water supplies. But it
does take us a long way
toward rationalizing our
programs, dealing with
unaddressed ground-water
problems, and improving the
kind of State/Federal
partnership that is necessary
for effective action.
EPA is developing a format
to improve the compilation of
existing State ground-water
information. This reporting
format should greatly increase
the amount, consistency, and
quality of State-reported
ground-water information in
the 1986 National Water
Quality Inventory Report.
41
-------
Ground-Water
Problems as
Reported by the
States
In their 1984 Section 305(b)
reports, 42 States provided
limited information on ground
water issues. This information
was provided by State water
pollution control agencies that
have traditionally concentrated
their efforts on surface water
quality. Additional
information on ground-water
conditions and protection
programs may be available
from different State agencies
administering activities under
the Safe Drinking Water Act,
the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act, "Superfund,"
and other legislative
authorities. In addition, new
studies of the Nation's
ground-water conditions,
currently underway, will soon
be providing more
comprehensive data on many
of the issues that are discussed
below.
A recent report by the
Congressional Office of
Technology Assessment
(Protecting the Nation's
Ground Water from
Contamination, October 1984)
has found that ground-water
contamination exists in every
State and is being detected
with increasing frequency. The
State Section 305(b) reports are
generally consistent with these
findings. Of the 42 States that
reported on ground water in
1984, 35 reported some
problems with contamination.
While this information is
largely anecdotal and must be
tied to information provided
through other studies, it does
indicate the dimensions of the
problems facing the Nation's
ground-water supplies. The
major sources of ground-water
contamination reported by the
States are basically the same
as those found in other
studies: industrial and
municipal landfills/lagoons;
underground storage tanks;
pesticide applications; septic
tanks; and chemical, oil, and
brine spills.
These sources contribute a
wide variety of pollutants to
ground water. The most
commonly reported pollutants
include chlorinated solvents,-
pesticides; miscellaneous
hydrocarbons such as gasoline;
metals; salinity; and
radionuclides.
Twenty-one of the 42 States
reporting identified well
contamination incidents. In
some cases, contaminated well
water can be treated to remove
impurities; in more cases,
wells must be closed entirely
and alternate drinking water
sources must be sought. About
4,400 such incidents were
reported by the States in 1984.
Due to reporting
inconsistencies, this number is
not a complete tally of well
contamination incidents in
those 21 States; it does,
however, provide an indication
as to the magnitude of the
problem nationwide.
In 1984, the States were
asked to list any issues they
felt were of special concern; 28
of the 42 States reporting
identified ground-water
problems and their mitigation
as special issues. A variety of
ground-water problems were
reported. The following
examples illustrate the range
of problems:
• Maine estimates that it has
15,000 fuel storage tanks over
15 years old; most of these are
single-walled, with no
protection against corrosion.
Continuing deterioration of
these tanks is expected to
affect the State's water
supplies. A number of States
report that leaking
underground petroleum storage
tanks are a leading cause of
localized ground-water
contamination.
• Hazardous waste sites in all
States are being evaluated and
ranked, as part of the
Superfund program, on the
basis of factors such as the
population at risk and the
hazard potential of the
substances involved. Some 546
sites have been ranked and
placed on the Superfund
Priorities List. Most of these
sites involve some threat to
ground water.
• Texas reports that overuse
of ground-water resources and
degradation of ground-water
quality are particularly
troublesome because of
expanding economic activities
that are ground-water
dependent.
• South Dakota reports that
leaking artesian wells,
nonpoint sources, municipal
point sources, and
rural/domestic point sources
may all cause potential
ground-water pollution. Many
areas of South Dakota where
sandy soils overlie shallow
aquifers are showing increasing
evidence of significant nitrate
contamination. For example,
the State reports that every
town in Gregory County has at
least one municipal well in
which nitrate levels exceed the
EPA limit.
• Pesticides in ground water
are a significant problem in
many areas. California reports
that more than 50 different
pesticides have been found in
23 counties. The soil fumigant
DBCP (dibromochloropropane)
has been found in over 2,000
wells statewide since 1979.
Major sources of pesticides
include agricultural field
application, spills, and
improper disposal.
42
-------
• Hawaii reports that the
effect of droughts on
ground-water supplies is a
serious issue. Although the
present ground-water supply is
adequate to meet the current
demand on Oahu, where 80
percent of the State's
population lives, additional
withdrawals might also result
in saltwater intrusion.
Contamination is not the
only problem facing our
ground-water supplies.
Ground-water depletion
problems were reported by
several States in their 1984
Section 305(b) reports.
Problems with saltwater
intrusion were also cited by
several States.
Many regions and
communities in the U.S.
simply could not exist without
clean and dependable sources
of ground water. The 1984
State Section 305(b)
submittals, new research
information, and data available
from the variety of agencies
involved in ground-water
protection clearly show that
ground-water problems and
their mitigation are among the
major water quality issues
currently facing the States and
the Nation as a whole.
43
-------
Special Issues and Concerns
Introduction
In their 1984 Section 305(b)
reports, the States were asked
to discuss any issues that they
perceived to be of "special
concern"—i.e., significant
within the States and affecting
their water quality programs.
This section summarizes the
results of these discussions. It
should be emphasized that in
some cases these problems are
more widely found than is
shown here; of necessity, this
discussion is limited to those
States that cited these topics
as "special concerns" in their
1984 reports.
Five of the seven most
commonly cited special topics
are discussed in detail below.
These are: toxics and public
health concerns; acid
deposition; wetland loss;
abandoned mines and acid
mine drainage; and funding
needs. In addition,
ground-water problems and
their mitigation were reported
as special concerns by 28
States, and nonpoint sources
were reported as special
concerns by 19 States. Because
of the complicated and
pervasive nature of these two
concerns, and because of their
management importance,
summaries of State discussions
of these issues are provided
elsewhere in this report.
Tbxic pollutants are generally
defined as substances which,
by themselves or in
combination with other
chemicals, are harmful to
animal life or human health.
Nearly all of the pollutants
discussed in this report can be
in some sense toxic—i.e.,
harmful—in excessive
concentrations. For example,
untreated sewage and animal
waste threaten human health
because they carry potentially
harmful bacteria and viruses,
and sedimentation from
agricultural or construction
practices can smother, and
therefore destroy, aquatic life.
However, there are other
pollutants that may have a
severe, possibly irreversible
impact on human health or
the aquatic environment at
relatively low concentrations,
and are difficult to properly
use, control, and dispose of.
Toxics and Public
Health Concerns
45
-------
This group includes some of
the metals, pesticides, and
other synthetic organic
pollutants that contaminate
water, fish tissue, and bottom
sediments. These pollutants
are referred to in this report as
"toxics." Selected human
health and aquatic life effects
of fifteen of the most studied
toxics, as observed under test
conditions, are summarized in
Table 4-1.
Toxic monitoring requires a
high degree of sampling and
laboratory skill, time, and
money. Despite these
difficulties, many of the States
have been able to initiate their
own toxic monitoring
programs over the past few
years. As these programs
develop, we will become better
able to assess toxic pollutants
m surface water.
But the assessment is still
incomplete. While many States
are beginning to identify some
types of toxic contamination
of their waters, the actual
effects of these pollutants on
aquatic life and human health
remain for the most part
undocumented. In addition,
there are a number of other,
less studied toxics whose
range, effects, and
concentrations are even less
known. Because numerical
criteria limits for specific
toxics have been adopted by
some States and not others,
and because of past questions
regarding the limits
themselves, toxic
contamination will be
discussed here only in terms of
"elevated" levels. ("Elevated"
levels of toxic pollutants are
defined as exceedences of State
water quality standards, 304(a)
criteria, action levels or
tolerances established by the
Food and Drug Administration
under the Federal Food and
Cosmetics Act, or "levels of
State concern" where numeric
criteria do not exist.)
Analysis of the 1984 Section
305(b) reports reveals that
thirty-seven States reported
the occurrence of toxics in
their waters at elevated levels,
and an additional 8 States have
detected the presence of toxics.
Nineteen States (Figure 4-1)
consider toxic pollution as a
special concern.
Table 4-1.
Selected Human Health and Environmental Effects from Toxic Chemicals
Chemical
Aldrin/dieldrm
Arsenic
Benzene
Cadmium
Carbon tetrachlonde
Chromium
Copper
DDT
Di-n-butyl-phthalate
Dioxin
Lead
Methyl mercury
PCBs
Phenols
Toxaphene
Human Health Effects1
Carcinogen2 Teratogen2 Others
• Tremors, convulsions, kidney damage
• • Vomiting, poisoning, liver and
kidney damage
• Anemia, bone marrow damage
• Suspected causal factor in many human
pathologies, tumors, renal dysfunction,
hypertension, arteriosclerosis, Itai-itai
disease (weakened bones), emphysema
• Kidney and liver damage, heart failure
Kidney and gastrointestinal damage,
respiratory complications
Gastrointestinal irritant, liver damage
• • Tremors, convulsions, kidney damage
(minimal)
Central nervous system damage
• • Acute skin rashes, systemic damage,
mortality
• Convulsions, anemia, kidney and brain
damage
• Irritability, depression, kidney and liver
damage, Minamata disease
• • Vomiting, abdominal pain, temporary
blindness, liver damage
Effects on central nervous system death
at high doses
• • Pathological changes in kidney and liver
changes in blood chemistry
Environmental Effects
Toxic to aquatic organisms, reproductive failure in
birds and fish, bioaccumulation in aquatic
organisms
Toxic to legume crops
Toxic to some fish and aquatic invertebrates
Toxic to fish bioaccumulates significantly in
bivalve mollusks
Toxic to some aquatic organisms
Toxic to juvenile fish and other aquatic organisms
Reproductive failure in birds and fish,
bioaccumulates in aquatic organisms,
biomagnifies in food chain
Eggshell thinning in birds, toxic to some fish
Bioaccumulates. lethal to aquatic organisms,
birds and mammals
Toxic to domestic plants and animals,
biomagnifies to some degree in food chain
Reproductive failure in fish species, inhibits
growth and kills fish, biomagnifies
Liver damage in mammals, kidney damage and
eggshell thinning in birds, suspected
reproductive failure in fish
Reproductive effects in aquatic organisms,
toxic to fish
Decreased productivity of phytoplankton
communities, birth defects in fish and birds, toxic
to fish and invertebrates
'In many cases human health effects are based upon the results of animal tests
2lf a substance is identified as a carcinogen there is evidence that it has the potential for causing cancer in humans if it is identified as a ter,
46
-------
Figure 4-1.
Toxics Reported as a Special Concern
o
NR = No Report
I I No
I Yes
Source 1984 State Section 305(b) Reports
Nineteen States report that
nearly 6,500 stream miles are
known to be adversely affected
by toxics, both from
man-caused sources and
natural conditions. Twelve
States document known
adverse effects from toxics in
269,000 acres of lakes.
Many States reported on the
sources of the toxic substances
found in their waters,
sediments, and fish tissue.
These sources are summarized
in the following table This table
shows that industrial activities
are by far the most common
source of toxic chemicals in the
aquatic environment.
Source
Number of
States
Reporting
Source
of Toxics
Industry
25
Mining
13
Natural conditions
13
Sediments
13
Agriculture
10
Municipal facilities
Landfills/residuals
Spills
CSOs
This table also shows that
toxics can come from a variety
of disparate sources. Mining,
especially in the western part
of the country, is often a
source of metals. Certain
substances, such as arsenic and
mercury, can be naturally
found in the strata of some
geologic formations and can
make their way into surface
and ground waters Sediments
may hold toxics that were
discharged in the past; long
after the discharge has ceased,
the toxics can be released from
sediments to the water column
and to aquatic organisms.
Pesticides and herbicides used
in farming can often enter
waterbodies via runoff. In
addition, municipal facilities,
especially those that receive
industrial waste that has not
been pretreated, can be a
significant source of toxic
substances. Landfills that are
not properly sited, lined, or
controlled can contribute all
varieties of toxic pollutants, as
can spills from trucks, ships,
and storage facilities. Urban
runoff is a common source of
lead, primarily from the
deposition of auto emissions.
Table 4-2 presents potential
sources of some specific toxic
chemicals in water.
47
-------
Table 4-2.
Sources of Some Specific Toxic Pollutants
Chemical
Industrial Discharge
(point)1
Landfill/Impoundment
(nonpoint)
Other
Nonpoint
Atmospheric
Deposition
Aldrin/dieldrm
Arsenic
Benzene
Cadmium
Carbon tetrachlonde
Chromium
Copper
DDT
Di-n-butyl-phthalate
Dioxm
Lead
Mercury
PCBs
Phenols
Toxaphene
Some of the chemicals found in industrial discharges are no longer produced or are only produced inadvertently as a byproduct of other manufacturing processes
Some chemicals (for example, copper and phthalates), although present in landfills and impoundments, may not be leached in significant amounts from these disposal sites
Source Conservation Foundation, State of the Environment, 1982 (modified)
Metals
Metals such as mercury, lead,
and cadmium are the most
frequently reported group of
toxic pollutants, reported at
elevated levels by 33 States.
Specific metals reported are
summarized below.
Number of
States
Reporting
Metal Elevated Levels
Mercury
Copper
Zinc
Lead
Cadmium
Chromium
Arsenic
Nickel
Silver
Selenium
21
16
14
13
11
11
Pesticides
Pesticides were reported at
elevated levels by 25 States
(see Figure 4-2). Chlordane (15
States), DDT and its
metabolites (8 States), and
dieldrin (7 States) were the
most frequently reported
pesticides.
Figure 4-2.
Pesticides Reported at Elevated Levels
NR = No Report
I I No
I Yes
Source 1984 State Section 305(b) Reports
48
-------
Other organics
Organics other than pesticides
were reported at elevated
levels by 28 States. Specific
classes of organics reported are
summarized in the following
table.
Organics
Number of States
Reporting Elevated Levels
RGBs
22
Phthalate esters (for example,
di-n-butyl-phthalate)
Halogenated aliphatics (for example,
carbon tetrachloride)
Phenols
Monocyclic aromatics (for example,
benzene)
Dioxin
Fish Consumption
Advisories and Bans
One of the most common
ways to monitor toxic
pollution in water is to assess
the potential effects of the
chemical both on aquatic life
and on public health. The Food
and Drug Administration
(FDA), EPA, and the States
have established "action"
levels, concentrations of toxic
chemicals in fish tissue at
which there is potential for
harmful human health effects
if the fish is consumed. In
1984, thirty-three States
reported detectable levels of
toxic pollutants in fish tissue;
twenty-one reported the
occurrence of concentrations
exceeding FDA action levels.
One common response to the
detection of toxics at levels
meeting or exceeding action
levels is the establishment, by
the State, of a fish advisory
(usually a limit on
consumption) or a ban for the
affected waterway and fish
species.
A total of 24 States and
jurisdictions discussed fish
consumption advisories and
bans. In nine of those States,
no advisories or bans are in
effect. Eighty-eight fish
consumption advisories were
reported by 13 States; 42 fish
consumption bans, which are
more stringent than advisories
and indicate a higher level of
contamination, were reported
by 10 States. Some of these
bans and advisories are on
segments of the same
waterbody, or apply differently
to different species of fish in
the same waterbody. One State
reported that some advisories
had been issued, but did not
indicate how many were in
effect. It should be noted that
because some States may not
have reported all existing bans
or advisories, and because of
differing ways of accounting
for these restrictions, these
results most probably
underestimate the number of
advisories and bans in place
even in those States that
reported in 1984.
Most States listed the toxic
pollutants responsible for the
advisories and bans in their
waters. Pollutants or pollutant
categories of concern in the
cases of both advisories and
bans (table below) include:
Pollutant
Number of
States
Reporting
PCBs
11
Dioxin
Pesticides
Mercury
Chlordane
Other metals
Other organics
Lead
49
-------
Some examples of
consumption advisories and
bans, drawn from the State
reports, are highlighted below.
These examples illustrate the
range of toxic problems and
the varieties of sources that
affect our use of the Nation's
waterways.
• In Massachusetts,
contamination by PCBs has
caused fish consumption
concerns in New Bedford
Harbor and the Housatomc
River. Fishing in New Bedford
Harbor is banned, and an
advisory on fish consumption
is in effect for the Housatomc
River. Proposed dredging
projects in both locations are
expected to result in lower
concentrations of PCBs in fish
tissue.
• Mercury problems are noted
in two locations in Virginia. A
health advisory on fish
consumption is in place for
102 miles of the South River
and South Fork of the
Shenandoah River. The
mercury was released by a
synthetic fibers plant in
Waynesboro, Virginia from
1929 to 1950 and now is found
in the rivers' sediments;
monitoring of mercury levels
continues, although mitigation
measures have not been found
to be feasible.
In southwestern Virginia, 81
miles of the North Fork of the
Holston River were
contaminated by mercury
releases from a chemical
manufacturing operation in
Saltville. Although the plant
closed in 1972, mercury levels
remain above FDA action
levels; only catch-and-release
fishing is allowed. A $3.2
million dollar abatement
project, paid for by the plant
owner, has been completed. A
five-year followup monitoring
plan will determine if
additional abatement is
needed.
• In South Carolina, a fish
consumption advisory was
imposed in 1976 on Lake
Hartwell and Twelve Mile
Creek because of high levels of
PCBs. The primary source of
PCBs was an electrical
capacitor manufacturer near
Pickens, South Carolina; this
source has since ceased
discharging. Analysis of large
numbers of fish from Lake
Hartwell has shown that PCB
contamination is not as
extensive as previously
believed; as a result, the
advisory has been lifted from
certain portions of the lake. A
special monitoring program,
begun in 1976, has shown that
PCB levels in fishes have
steadily declined. However, it
is still not known when levels
will drop low enough for the
advisory to be lifted in all
locations.
• In Wisconsin, PCBs are the
contaminant most often
responsible for fish
consumption bans. In Lake
Michigan, for example, PCBs
found in some species at
concentrations exceeding FDA
action levels are believed to
enter the lake via atmospheric
deposition and tributary flow.
wCv
<&*•;&:•
50
-------
In the Fox River at Portage,
PCBs used in the manufacture
of carbonless copy paper have
contaminated many varieties
of fish. In the Sheboygan River
and the mouth of the Onion
River, extremely high levels of
PCBs are found in fish tissue.
In this case, the source was
determined to be an aluminum
die-casting firm that
improperly disposed of an
oil-absorbent material
containing PCB-beanng
hydraulic fluid. Municipal and
industrial discharges are
suspected as the source of
PCBs in certain fish species
from the Mississippi River
from Prescott to, and
including, Lake Pepin.
• Arkansas reports that, in
1978-1979, 175 miles of Bayou
Meto were found to be
contaminated by a highly toxic
chemical commonly known as
dioxin, a byproduct of
pesticide (2,4,5-T) production.
This finding, along with
substantial fish flesh
information, led to the closing
of Bayou Meto to commercial
fishing through a special
emergency order. The ban was
imposed in 1980, current
sampling indicates that dioxin
is still being found, along with
trace elements of the pesticide
aldrin, and DDT and its
metabolites. The ban is
therefore still in effect.
51
-------
Acid Deposition
In their 1984 reports, 14 States
cited acid deposition as a
special concern (Figure 4-3).
Acid deposition occurs when
emissions of sulfur and
nitrogen oxide gases interact
with sunlight, other chemical
substances, and water vapor in
the upper atmosphere to form
acidic compounds. These
compounds then fall to the
earth as rain or snow. They
may also be deposited in dry
form. In either form of
deposition, the original
pollutants can fall to the earth
many miles from their point of
origin; this makes acid
deposition a particularly
difficult problem to solve.
Two factors govern whether
or not acid deposition is a
problem in a given area. First
is the degree of acidity of the
deposition; second is the
ability of the soil or water in
the area to buffer (neutralize)
the acids. If the acidity of the
deposition significantly
exceeds the buffering capacity
of a particular watershed, the
ability of the affected
waterbody to sustain most
forms of aquatic life can be
seriously impaired.
In addition, acids can leach
metals such as aluminum,
mercury, and zinc from soil,
bedrock, or lake bottom
sediments. Once released into
streams and lakes, these
metals can reach levels that
are toxic to some forms of
aquatic life.
Measurements of
precipitation in areas that are
relatively unaffected by
industrial emissions indicate
that natural precipitation
generally has a minimum pH
of 5.0. In much of the eastern
U.S., particularly the
Northeast, the pH of
precipitation averages less than
5.0, and in some areas is as
low as 4.2. This is nearly ten
times more acidic than natural
precipitation.
In fact, the State reports
indicate that the Northeastern
region of the U.S. is most
affected by acid deposition,
although other regions are also
reported to be affected.
Evidence of acid deposition or
potential effects due to soil
vulnerability have been
documented in States in the
Mid/South Atlantic, Central
Gulf, Great Lakes, and
Western Mountain regions.
However, it is also clear that
few States are prepared to
accurately assess the impact
and extent of acid deposition
in their waters. To a large
degree this is due to the
relative newness of this issue,
and the scientific uncertainty
involved in determining
impacts, sources, and controls.
EPA's research has indicated
that sensitivity (or
susceptibility) of surface
waters to acid deposition is a
complex concept that cannot
be adequately captured by a
single indicator such as pH or
alkalinity. Sensitivity is also
strongly affected by
Figure 4-3.
Acid Deposition Reported as a Special Concern
NR = No Report
I I No
I Yes
Source: 1984 State Section 305(b) Reports
52
-------
characteristics of the
surrounding watershed, and of
the biota in and around the
waterbody. As used in the
State summaries (below) that
illustrate the nature of the acid
deposition problem, these
terms may refer to simpler
indicators. Caution should be
exercised in drawing
conclusions about the extent
of potential effects from these
examples.
• Acid rain is a major water
quality issue in Maine.
Though the full range of
impacts is not well
documented, several Maine
ponds may be exhibiting signs
of impacts that are attributed
to acid rain. Maine has been
participating in the National
Atmospheric Deposition
Program's monitoring
network; its four monitoring
stations have recorded a fairly
consistent pattern of
deposition generally ranging in
pH from 3.8 to 4.5.
• Massachusetts notes that
acid rain is a special and
complicated problem for the
State. Lowered pH and
alkalinity levels are attributed
to acid rain. Massachusetts is
currently researching
treatment techniques and
monitoring for damage.
• Vermont conducted a survey
between 1980 and 1982 in
which 82 lakes—more than 18
percent of the surface water
acreage in the State—showed a
high potential (as determined
by alkalinity classifications) to
suffer acidification. Thirty-six
of the most sensitive lakes are
being monitored to detect
temporal trends in water
chemistry and to determine
the status of their biological
communities.
• Pennsylvania has established
a program to monitor what
some data show to be the most
acidic precipitation in the
country. Several studies of
selected waterbodies show
chemical and biological
evidence of increased
acidification, although the data
are not yet conclusive.
• A study of Minnesota lakes
shows that between 1,400 to
2,500 of the State's lakes (25
percent of those classified as
fishing lakes) lack strong
buffering capacity and so may
be sensitive to acid deposition.
Included in this count are such
outstanding national resources
as Voyageurs National Park,
Superior National Forest, and
the Boundary Waters Canoe
Area.
• In Wisconsin, a general
water quality survey of 350
lakes was conducted in 1979
in the northcentral section of
the State. About 40 percent of
these lakes were found to
show alkalinity values that
made them sensitive to acid
deposition; this finding was of
particular concern because of
the heavy reliance on tourism
and fishing in this part of the
State.
EPA is conducting a survey
of both lakes and streams to
establish the extent and
severity of surface water
acidification. Related research
is being conducted on the
nature of specific aquatic
effects. Other research is also
underway to learn more about
the effects of acid deposition
on other media such as forests,
croplands, and soils. These
studies will reduce the level of
scientific and economic
uncertainty about the Nation's
acid deposition concerns and
are a prerequisite for sound
policy decisions. EPA expects
to publish the first report of
the surface water survey by
October, 1985. This report will
document the results of the
initial survey data for a large
number of lakes. Alternative
definitions of acidification and
sensitivity will be explained
and examined using this data
base.
53
-------
Wetland Loss
In their 1984 Section 305(b)
reports, 14 States and
jurisdictions cited wetland loss
as a special concern (see Figure
4-4); a number of other States
also discussed this problem in
some detail. Wetlands are
generally considered to be
areas that are inundated or
saturated by surface or ground
water long enough to support
water-dependent vegetation.
They include swamps,
marshes, bogs, wet meadows,
sloughs, prairie potholes, and
river overflow areas.
Wetlands are of critical
value to the natural
environment. Among their
many functions are: providing
habitat for wildlife such as
migrating waterfowl, and
nursery areas for shellfisheries
and fisheries; maintaining
water quality by trapping
excess nutrjents, allowing
chemicals and sediments to
"settle out"; regulating water
flow and thereby protecting
nearby land from floods and
erosion; recharging and
discharging aquifers; and
serving as unique research and
recreational sites.
Despite the widely
recognized value of wetlands,
in their 1984 Section 305(b)
reports the States cite a variety
of activities that are rapidly
diminishing wetland acreage
across the country. Current
estimates are that the present
national rate of wetland loss
is about 300,000 acres per
year. The primary cause of
wetland loss is clearly
competing land use pressures.
These pressures can take the
form of residential expansion
and development of resort
areas; impoundment of rivers
and streams; construction of
roads and highways; strip
mining operations and other
resource extraction operations;
and agricultural practices such
as draining, filling, and
channelization.
Wetlands that are sub)ect to,
but survive, these pressures are
likely to be degraded.
Missouri, for example, reports
that extensive channelization
has resulted m accelerated soil
erosion and sedimentation of
wetlands and streams.
Pennsylvania notes that the
development of resorts in
wetland areas has led to the
use of septic systems in
unsuitable soils, with resultant
seepage of nutrient-rich
effluent. This effluent
overstresses the natural
capacity of wetlands to
assimilate wastewater and
thereby protect water quality.
Montana notes that two
factors—-the haphazard use of
pesticides and herbicides near
wetlands, and increased
salinity due to poor
agricultural practices—have
been known to poison
livestock and waterfowl.
Kentucky reports adverse
effects on wetlands from
agricultural practices that
cause erosion and runoff of
chemical fertilizers and
pesticides, as well as from
domestic, industrial, and oil
brine discharges.
Many States provide
information that vividly
depicts the extent and
seriousness of the problems
facing the Nation's wetlands:
• In Louisiana, recent studies
indicate that approximately
32,000 acres of the State's
3,499,520 acres of coastal
marshes are being lost each
year. Since Louisana's
estuanne wetlands account for
a great part of the State's
economic activity (particularly
related to commercial fishing),
loss of these valuable
ecosystems is of great concern.
• Prior to passage of
Maryland's wetlands law in
1970, about 1,000 acres of
wetlands were being destroyed
per year. For the 25-year period
between 1942-67, wetland
losses in Maryland exceeded
23,000 acres. When historical
reports on wetlands are taken
into account, however, total
wetland destruction for the
60-year period between
1908-1968 approaches 200,000
acres.
• Data gathered in South
Dakota for the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service's National
Wetlands Inventory indicate
that approximately 6,000 acres
of wetlands were drained
annually from 1915 to 1980.
Historically, wetlands drainage
has been most intensive in the
Prairie Coteau region, which
includes the eastern one-sixth
of the State. It is estimated
54
-------
Figure 4-4.
Wetland Loss Reported as a Special Concern*
O
NR = No Report
I No
Yes
Source 1984 State Section 305(B) Reports
*Not shown- Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands
that about 65 percent of the
State's original wetlands
remain; 35 percent have been
drained as a result of either
natural causes or human
activities.
• The greatest loss of
wetlands in Missouri occurred
from 1900 to 1920. During this
time, many of the 2.5 million
acres of wetland hardwood
forest of southeast Missouri
were drained and cleared for
agricultural land. By 1975, less
than five percent of this
wetland area was left. A
wetlands inventory of 28
counties in the agricultural
northwestern quarter of the
State found that wetland
acreage suffered a 43 percent
reduction from 1955 to 1977.
• In Ohio, a wetlands
inventory conducted in 1954
estimated that 30,000 acres of
wetlands existed adjacent to
Lake Erie. By 1974, only
15,000 acres of wetlands
remained.
• Arkansas reports on wetland
loss in the Mississippi River
Delta. In 1978, there were
approximately one million
acres of bottomland hardwood
forests in the Delta, according
to 1979 projections, only
875,000 acres will be left in
Arkansas in 1985, and only
800,000 acres will remain in
1990.
• In Nebraska, ma)or losses of
wetland habitat are attributed
to certain practices, such as
the deepening of road ditches,
which are designed to gam
additional agricultural land or
prevent wetland interference
with irrigation systems. In the
Rainwater Basin area, for
example, a 78 percent loss of
original acreage was estimated
as of 1983.
Programs to protect
wetlands exist at both the
national and State levels. At
the national level, Executive
Order 11990, signed in 1977,
requires all Federal agencies to
minimize the destruction and
loss of wetlands. The U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers and
EPA co-administer the Dredge
and Fill Permit Program under
Section 404 of the Clean Water
Act. This program requires the
issuance of permits before
dredged or fill material can be
discharged in waters of the
U.S., including wetland areas.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service and the National
Marine Fisheries Service are
resource specialist agencies
that cooperate in the Section
404 Program. The U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service also
manages wetland wildlife
refuges and administers a
program for acquiring
important or threatened
wetlands. The Bureau of Land
Management manages millions
of acres of land, particularly in
the West, which contain
wetland areas. The U.S.
Department of Agriculture
administers the Water Bank
Program, in which private
landowners, in return for
annual payments, enter into
ten-year agreements in which
they pledge not to destroy
selected wetland areas.
Although over half of the
States have wetland protection
programs, they vary in scope
and regulatory strength, and
few States discussed their
programs in detail in their
1984 Section 305(b) reports.
Maryland reports that it has
had a tidal wetlands regulatory
program since 1970 which
requires property owners to
obtain State permission before
altering tidal wetlands. The
State also administers a dredge
spoil disposal monitoring
program, overseeing operations
that discharge dredged material
in an unconfmed manner. In
Pennsylvania, a formalized
approach to wetland policy is
emerging based on cooperative
State and Federal
environmental evaluation and
permitting efforts. Connecticut
reports that since the
enactment of its Tidal Wetland
Act, passed in 1969, only
one-tenth of one percent of the
State's remaining tidal
wetlands have been filled. In
addition, an Inland Wetland
Program has been established
which is administered by the
State and local municipalities,
the trend is toward a more
consistent statewide program
and improved management of
the State's wetlands.
Several States point out,
however, that their efforts to
manage wetlands are hampered
by a lack of current
information on remaining
wetland acreages and
classifications. The U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service's National
Wetlands Inventory, which is
currently underway, is
intended to provide such a
database. Educating the public
about the value of wetland
ecosystems is also widely
regarded as a high priority and
an effective means of ensuring
the protection of these
critically important natural
resources.
55
-------
Abandoned
Mines/Acid Mine
Drainage
Nine States reported that
water quality problems
resulting from mining
operations are of special
concern (Figure 4-5). However,
as was shown in Chapter Two,
these nine States are only a
fraction of those that reported
mining activities as a major
cause of nonpoint source
pollution. The discussion that
follows refers primarily to coal
mining operations, although
some western States also
report on use impairments
caused by drainage from other
types of mines such as copper,
silver, or uranium mines.
Mineral extraction activities,
particularly coal mining, have
had great economic
significance since the early
1800s. Coal production
reached its peak a century
later and has since declined
because of competition from
other energy sources such as
fuel oil, natural gas, and
nuclear power. Nevertheless,
mining continues to exert
powerful economic and
environmental influence in
many parts of the country.
Two basic mining methods
are used to extract coal: deep
and strip mining. Deep
mining, which involves
tunneling down to the
coal-bearing formation, was
more extensively used in the
past. Strip mining involves
removing a relatively thin
layer of soil and rock to reach
recoverable coal near the
surface. Today, strip mining
has come into more
widespread use because of
technological advances and
because it is less labor
intensive than deep mining.
Acid mine drainage is a
widespread problem affecting
many rivers and streams in
mining areas. During the coal
mining process, sulfur-bearing
minerals are exposed in
addition to coal, and form
sulfunc acid in the presence of
water and air. Acid mine
drainage is the
acid-contaminated water that
seeps or drains from mines. In
most deep mines, some effort
must be made to remove
ground-water or surface water
seepage either by pumping or
by draining. Drainage tunnels
were once a common way of
removing this water, and today
they are still draining ground
water from inoperative,
abandoned mines. Water also
seeps out of mines from other
locations such as mine
openings and shafts. This acid
water can dissolve metals such
as iron, manganese, and
aluminum from the rock strata
and then carry these metals
into rivers and streams.
Coal refuse piles also
contribute to the problem.
Rainfall percolating through
the refuse gathers acids,
minerals, trace metals, and
suspended materials and then
may either run off into surface
•waters or seep into ground
water. This runoff and seepage
are usually diffused over wide
Figure 4-5.
Acid Mine Drainage Reported as a Special Concern
0
NR = No Report
No
Yes
areas.
Acid mine drainage can have
devastating effects on rivers
and streams. In addition to
suffering from the toxic effects
of heavy metals in mine
drainage, most fish and the
organisms they feed on cannot
tolerate the acid conditions
that result when large
amounts of mine drainage
enter a stream. Furthermore,
when the receiving stream is
alkaline, iron compounds in
the drainage water may
separate out and settle on the
stream bottom. This "coating"
smothers bottom-dwelling
organisms; the result can be
barren waterways virtually
devoid of life for some distance
downstream from the mined
area.
The States that consider
mine drainage as a special
concern highlight just how
extensive it is as a source of
water degradation:
• Acid mine drainage is
western Maryland's most
severe water pollution
problem.
• In Pennsylvania in 1983,
acid mine drainage by itself or
in combination with other
pollution sources was the
reason why water quality
standards were not met in
1,884 of the State's 2,720
degraded stream miles.
• Kentucky reports that 587
miles of its streams are
affected by acid mine drainage.
Source 1984 State Section 305(b) Reports
56
-------
Stream siltation resulting from
mining operations is also a
ma) or problem responsible for
significant habitat
modification in Kentucky's
coal field streams.
• In Ohio, acid mine drainage
is the primary nonpomt source
problem and is particularly
prevalent in the southeastern
part of the State. Drainage
from abandoned coal mines
has adversely affected about
1,500 stream miles in 27
counties and has resulted in
standards violations for
sulfates, pH, total iron,
manganese, zinc, and dissolved
solids. About 370,000 acres of
abandoned strip mines, 7,000
acres of coal refuse piles, and
3,000 underground mines
contribute to these mine
drainage problems.
• Illinois reports that 218,232
acres of land in 62 counties
have been identified as being
affected by surface and
underground mining
operations. While these
operations do not all
necessarily affect water
quality, the potential for such
impacts is noted.
• Missouri states that acid
mine drainage from abandoned
mines, while less extensive
than problems of soil erosion
and sedimentation, is a much
more severe problem where it
occurs. It has been determined
to be a cause of nonsupport of
beneficial uses in over half of
the 65 stream miles that fail to
support uses in the State.
Erosion and seepage from lead
and zinc tailings areas are also
reported as problems.
• Almost 450 miles have been
identified as affected by
drainage from metal mines in
Colorado.
• In Arizona, mining
operations are among the most
extensive causes of water
degradation. Overall, the State
reports that approximately 300
miles of ephemeral waters and
60 miles of perennial streams
are cited as being severely
affected by mining.
• In Montana, seepage from
old mine tailings and
discharges from abandoned
mines cause pollution of rivers
and streams. Heavy metals,
dissolved solids, sulfates, and
acid waters are of greatest
concern. Hundreds of stream
miles have been affected by
abandoned hardrock mining
operations; water quality
standards have been violated
and designated uses for growth
and propagation of aquatic life
have been impaired.
For operating mines, EPA
and State National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES) permitting programs
are in place in many areas to
control point source
discharges, and Best
Management Practices are
being planned, developed, and
implemented to lessen diffuse
runoff problems. However, a
great number of mines were
operated and abandoned years
before the water quality
impacts of mining practices
were a consideration; these
pose a problem that is
particularly difficult to solve.
The major Federal law that
addresses the abandoned mine
problem and authorizes funds
for State programs is the
Federal Surface Mining
Control and Reclamation Act
of 1977 (P.L. 95-87). Programs
to abate the impacts of acid
mine drainage from abandoned
mines include treatment of
discharges; reclamation of land
through refilling, regrading,
and replanting of strip mined
areas; revegetation of mine
refuse piles; and sealing of
mines.
The States report that some
of these programs are making
progress toward cleaning
abandoned mine drainage
problems. In Pennsylvania, a
$500 million fund was created
by voter referendum in 1967
for a program known as
Operation Scarhft. One
hundred and twenty million
dollars were earmarked for the
prevention, control, and
elimination of stream
pollution from abandoned
mine areas. Twelve acid mine
drainage treatment plants have
been built with Operation
Scarhft funds, but their high
cost has discouraged further
construction. These treatment
plants have made an impact:
Pennsylvania notes that a
treatment plant built on
Swamp Creek, which feeds the
East Branch of the Clarion
River Lake, has markedly
improved the quality of the
lake. Until a few years ago, the
lake was devoid of fish due to
acid mine drainage; today, it is
a popular fishing spot and
harbors large numbers of fish
of several different species. In
addition, Pennsylvania receives
funds from the Department of
the Interior's Office of Surface
Mining under P.L. 95-87 to
correct abandoned mine
problems, and administers a
program for designating
sensitive areas as unsuitable
for surface mining.
In Missouri, funds from the
Office of Surface Mining are
being applied for the
reclamation of several
abandoned coal mining areas.
Two major projects in the
Cedar Creek area and one in
the East Fork Chariton River
area are nearing completion.
Several more in western
Missouri are being planned.
Reclamation will not
completely stop the acid mine
drainage problem, but the rate
of acid formation should be
lessened and fewer stream
miles should be affected.
Colorado reports that it has
restored several stream
segments by controlling point
source discharges at active
mine locations and cleaning up
inactive mine areas. For
example, the construction and
operation of an effluent
treatment facility at the
inactive Keystone mine has
successfully restored aquatic
life to Coal Creek. Metals
concentrations have also been
reduced in the Slate River
below Coal Creek.
However, the abandoned
mine drainage problem is
likely to continue as an
important concern. As
Pennsylvania notes, the
enormous environmental
degradation resulting from past
mining activities cannot be
rectified overnight. More funds
must be devoted to developing
and applying cost-effective
abatement measures. Kentucky
points out that abatement
programs generally place
priority on addressing sites
that pose extreme danger to
public health and safety;
environmental effects such as
stream quality and aquatic
habitat degradation are
considered a lower priority. In
some cases, more data are
needed: Arizona, for example,
reports that it still has to fully
evaluate abandoned mine sites
and measure their impacts on
surface and ground water
before a priority cleanup list
can be established and cleanup
activities can proceed.
57
-------
Funding Needs
In 1984, eleven States cited
needs for Federal and State
funding for water pollution
control programs as an issue of
special concern. The impact of
reduced funding on the
construction and upgrading of
municipal sewage treatment
facilities was a commonly
discussed concern.
As required by Sections
205(a)and516(b)(l)of the
Clean Water Act, the EPA
assesses and reports on needed
publicly-owned wastewater
treatment facilities. This
Needs Survey assesses the
capital investment required to
meet the needs of the Nation's
current 1984 population, as
well as the additional amount
needed for population growth
through the year 2000.
According to the Survey, a
capital investment of $40.6
billion is needed to construct
necessary primary, secondary,
and advanced treatment
plants; correct
infiltration/inflow (the
penetration of water from the
soil into a pipe), and construct
new interceptor sewers for the
current 1984 population. An
additional $12.5 billion will be
required in these areas to
address the population growth
expected between 1984 and the
year 2000.
Three other categories of
municipal pollution projects
are included in this
assessment: the replacement
and rehabilitation of existing
sewers; the construction of
new collector sewers, and the
correction of combined sewer
overflows. The total need for
the current 1984 population in
these three categories is $44.4
billion. An additional $4.2
billion will be required for
collector sewers to meet the
demands of increased
population through the year
2000.
The States report that the
operation and maintenance of
existing municipal wastewater
treatment facilities is also
affected by funding shortages.
Many facilities, especially in
small, rural communities, are
run by part-time operators who
are inadequately trained for
their complex ]obs. Some
States have established
operator training programs to
deal with this problem, but
others lack such programs
because of insufficient State
funds. In addition, older plants
with aging machinery require
repairs, overhauls, and
upgrades, but in many cases
local governments report that
they cannot afford to finance
them. The States also report
that some degree of future
water quality degradation is
expected as these older plants
begin to fail and function at
reduced treatment efficiencies,
or as fewer new plants are
built.
Limited funding is also
affecting water quality in other
ways. Permitting and
enforcement efforts are
hampered in some States due
to personnel cutbacks and
resultant backlogs in permit
issuance and enforcement
activities. Because of scarce
resources, some States have
reduced the extent and
comprehensiveness of their
water quality monitoring
programs. In addition, the
development and
implementation of best
management practices to
control nonpoint source
pollution has been delayed in
many areas while States seek
funding.
To deal with these problems,
most States have begun to
focus their attention and
resources on their highest
priority needs, such as the
control of toxics or the
cleanup of particularly
degraded waters; this should
help them solve their most
pressing water quality
problems and achieve the
greatest environmental
benefits for the amount of
money spent. Some States
anticipate increased reliance
on State funds as Federal
financial support diminishes.
Innovative, alternative
financing mechanisms, such as
special loan programs, are
being explored by some States
to help meet future funding
needs. Nevertheless, according
to the States, the gap between
the water quality problems
that require solving and the
funds available to solve them
appears to be growing: in
coming years, funding needs
are likely to remain a concern
for many States.
58
-------
The Nation's Water Pollution
Control Programs
The Clean Water Act of 1972
established two types of
regulatory approaches that
guide the Nation's water
pollution control effort: the
technology-based and the
water quality-based
approaches.
The technology-based approach
relies on uniform national
requirements established by
EPA that apply to municipal
and industrial point source
dischargers. These guidelines
contain discharge limits: that
is, limits on the amounts of
specific pollutants that
municipal wastewater
treatment plants and industrial
facilities are allowed to
discharge in their effluent.
Limits are set based on
available technologies and cost
considerations, and are
incorporated in permits issued
under the National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES). Discharge of
pollutants from a municipal or
industrial facility without a
permit or in violation of any of
the conditions of a permit
(including failure to monitor
the discharge or report the
monitoring data to the State or
EPA) is a violation of the
Clean Water Act.
Technology-based limits for
industry, while nationally
consistent, vary from one type
of industry to another. For
example, the steel industry is
regulated differently than the
textile industry because of the
differences in waste generated
by each, and in the
technologies available to treat
those wastes. Different types
of municipal wastewater
treatment systems, such as
lagoons and activated sludge
treatment plants, also have
different technology-based
limits.
The Clean Water Act
requires industries to achieve
progressively more protective
technology-based treatment
levels over time. By July 1,
1977, industries were to
achieve Best Practicable
Control Technology Currently
Available (BPT). BPT
limitations are generally based
on the average of the best
existing performance by plants
of various sizes, ages, and
processes within the industry
or subcategory. In establishing
BPT limitations, EPA
considers factors such as: the
total cost of applying the
technology versus the
reduction in pollutants that
results; the age of the
equipment and facilities; the
process involved; and
environmental impacts other
than water quality effects (e.g.,
energy requirements). BPT
limitations apply to
Controlling Water
Pollution
59
-------
conventional pollutants such
as biochemical oxygen
demand, suspended solids, oil
and grease, and dissolved
solids; recent studies have
found that BPT incidentally
removes significant amounts
of toxics as well.
Municipalities are also
required to achieve treatment
levels based on technology
performance. "Secondary
treatment levels" (the
municipal equivalent of BPT)
were to be achieved by
wastewater treatment plants
by July 1977; this deadline was
later extended for eligible
facilities to July 1, 1983.
Secondary treatment is defined
as a level of treatment that
removes at least 85 percent of
several key conventional
pollutants. In addition, the
Clean Water Act states that if
secondary treatment is not
enough to protect water
quality and public health,
advanced levels of treatment
may be required.
As of July 1, 1984, the Clean
Water Act required EPA to
establish more stringent
technology-based limitations
for 29 categories of industrial
dischargers, referred to as Best
Available Technology
Economically Achievable
(BAT). These new BAT
requirements are designed to
control the discharge of toxic
pollutants such as metals and
organic chemicals for most
major segments of industry.
Similar standards are also
required for the pretreatment
of industrial effluents that are
discharged to municipal
wastewater treatment
facilities. Public sewer systems
that treat more than five
million gallons of industrial
and domestic sewage per day
are required to develop and
implement a program to assure
that industrial discharges to
municipal wastewater
treatment plants comply with
these national and
industry-specific standards.
EPA has promulgated final
BAT regulations for a total of
23 industry categories;
regulations are still in the
proposal stage for 6 other
industries.
The water quality-based
approach is the second
regulatory method used by
EPA and the States to control
water pollution. It relies on
the use of water quality
standards: determinations
made by the States of the uses
to be made of particular
waterbodies (for example, as
public water supplies, for
contact recreation, or as
fisheries) and the criteria (or
limits for each pollutant)
necessary to protect these
uses. All States have approved
water quality standards. In
cases where technology-based
controls will not be stringent
enough to make waters safe for
designated uses, the water
quality-based approach is used
to develop more stringent
effluent limits as permit
requirements. Permits based
on water quality standards
thus provide greater levels of
protection than permits based
solely on technological
considerations. Further, in
February 1984, EPA issued a
policy aimed at controlling the
discharge of toxic pollutants
using water quality-based
controls.
Point Sources
Treating
Municipal Wastewater
Municipal wastewater running
from homes through city
sewers may be contaminated
by organic materials, nutrients,
sediment, bacteria, and
viruses. Toxic substances used
in the home (such as paint,
household cleaners, and garden
pesticides) also enter sewage
systems. In addition, industrial
facilities, which in many cases
are connected to municipal
systems, may contribute toxic
metals and organic chemicals.
In older cities, sewage is also
sometimes combined with
storm water from streets and
parking lots.
The Congress realized in the
late 1960s that local and State
governments needed financial
assistance to build sewage
treatment facilities that would
effectively treat this complex
waste and meet the demands
of a growing population. Since
the 1970s, the Congress has
appropriated more than $40
billion to address this problem.
EPA has awarded $37 billion
in grants to the States, and
State and local governments
have invested over $13 billion
to build or update sewage
treatment facilities. This
program, known as the
construction grants program,
has had significant positive
impacts on the Nation's water
quality.
Thirty-four States cite the
effectiveness of the municipal
construction grants process in
improving water quality. (See
HIGHLIGHT: THE BIG
SIOUX RIVER.)
Before-and-after water quality
studies—stream surveys
conducted before the upgrading
of inadequate facilities or the
construction of new treatment
facilities, and then again once
new or upgraded facilities are
in place—provide the best
information on such
improvements. However, only
a few States were able to study
the impact of improved levels
of wastewater treatment using
this type of information. Many
more States note that the
water quality benefits resulting
from the construction grants
program have not been fully
documented because of the
extensive stream sampling and
modeling efforts that are
required for such
documentation.
60
-------
Water Quality
Improvements
The 1984 State Section 305(b)
reports provide a variety of
examples that illustrate, on a
site-specific basis, the impacts
of the construction grants
program For example:
• The construction grants
program has had a tremendous
impact on New Hampshire's
waters. Long segments of the
Winnipesaukee and Mernmack
rivers are now fishable and
swimmable due to
construction of the State
owned and operated
Winnipesaukee River Basin
system, which collects waste
from six communities and
treats it at a central facility in
Franklin. Construction of
sewer interceptors in Concord
tied into the Hall Street
treatment facility has led to a
resurgence in recreational
interest in this area of the
Mernmack River.
• In Connecticut, major
progress has been made since
1982 toward cleaning up the
Quinnipiac River with the
completion of advanced
wastewater treatment facilities
in Meriden and Southington.
• In Mississippi, the
Pascagoula/Bayou Casotte
regional project presently
under construction has
completely eliminated the
discharge from the inadequate
Bayou Casotte Treatment
Facility by transporting the
sewage to another facility.
Water quality in the receiving
stream, Bayou Casotte, was
extremely poor, and many
residents near the Bayou had
registered complaints about
nuisance conditions. With the
elimination of this discharge,
the Bayou is now returning to
its natural condition.
Mississippi notes that
significant improvements in
water quality resulting from
the construction grants
program have been attained in
the Mississippi River below
Greenville, Vicksburg, and
Natchez; in the Pearl River
below Jackson; and in
Okatibbee Creek below
Meridian.
• In middle Tennessee, six
streams have shown
improvement because of
upgraded wastewater
treatment instituted over the
last two years. In two of the
streams, Drakes and Town
Creeks in Sumner County,
fishing and recreational use
postings were lifted due to
improvement in the
Hendersonville and Gallatin
treatment systems. Similar
improvements are noted in
other parts of the State.
• Georgia reports on the
impacts of wastewater
treatment improvements
begun in the early 1970s at
plants on the Upper Flint
River. The river, which
originates in the Atlanta
metropolitan area, serves as
the primary drinking water
source for the city of Griffin.
Large amounts of wastewaters
and nonpomt source runoff to
the stream had resulted in
increasingly degraded
conditions, according to
intensive investigations in the
1960s and early 1970s. Anoxic
conditions, fish kills, high
nutrient levels, and taste and
odor problems were reported.
After improvements were
made in treatment facilities,
and wastewaters from a
number of small plants were
diverted to a more efficient
one, water quality
improvements became evident.
A 1983 investigation showed
that where severely degraded,
anoxic conditions had existed
in 1971, a popular fishery has
now developed. Beneficial uses
are increasingly being
supported, and further
improvement is expected in
the next few years.
• In North Carolina, the
effectiveness of the
construction grants program
can be illustrated by the large
change in total degraded
stream mileage. In 1976,
roughly 3,000 stream miles
were degraded by point and
nonpomt sources;
approximately 1,000 miles
were classified in this category
in 1983.
An example of how this
change occurred is illustrated
by the Faison WWTP, which
changed to a non-discharging
spray irrigation type treatment
system in 1982. Reedy Branch
had been moderately degraded
by the Faison WWTP
discharge; with the removal of
this discharge, its water
quality (particularly nutrient
levels) greatly improved.
• Minnesota notes that water
quality improvement over the
past decade has been the direct
result of two factors: an
increase in the percent of the
State's population served by
secondary or more advanced
levels of sewage treatment;
and an increase in significant
municipal and industrial
facility compliance.
• In Arkansas, conversion of
sewage facilities at North
Little Rock from raw-primary
to secondary treatment
resulted in marked
improvement in levels of fecal
cohforms and nutrients three
miles downstream from the
discharges to the Arkansas
River.
• California reports that
consolidation and/or upgrading
of five major publicly-owned
treatment works was
completed in the North Coast,
San Francisco, Central Coast,
and Central Valley Regions.
The Sacramento County
Regional Facility, a $450
million project, began
operating in 1983. This
eliminated numerous
individual discharges to the
American and Sacramento
Rivers.
One effect of improved
levels of wastewater treatment
is reduced loadings of
pollutants such as biochemical
oxygen demand (BOD) and
61
-------
IOWA
Improved levels of wattewater
treatment at eities-ateng. ihe
Big Sioux Mveir/.-ior eastern
South Dakota, ttie |ia^ a
marked ioipact on ihe river's
water quality, tafuoyeoients
all aloag tke Eig-Stonx fitter in
levels of dissolved oxygen and
unionized anwioiiia have been
documented.
The State' f>rotldes
information ott two
construction pants projects
that iltastate these
improvements, the City of
Sioux Falls is nearing
completion of % $65 million
water pollution control facility
that will provide wastewater
treatment to nearly i(K);000
people in the area. The new
facility is replacing one that
was constructed in 1927. A
portion of the new facility has
recently started iteration and
has already^ tfd^ped palhrtant
loading^ to tKe.-'BiJ/Sloux River
by over 5GQ percent.
The Big Sioux
River
Before completion of its new
wastewtter treatment facility
in September 1980, the City of
Breoktags, South Dakota
discharged inadequately
treated domestic and industrial
wastewater to Six-Mile Creek.
Six-Mile Creek empties into
the Big Sioux liver, and
contributed to a definite
deterioration of the river's
water quality, The new $13.1
million facility reduced
pollutant loadings from the
City of Bf cokings to the Big
SiouxRiverby 86 percent-
Water quality in the Big Sioux
River below Blockings has
been enhanced significantly)
opportunities for increased
recreational activity and
additional irrigable flow to
downstream landowners are
now provided.
total suspended solids (TSS)
into rivers and streams; as
treatment levels improve,
these substances are removed
in greater amounts. Several
States provide recent figures
on such reduced pollutant
loadings:
• Virginia reports that the
average annual flow of
wastewater in that State has
increased by 33 percent
between 1976 and 1983. The
amount of biochemical oxygen
demanding substances and
total suspended solids
discharged into the State's
streams, however, has declined
22 percent in that time.
• Georgia reports that of
approximately 1,849,400
pounds of oxygen demanding
pollutants produced by
municipalities in 1982-1983,
90 percent, or 1,664,460
pounds, were removed by
municipal water pollution
control plants. In addition to
the 184,540 pounds discharged,
an additional 647,290 pounds
would have been discharged in
1982-1983 had new and
upgraded municipal water
pollution plants not been built
over the past ten years.
• In Kentucky, facilities
completed during 1982-1983
were responsible for reducing
the discharge of BOD by
4,506,049 pounds/year and of
total suspended solids (TSS) by
2,723,590 pounds per year.
• In Texas, improvements to a
municipal facility discharging
to previously degraded Nolan
Creek resulted in the following
improvements: BOD
discharges went from 3,433
pounds per day to 478 pounds
per day, and ammonia loads
went from 1,339 per day to 2.4
pounds per day. Dissolved
oxygen levels improved and a
1983 study found no visible
signs of pollution.
In addition, some States
discuss future water quality
improvements expected to
occur once current wastewater
treatment construction
projects are completed. For
example, Connecticut notes
that major recently initiated
construction projects include
upgrading sewage treatment
plants in Milford, Bristol, and
New Haven. These projects are
expected to result in
substantial improvements to
the water quality of Milford
and New Haven Harbors, and
the Pequabuck River.
In Alaska, significant
improvements in wastewater
collection and treatment since
the inception of the Federal
construction grants program
are expected to be correlated
with improved water quality.
Plans are underway for the
coastal communities of
Whittier, Ketchikan, and Sitka
to replace failing septic tanks
and individual raw sewage
outfalls with interceptors and
community treatment
facilities within the next
several years. Using municipal
construction grant funds, the
community of Naknek is now
building sewage treatment
facilities that will eliminate
long-standing concerns about
the public health dangers of
failing septic tanks.
62
-------
Treating
Industrial Wastewater
Industries discharge billions of
gallons of wastewater daily in
the course of their
manufacturing operations.
These discharges may contain
many of the same pollutants
found in municipal effluent,
although often in more
concentrated form. They may
also contain many exotic,
toxic substances such as
synthetic organic chemicals
and heavy metals. In large
enough quantities, these
pollutants can seriously impair
the biological condition of our
waters and even threaten
public health.
We have seen how the
control of pollution from
industrial sources relies on the
issuance of permits that
incorporate technology-based
or water quality-based
limitations. Generally, the
States find it difficult to report
as yet on the effectiveness of
BAT controls. For many
industrial categories, BAT has
been determined to be the
same as BPT. Permits based on
BPT limits and issued in the
late 1970s and early 1980s
have in many instances
resulted in substantial
reductions in the amounts of
pollutants discharged to U.S.
waters. South Carolina
anticipates that BAT will have
a substantial impact on its
organic chemicals, plastics,
and synthetic fibers industries.
BAT guidelines in that State
have generally been developed,
promulgated, and incorporated
into permits for most primary
categories of industries.
Mississippi notes that BAT has
been effective by causing a
greater concern for the possible
presence of toxic pollutants
and the overall toxicity of
wastewater effluent. As a
result, many permittees are
now required to measure
toxicity by performing
bioassay tests.
Water quality-based controls
on industrial dischargers are
generally in the early stages of
implementation; therefore,
direct water quality
improvements resulting from
their uses are not yet easy to
document. Wisconsin
discusses specific successes in
water cleanup tied directly to
the use of wasteload
allocations (see HIGHLIGHT:
THE FOX RIVER). Rhode
Island notes that the
implementation of water
quality-based permits and
wasteload allocations is
expected to be the most
effective tool for further
reducing the impact of point
sources in the State's
waterways. Wasteload
allocations currently being
developed for the Pawtuxet
River, for example, are
expected to be more restrictive
than BAT limitations.
Kentucky reports that the use
of water quality-based limits
on dissolved solids for oil
stripper brine discharges will
lead to significant
improvements in a large
number of small streams in
the south-central and
southeastern regions of the
State.
The Fox River
Over twenty different pulp and
paper mills and several major
municipalities discharge along
the 40 miles of the Fox River
ftom Lake Winnebago to
Green Bay, Wisconsin, This
section of the river is virtually
back-to-back impoundments
behind hydroelectric dams. In
1973, the combined industrial
and municipal wasteload
discharges to the Fox exceeded
215,000 pounds per day of
biochemical oxygen demand
(BOD), which was equivalent
to nearly one fifth of that
being discharged by the over
500 municipal treatment
plants across the State, The
river system was tremendously
overtaxed and, due mainly to
critically low disolved oxygen
(DO) levels, was not capable of
supporting a balanced aquatic
community.
Throughout the warm
summer months, the DO
concentration was almost
consistently below the water
quality standard of 5 mg/1 and
on occasion dropped to zero.
At that time, no game fish
were able to survive in the
Lower Fox River,- only fish and
insects that were very tolerant
of heavily polluted conditions
could be found.
WISCONSIN
Oshtesh
ke
Behigan
Dramatic improvements
occurred in the water quality
of the Lower Fox River
between 1973 and 1983 as a
result of implementation of
the process of wasteload
allocation: mathematical
modeling that determines the
maximum amount of wastes
each permittee can discharge
while still allowing water
quality standards to be met.
The success of this process is
now evident: in 1983, the
dissolved oxygen water quality
standard was never violated.
This change occurred while
the paper production of the
Fox River mills actually
increased significantly.
Balanced populations of sport
and game fish are now
beginning to thrive where they
had not been able to survive
for over 50 years. The success
of the wasteload allocation
process in dramatically
improving the water quality of
the Lower Fox River is clear
testimony to the benefits of
cooperation between
commercial and environmental
interest groups.
63
-------
Water Quality
Improvements
Twenty States provided
examples of water quality
improvements attributable to
industrial controls. Some
highlights of these discussions
are presented below:
• As a result of Mississippi's
compliance assurance
activities, several major
industrial permittees have
installed additional or
improved treatment facilities.
Significant reductions have
occurred in the levels of
conventional,
nonconventional, and toxic
pollutants discharged to State
waters.
For example, a catfish
processing plant located in
Isola, Mississippi, had for
several years discharged large
quantities of organic matter
into the town's sewage lagoon.
In addition, poorly designed
and operated pretreatment
facilities at the processing
plant were causing odor
problems throughout the town.
New facilities alleviated the
odor problems; furthermore,
the BOD5 levels were now so
low that the processing plant
facility could discharge
directly to State waters
without further treatment by
the Isola POTW. Because of
the elimination of this
industrial wastewater into the
Isola WWTP, Isola has finally
come into compliance with its
NPDES permit limitations.
• Since the mid-1970s,
industrial discharges in the
Casper, Wyoming, area have
been cleaned up due largely to
the NPDES program.
Petroleum refineries in the
Casper area had been
responsible for ground-water
and surface water
contamination from leaking
facilities. To date, all the
refineries in Casper have
improved their operations. A
significant amount of
petroleum products is now
being intercepted and
recovered before it can
contaminate ground water and
the waters of the North Platte
River.
• The lower third of the Platte
River region is one of
Colorado's major agricultural
regions. Irrigated agriculture
and livestock feeding
operations are widespread in
this region and have the
potential to affect water
quality. The control of point
source discharges of pollutants
from sugar beet facilities,
packing houses, and other
related agricultural industries
in the mid-1970s has resulted
in one of the most significant
water quality improvements in
Colorado. However, naturally
occurring problems persist in
the Platte River.
• In the Willamette River,
Oregon, a significant reduction
in BOD loads from pulp and
paper mills has occurred as a
result of improved levels of
industrial treatment. Between
1972 and 1982, an 80 percent
reduction in BOD loads took
place, accompanied by an 80
percent increase in paper
production and a 30 percent
increase in pulp production.
• New Hampshire notes that
its industrial sector has
committed significant funds to
build and upgrade industrial
waste treatment facilities, and
to modify industrial processes
to reduce water consumption.
The quality of the New
Hampshire portion of the
Androscoggin River, for
example, has greatly improved
as a result of the completion of
two industrial waste treatment
facilities. Nevertheless, the
State points out that there is
room for progress, especially in
toxics and phosphorus
controls.
Industrial permits are issued
for a finite period and must be
regularly reissued. Under a
1982 "second round"
reissuance policy, permits are
issued on a priority basis.
Highest priority is given to
facilities located where water
use impairment problems have
been identified and where
there is enough information to
develop water quality-based
permits, and to facilities that
need permits implementing
the new BAT effluent
guidelines.
64
-------
Municipal
and Industrial
Compliance
It is evident from the many
examples of specific water
quality improvements and
reduced pollutant loadings that
considerable progress has been
made in the control of point
sources of pollution. However,
water quality improvements
depend on more than the
construction of better
municipal and industrial
treatment facilities. Once
needed treatment levels are
defined and new facilities are
built or existing facilities are
upgraded, compliance with the
terms of discharge permits
must be attained.
EPA and the States share
responsibility for assuring the
compliance of all pollution
sources. Currently, 37 States
are approved to administer the
NPDES program. EPA retains
the lead responsibility in the
remainder of the States, but
shares many of the
implementation functions of
the NPDES program in a
partnership arrangement with
State agencies. Through the
joint efforts of EPA and the
States, compliance with permit
limits is monitored for all
dischargers, and enforcement
action is taken where
appropriate to ensure
compliance.
EPA maintains records on
significant noncompliance
nationwide. Figure 5-1
illustrates these rates for the
two-year period between June
1982 and June 1984. This
figure shows that for
municipal and nonmunicipal
facilities, rates of significant
noncompliance with final
effluent limits have shown
some decline (i.e.,
improvement). Between June
1982 and June 1984, municipal
rates of significant
noncompliance with final
effluent limits went from 16
percent to 11 percent
nationwide. For fully
constructed industrial
facilities, rates of significant
noncompliance were
somewhat lower, and went
from 9 percent to 6 percent
over the same period.
Figure 5-1. Major Facilities in Significant Noncompliance
with Final Effluent Limits, 1982-1984*
Percent of facilities in significant noncompliance
20
I
I
J_
JUN SEP DEC MAR JUN SEP
1982 1983
— Major Municipal Facilities
— Major Nonmunicipal Facilities
DEC MAR
JUN
1984
"These numbers are for facilities that have completed any construction necessary to
meet the final effluent limits (e g., secondary, BPT, BAT, or water quality-based limits) of
their permits
Source US EPA, Office of Water Enforcement and Permits
Remaining
Problems
Nevertheless, the States also
report significant remaining
problems. Many municipalities
have yet to construct sewage
treatment facilities that can
meet permit requirements. In
addition, twelve States cite
operation and maintenance of
sewage treatment facilities as
an issue of special concern. In
many cases, these facilities are
being run by part-time
operators who are inadequately
trained. As a result, wastes are
not being treated at maximum
efficiency. Operator training
programs are proving
successful at correcting this
problem in some States. In
other cases, older treatment
facilities are beginning to fail
and require repair and
maintenance. Lack of funds to
establish operator training
programs and repair older
wastewater treatment facilities
are widely cited.
Permit backlogs are a problem
in many States. A recent EPA
study found that the principal
reasons for the continuing
backlog are the size of the
workload and the lack of
resources (both staff and
expertise). Other contributing
causes include: past EPA
policies that encouraged States
to delay reissuance of
industrial permits until
effluent guidelines are
promulgated; the ongoing lack
of BAT effluent guidelines in
certain key categories (e.g.,
organic chemicals and
pesticides); lack of final BCT
guidelines; and other
miscellaneous factors ranging
from lack of State statutory
authority for certain issuance
activities, to the low priority
assigned to NPDES permit
issuance by the States.
To help correct this
situation, EPA and the States
have undertaken a special
initiative to deal with the
problem of municipal
noncompliance resulting from
failure to construct wastewater
treatment facilities or failure
to satisfactorily operate and
maintain facilities. The goal of
this initiative is to assure that
municipalities requiring
treatment facilities have these
facilities in place and operating
to meet permit limits by 1988.
Funding needs are commonly
reported as a cause of these and
other deficiencies. A more
detailed discussion of the
funding problems cited by the
States was provided in Chapter
Four. Several States are
addressing this problem by
seeking to develop innovative
funding mechanisms,
particularly for the
construction of needed
wastewater treatment
facilities.
65
-------
Combined
Sewer Overflows
In many parts of the country,
particularly in older cities in
the Northeast and Great Lakes
regions, storm sewers and
sanitary sewers are combined
in the same system. Rainfall
can cause these sewer systems
to overflow and discharge
untreated waste into rivers and
streams. These discharges are
known as combined sewer
overflows (CSOsj.
Combined sewer overflows
occur only intermittently and
are expensive to clean up;
until recently, their impacts
have been masked by the
greater overall impact of
discharges from municipal
wastewater treatment plants
and factories. State and Federal
governments have therefore
focused their attention on
continuous discharges of
untreated or undertreated
waste from these municipal
and industrial facilities.
However, as municipal and
industrial pollution control
efforts have resulted in
improved water quality, the
effects of combined sewer
overflows have become more
obvious.
Five States describe the
nature and impact of combined
sewer overflows on the quality
of their waters. These
discussions reveal that CSOs
can significantly affect water
uses and are a difficult and
costly problem to address.
In Maine, stormwater and
combined sewer overflows
appear to cause intermittent
but significant impacts on the
quality of several rivers and
coastal waters. Such impacts
occur in the
Piscataqua-Salmon Falls,
Presumscot, Androscoggin,
Kennebec, and Penobscot
Rivers, and in some of their
larger tributaries. Most Maine
municipalities with combined
sewer systems are licensed to
discharge into waterways
without treatment, but must
come up with a plan to treat
or eliminate those discharges
as soon as possible. These
plans should be designed to
identify the discharges;
determine their frequency and
extent; determine their impact
on receiving waters; and
identify possible abatement
actions. Where water quality
standards are violated by a
CSO discharge, the State may
order whatever treatment it
deems necessary. Maine notes,
however, that progress in
reducing the impacts of CSOs
will be slow in most
communities because of the
great expense involved in
upgrading sewage collection
systems and because of recent
cutbacks in the construction
grants program.
• Connecticut reports that
combined sewer systems are
the State's primary "sewage
system infrastructure
problem." These systems
represent the oldest sewers in
Connecticut; some were
constructed in the 1860s.
Many are collapsing, have been
leaking lesser amounts of
sewage continuously, and have
been neglected too long
because they are so costly to
repair or replace.
As a result of these leaking
and long-neglected sewer
systems, it has been
determined that CSOs are the
most common source of
pollution to the State's
estuaries and create significant
problems in the State's largest
rivers. For example, during
periods of heavy rainfall,
millions of gallons of
untreated sewage are being
discharged to the Connecticut
River. It has been calculated
that during summer flow
conditions, Hartford's CSOs
are capable of contaminating
approximately 8 to 16 miles of
the Connecticut River
downstream from the city.
When considering that
Springfield, Massachusetts and
Middletown, Connecticut also
have ma]or combined sewer
systems, and that
approximately 60 rainfall
events occur each year, the
cumulative water quality
impact on the Connecticut
River is major. The State
reports that correction
measures are in the planning,
design, or construction phases
at 13 of the State's 14
municipalities that are
serviced by combined sewers.
• In Vermont, 14 of 17 river
basins are affected to some
degree by CSOs. However, in
many areas where CSOs are a
factor, water quality standards
are met except during periods
of high flow.
• In Rhode Island's
Narragansett Bay, one of the
major remaining pollution
problems is CSOs. Upper
Narragansett Bay has been
managed as a "conditionally
approved" shellfishing area as
a result of the Providence
area's CSO discharges. A study
that demonstrates the need for
corrective measures has
recently been completed; in FY
1985, the State may apply for
marine CSO funds under
Section 201(n)(2) of the Clean
Water Act.
• Minnesota reports that
combined sewer overflows in
Minneapolis/St. Paul continue
to prevent achievement of the
fishable-swimmable goal for
the Mississippi River in the
Metro area. Through 1983,
Minneapolis has spent over
$91 million and St. Paul has
spent over $75 million on the
separation of sewer systems.
The State estimates that
together, both cities will need
to spend an additional $235
million to complete ongoing
sewer separation pro)ects.
66
-------
The Clean Water Act
recognizes that nonpoint
sources of pollution create
problems that are different
from those resulting from
point sources, and therefore
that they require different
control strategies. It is
generally understood that
appropriate nonpoint source
controls can only be
implemented on a case-by-case
basis at the Federal, State, or
local level.
EPA's nonpoint source
responsibilities are embodied
in several provisions of the
Clean Water Act. Sections 208
and 303 of the Act establish a
framework for planning and
implementing nonpoint source
controls. Until 1980, Section
208 funds were provided to the
States and planning agencies to
analyze the extent of nonpoint
source-related water quality
problems and to develop
strategies to implement
controls as part of this overall
water quality management
program. Since then, EPA has
provided additional funding
and direction for State
nonpoint source control
activities under Sections 106
and 205()). EPA also supports a
variety of experimental and
research programs that can be
used in providing technical
assistance to the States. A
variety of other Federal
agencies manage programs that
are key to implementing
nonpoint source controls
because they reach private
landowners or deal with large
tracts of federally owned land.
In recognition of the diverse
agencies with nonpoint source
management responsibilities
and of the need for
coordination, EPA recently
convened an interagency
Nonpoint Source Task Force.
This Task Force developed a
recommended national
nonpoint source policy.
Agencies participating in the
Task Force developed
individual strategies to
implement the recommended
policy. These efforts are
intended to accelerate the
development of needed
nonpoint source
implementation programs.
While EPA and other Federal
agencies provide funding,
guidance, and technical
assistance, it is the States that
have primary responsibility
over the control of nonpoint
sources. Each State must
determine which of its water
quality problems is related to
nonpoint sources, and must
determine which of these
problems will receive its
priority attention. It is at the
State level that local
conditions can be properly
weighed to determine what
type of strategy is needed, the
extent to which progress
toward achievement of
objectives is being made, and
what adjustments are needed
for a more effective strategy.
The States have responded
to their nonpoint source
problems in a number of ways.
These responses vary according
to the source of pollution and
the technical, institutional,
and political difficulties that
arise in attempting to control
it. The following brief
discussion of State
management of five specific
types of nonpoint sources was
drawn from Report to
Congress: Nonpoint Pollution
In the U.S. (EPA, 1984).
Agriculture: Agricultural
nonpoint source programs are
usually voluntary, and many
agricultural agencies such as
the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) and local
soil conservation districts
provide very localized
technical support and
assistance. Nineteen State
programs provide cost-sharing
as an incentive to farmers to
implement appropriate
conservation measures or best
management practices (BMPs).
BMPs are methods, measures,
or practices designed to
prevent or reduce nonpoint
source pollution (see
HIGHLIGHT: BEST
MANAGEMENT
PRACTICES). Enforcement
measures are seldom used and
are usually limited to
situations where
cause-and-effect relationships
can be easily established, as in
the case of many small feedlot
operations.
Silviculture: In States where
the forest industry has
significant landholdings and is
very active, such as in the
West, silvicultural programs
tend to be regulatory in nature.
These regulatory programs
manage a wide range of
silvicultural activities through
State forest practices acts.
Other States rely instead on a
"quasi-regulatory" approach by
using existing laws such as
sediment and erosion control
laws or water quality
regulations to manage forest
lands. In States where
Nonpoint Sources
67
-------
small-lot silviculture is more
commonly practiced,
voluntary, educational, and
sometimes incentive-oriented
programs aimed at private
landowners are employed.
Mining: Control programs that
address currently operating
coal mines are regulatory in
nature and derive their
authority from the Federal
Surface Mining Control and
Reclamation Act of 1977
(SMCRA). Programs for
abandoned mines usually
involve the provision of
financial assistance by State
and Federal governments
through the abandoned mines
program of SMCRA, the U.S.
Department of Agriculture's
Rural Abandoned Mines
Program, or individual State
programs.
Construction: Programs for the
control of construction erosion
are regulatory in nature, where
they exist. Only about 16
States have effective regulatory
programs. In States that do not
have a statewide regulatory
mandate, some individual local
governments regulate
construction practices to
control runoff problems.
Urban Runoff: Urban runoff
control programs are normally
conducted by municipalities
and, at present, are primarily
directed at controlling the
volume of urban runoff.
Increasing attention is being
given to incorporating water
quality considerations as well.
EPA encourages the States to
adopt a well-aimed (targeted)
approach to nonpomt source
problems in order to achieve
the greatest water quality
benefits possible. Such an
approach allows funds and
control efforts to be focused
first on the worst and/or most
solvable problems in the State.
Targeting involves identifying
the priority waterbodies for
which the adoption of a
nonpoint source control
strategy will yield significant
water quality benefits, and
selecting abatement activities
that will lead to the greatest
improvements for the least
cost.
The States are currently
involved in identifying and
updating their lists of priority
waterbodies. Once this has
been done, the States must
determine to what extent
identified water quality
problems are caused by
nonpoint sources. This has
proven to be a very difficult
task, as has the determination
of how water quality has
improved as a result of the
implementation of nonpoint
source pollution control
programs. These tasks are
difficult for a number of
reasons:
• Pollutants generated by
nonpoint sources are often
highly complex and difficult to
track;
• A certain amount of
nonpoint source runoff is of
natural origin;
• It is often difficult to
separate the impacts of point
and nonpoint sources,
• Baseline water quality
information is lacking because
monitoring programs
historically have been oriented
toward point sources of
pollution;
• Cause-and-effect
relationships between
nonpoint sources and
particular water quality
problems are hard to establish
because of the diffuse nature of
nonpoint runoff, and the many
land use activities within a
given watershed;
• The performance of
appropriate management
controls is highly dependent
on site-specific factors and is
therefore difficult both to
predict and assess.
Nevertheless, the States
have made some progress
toward ranking their problem
waterbodies, identifying
nonpoint source problems, and
developing control programs.
The following examples,
drawn from the 1984 State
reports, illustrate the wide
range of nonpoint source
control programs generally
being implemented today.
• A number of States have
adopted a system of ranking
watersheds (river drainage
areas) in terms of the severity
of their nonpoint source
problems. Once watersheds
have been ranked, control
programs can then be targeted
to areas of highest priority.
For example, in Wisconsin,
26 watersheds have been
selected for nonpoint source
projects since 1979.
Contractual agreements have
been sought between the
State's Land Conservation
Committee and individual
landowners; the landowners
agree to carry out
recommended best
management practices
and are reimbursed by the
State for up to 70 percent of
the cost of those practices.
Because implementation of
control programs has not yet
been completed in any of the
watersheds, it is still too early
to detect any water quality
improvements resulting from
the projects.
Virginia notes that a joint
State-Soil Conservation Service
study has targeted 26 priority
watersheds for BMP
implementation. These
watersheds total over 4,800
square miles in area.
Nebraska reports that it is
developing a mechanism to
identify and rank areas
impaired by nonpoint sources
regardless of their type.
Implementation strategies will
be developed to alleviate the
problems identified in higher
priority areas.
In Oklahoma, an evaluation
of runoff data collected from
1980 to 1984 was used to
select priority watersheds for
implementation of nonpoint
68
-------
source programs. The
watersheds were ranked
according to average levels of
turbidity and total suspended
solids. The list of targeted
watersheds was further
narrowed by considering
additional factors such as the
interest and support of local
landowners,- the availability of
funds to test the use of
controls; and the practicality
of monitoring to determine
progress.
• Lakes are in many cases the
primary recipients of nonpoint
source pollutants. Examples of
lakes degraded by nonpoint
sources are provided in
Chapter Two. In some cases,
BMPs are being planned or
implemented to mitigate the
effects of nonpoint pollutants
in these lakes; however, a
1983 survey conducted by the
North American Lake
Management Society has found
that the use of BMPs to solve
nonpoint source problems in
the Nation's lakes is not yet
widespread.
In Iowa, projects to control
agricultural nonpoint source
pollution have begun in the
watersheds of several high
priority lakes. Controls are
also being used above Green
Valley Lake using a
combination of State
cost-share funds and EPA
Clean Lakes funds. In addition,
State cost- share funds are also
being used for twelve other
Iowa lakes. At Arrowhead
Lake, funds from USDA's
Resource Conservation and
Development Program are
being used to implement
nonpoint source controls.
• Contamination of ground
water by nutrients, sediments,
pesticides, and herbicides in
agricultural nonpoint runoff is
a significant concern in many
parts of the country. Iowa has
begun to develop a regional
ground-water control strategy
to deal with the problem in
the northeastern part of the
State. This strategy will be
developed through the
cooperative efforts of a number
of State, local, and Federal
agencies. It will deal with the
problems caused by infiltration
of chemicals through the soil
and with the problems caused
by direct runoff of
contaminated surface waters
into sinkholes.
• Nonpoint sources also affect
the Nation's estuaries. To
reduce nonpoint source
pollution in Chesapeake Bay,
several States are developing
and implementing appropriate
controls for the Bay and its
tributaries. In Pennsylvania,
for example, strategies are
being developed to control
agricultural and urban
stormwater sources in the
lower Susquehanna River
basin. In Virginia, vegetation
has been planted in the
Chesapeake Bay basin to
reduce the runoff of pollutants
from land into the Bay.
Oregon reports that it has
developed protection plans for
shellfish growing areas to
address the problem of
elevated fecal coliform levels
in two of the State's major
estuaries. In one coastal
community, this effort has led
to a $3.6 million Rural Clean
Water Project to help dairy
farmers implement controls to
alleviate animal waste runoff
problems.
• Although agricultural
runoff, of all the nonpoint
sources, appears to be the
most pervasive nationwide,
many other types of nonpoint
source pollution are significant
and may require controls. In
Oregon, the State's three
largest urban areas are
implementing urban runoff
controls which include
combined sewer separation,
construction site best
management practices, and
industrial site management
practices. Since 1973, the State
has had a septic tank permit
program. By regulating the
installation and modification
of septic systems, this program
is designed to prevent health
hazards and surface or
ground-water pollution which
might require sewer
construction to correct.
Iowa discusses abandoned
mine reclamation projects
targeted at the State's worst
sites. By the end of 1984, an
estimated 7 percent of the
State's abandoned coal mine
land will have been
rehabilitated.
In New Mexico, a voluntary
silvicultural program has been
developed to encourage better
planning and building of forest
roads and skid trails.
Educational programs are being
used to increase the use of
recommended management
practices by timber contractors
and owners of forest land. A
tracking system is in place to
determine the effectiveness of
these programs.
The States agree that it is, as
yet, very difficult to assess the
results of programs to control
nonpoint sources of pollution.
This is because of both the
nature of the programs and the
nature of nonpoint sources
themselves. Some States do
report on the success of
nonpoint source control
programs. Idaho, for example,
reports that the application of
' ' -KSif'*1*****^
'*.--»•%!
; '"*"•&;~
^ct^v'
BMPs has proven quite
effective in controlling
agricultural nonpoint source
pollution problems in that
State; BMP implementation
was possible because of State
cost-sharing funds made
available to local Soil
Conservation Districts.
Washington notes that its
forest practices regulations,
revised in 1982 to take water
quality considerations into
account, have improved the
State's ability to protect its
waters. In North Dakota,
intensive monitoring has
shown water quality
improvements in five areas
where best management
practices are being
implemented. However, not
enough data are yet available
to accurately calculate the
degree of improvement.
The inability to measure the
results of nonpoint source
programs is generally
recognized as one of the major
stumbling blocks to developing
effective controls. Several
States are working to rectify
this problem. North Carolina
has conducted a number of
studies in an attempt to
quantify the before-and-after
effects of BMP
implementation, but has been
unable to adequately
determine impacts due to a
variety of reasons including
incomplete implementation of
BMPs; extreme rainfall
differences in the years of the
studies; and periods of study
that were too short to allow
~
69
-------
- ':''^:
Mining
• • -\"xB|»^flfictfa_»|io^ned:;8Wtface ;"', K||^e^$d^ji|^
*'•:;•;; x:-:::'\:;.M;4w^SB^i!
Silviculture
v -'f^mj^^^-9^S^,.^fSA!i^'UitS_ ..,.'"'-^tei^S>wJ|hto.'ditc|(^S,•/,; ;•:';.'•''£''~&&.
;•• •^AJ.XT80iii.-«j-is.,'rf^u ^xj^w!^/ ,.';;'^y^>;^^"|J^^(j<|B^|^\.^;f:;^
. ..•'•.'' .' • 'Some:of ti
. .•.. ^'.^dp^iBy..!!^^!^^'^'';^"^'-: l::.:->?-\ i^H?^^^:'
• taiMi^-- - ••-••••• ••••• - ' - '.':--^'-^^^J^-^''''^:^^
,:;:^™t;;:;:;>:^;;::;.;.,:.;:;:;;v -::y:;.^enatfe|^^
;;:;t; Kl^tt^pito.-p^s^^issj;, ;_,.:.;;y;:-x--'-^|(S
fcikE^ate;. V :-v;;-;:,x y:;;:::^^
J; :'::-::.':'>y''-" ::^;I&;w^r«^^i^':B|^:-:;
- '• >• >:':';:.:,C.'' :^,^ilBMi:ti|j*:y,eOTs;^t-.ey^ti'.;
'^t^;i;u;:<:v;^^§tt>sll::isp4 OTW?£:<&. •' 'V;':':':,
70
-------
71
-------
NORTH CAROLINA
North Carolina reports on the
results of an 18-month
demonstration project
conducted in Wake County, in
the State's piedmont region, to
determine the effectiveness of
Best Management Practices
(BMP) implementation. Two
privately-owned farms were
chosen for the project. One
10-acre farm was the control
site, on which no BMPs were
used. On the 18-acre
experimental site, several
BMPs were implemented,
including no-till/conservation
tillage, terraces, grassed
waterways, farm ponds,
irrigation, land application of
animal waste, and fertilizer
and pesticide management.
The table below summarizes
the difference in pollutant
yields between the two farms.
Several pollutants—total
suspended solids, total
nitrogen, total phosphorus, and
organic nitrogen—snowed
substantial reductions as a
result of BMP implementation.
Wake County
Demonstration
Farm
However, the yields of several
nutrient forms increased in the
experimental farm. The State
attributes this increase to
excessive land application of
wastes; more experienced
farmers would avoid this
pitfall. A cost analysis
conducted at the Wake County
farm indicates that the
implementation of BMPs can
be cost-effective to farmers and
also have substantial water
quality benefits.
impacts to be measured.
Nevertheless, one farm
demonstration project has
shown how pollutant yields
can be reduced by BMP
application (see HIGHLIGHT:
WAKE COUNTY
DEMONSTRATION FARM).
Other projects to assess the
impacts of nonpomt source
controls are currently in
progress.
• In Illinois, the Blue Creek
Watershed is being evaluated
under the Agricultural
Conservation Program to
identify the most viable
nonpomt source control
strategy, demonstrate its
effectiveness, develop a
methodology to identify those
land areas causing water
quality problems, and
determine appropriate controls.
The lake will be monitored for
a number of years to document
the full impact of management
practices on lake water
quality.
• Nebraska reports on two
projects it is implementing to
document the benefits of
nonpomt source control
efforts. The Maple Creek
Model Implementation
Program project and the Long
Pine Creek Rural Clean Water
Program project are designed
to evaluate the impacts of
reduced agricultural runoff,
improved irrigation
management, better rangeland
management, and reduced
roadside erosion.
• South Dakota has targeted
11 specific watersheds in order
to identify existing nonpoint
source problems and their
causes. Monitoring was
conducted before and during
the implementation phase;
however, post-implementation
monitoring will be possible in
only a few watersheds due to
funding limitations.
Wake County Demonstration Farm Project Results
Parameter
Experimental
Unit Control Farm Farm
Total suspended
solids Tons/acre
Total nitrogen Pounds/acre
Ammonia-N "
Nitrate-N "
Organic-N "
Total phosphorus "
Ortho phosphorus "
16.3
424
0.3
1.7
404
14.2
0.24
0.141
127
22
3.0
7.5
49
3.3
72
-------
Methods of assessing the costs
and benefits of pollution
control have not generally
been applied by the States on
any regular, continuing basis.
While most States have data
on Federal and State
expenditures for the
construction of municipal
wastewater treatment
facilities, most do not
regularly compile such data on
other costs, such as city
expenditures, industry
expenditures, or farmers'
expenditures on nonpomt
source controls. Benefits of
pollution control actions, such
as fewer incidents of
waterborne disease or
increased recreational
opportunities, may be more
difficult to quantify, and there
is a degree of hesitancy
involved in assigning dollar
values to qualitative
improvements in water
conditions. Further, as was
discussed in Chapter Five,
relatively few States have
sufficient resources and
opportunities to conduct
thorough stream water quality
assessments before and after
the construction or upgrading
of wastewater treatment
facilities. This makes it
difficult to determine even the
nature of the water quality
benefits resulting from
treatment plant improvements,
much less their economic
impact.
In their 1984 Section 305(b)
reports, thirteen States
provided information on
expenditures between 1982
and 1983 for the building and
upgrading of municipal
wastewater treatment plants
and sewage collection facilities
under the construction grants
program. These expenditures
include Federal grants from
EPA and other agencies, State
funds, and local matching
funds. Table 5-1 depicts this
State-reported information.
Many of these States
reported on specific water
quality improvements
resulting from the
construction grants program.
By and large, however, this
investment in treatment plant
construction must be coupled
with other phases of the
pollution control effort (such
as improved levels of
municipal and industrial
Table 5-1.
Investments in Wastewater Treatment Facilities
1982-1983
Expenditure (in millions)
Costs and Benefits
of Pollution Control
State
Alabama
Arkansas
California
Georgia
Kentucky
Michigan
New Hampshire
North Carolina
North Dakota
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Virginia
1982
—
—
—
—
—
44 1
—
—
—
59
170
69
579
1983
—
—
—
—
—
1339
—
87.6
167
19.8
133
64.0
626
1982-83
451
32
422
144
183
178
69
—
—
257
303
70.9
1205
Source 1984 State Section 305(b) Reports
permit compliance, and
increased enforcement efforts)
in order to fully account for
restoration of water uses,
cleaner water quality
conditions, and prevention of
water degradation despite
population and economic
growth.
Several States note that it
will be necessary to refine the
usual methods of economic
analysis before the weighing of
costs versus benefits can be
effectively applied in the water
pollution control field. Some
of the most typically cited
benefits include:
• Reduced public health
hazards because of lower
levels of pathogenic organisms,
bacteria, and toxic substances.
• Increased tourism and
improved recreational
opportunities because of
cleaner conditions at beaches
and in lakes, rivers, and
streams.
• Improved commercial
fishing and shellfishing
industries in coastal and
estuanne areas.
• Reduced tillage costs and
increased crop yields in areas
where best management
practices are in place.
• Reduced costs for water
treatment for industrial plants
and municipal drinking water
facilities as raw water supplies
improve in quality.
• Increased property values
near cleaner, more appealing
waterways and beaches.
• Heightened aesthetic
enjoyment of our water
resources.
• Increased job opportunities
in pollution control and
construction as treatment
facilities are designed, built,
and maintained.
To a very limited extent,
some States have incorporated
these considerations in their
water quality analyses and
decision-making process.
Missouri reports that an
analysis was conducted to
determine the costs versus
benefits of addressing chronic
violations of dissolved oxygen
standards in Lake Taneycomo.
Releases of hypolimnetic water
(the cold, dense, deoxygenated
layer of water near the bottom
of a lake or reservoir) from
Table Rock Dam were
determined to be the cause of
the dissolved oxygen
violations. The cost-benefit
analysis showed that the cost
of abatement would exceed the
added benefit to the lake's
fishery.
Nebraska notes that it is
working to develop an
73
-------
Lake of the Woods is a
23.2-acre impoundment
located in the
Champaign-Urbana-Rantoul
area of east-central Illinois.
The lake shoreline is
surrounded by Lake of the
Woods Park; the park and lake
are popular regional
recreational facilities and draw
over 250,000 visitors annually.
Recreational uses associated
with the lake include
swimming, fishing, boating,
picnicking, golfing, and
sightseeing. Water quality
problems have detracted from
lake usage: a 20 percent drop
in swimming occurred
between 1980 and 1982, while
other lake-related activities
posted minor gains.
The lake waters are often
turbid from nuisance algal
growth and runoff from the
watershed during storms. Since
the lake was constructed in
1948, the volume of water
storage has decreased 13.5
percent due to sedimentation.
Dense growth of aquatic
macrophytes along the
shoreline interfere with
boating, fishing, swimming,
and aesthetics. During thermal
stratification, one-fourth to
one-third of the lake volume is
unsuitable for fish and other
aquatic life. Waters below 10
feet are virtually devoid of
oxygen in July and August.
Lake water level drawdown
during the late summer
months is also a serious use
impairment problem.
A diagnostic/feasibility
study conducted under the
Federal Clean Lakes Program
between 1981 and 1983
recommended a number of
steps to improve water quality
Lake of the Woods
in the lake and increase its
recreation potential. These
recommendations included,
among other tasks,
implementation of
management plans to reduce
nutrient and sediment inputs
from nonpoint sources;
ground/surface water blending
to dilute lake water with
higher quality ground water
and to help maintain water
levels; and periodic application
of algicides. The cost of
implementing these steps and
monitoring for a year after
implementation was
determined to be $114,500.
Water quality benefits of
this plan are many. For
example, fish habitat will be
increased and winter fish kills
avoided; loadings of nutrients
and sediments will be
substantially reduced;
transparency will be increased;
water temperature will allow
the development of a
year-round trout fishery; and
nuisance algal blooms will be
prevented.
The recreational benefits of
implementing this plan were
calculated using the "unit day
value" method recommended
by the U.S. Water Resources
Council. These benefits would
be derived from improved
recreational opportunities,
improved environmental
quality, increased numbers of
visitors to the park and lake,
and the addition of a new
use—trout fishing—after
restoration. The benefits of
cleaning up Lake of the Woods
and restoring it to its best uses
using a Clean Lakes
Implementation grant were
judged to outweigh the costs
by a ratio of 24 to one.
assessment method that
relates the cost of pollution
control activities to
incremental, non-monetary
improvements in the
environment. The State reports
that it has experienced actual
instream water quality
improvements (in the form of
reduced bacteria and ammonia
concentrations, and higher
levels of dissolved oxygen)
attributable to point and
nonpoint source abatement
procedures. The environmental
benefits from these improved
conditions include greater
public health and safety, and
better stream conditions for
the support of aquatic life.
Illinois conducted studies of
four lakes to determine their
present quality, identify
problems, and develop feasible
plans for controlling pollutant
sources and restoring water
uses (see HIGHLIGHT: LAKE
OF THE WOODS). These
studies, conducted between
1981 and 1983 under the
Federal Clean Lakes Program,
estimated the costs of
restoration and measured them
against recreational benefits
using a procedure
recommended by the U.S.
Water Resources Council.
Benefits included better
recreational experiences,
increases in the number of
visitors to the lakes, additional
new uses such as trout fishing,
and better environmental
conditions such as enhanced
water clarity and favorable
changes in algal populations.
With benefit-to-cost ratios
varying from 24:1 to 90:1, the
benefits of implementing
cleanup procedures in these
four lakes were calculated to
far exceed their costs.
The Clean Water Act
includes a provision requiring
the Administrator of EPA to
make and report detailed
estimates of the costs of the
Act. In May 1984, EPA
published The Cost of Clean
Air and Water: Report to
Congress, 1984 which
estimated these costs. The
report did not address the issue
of whether environmental
programs have favorable
cost-benefit ratios. Relevant
highlights from the report are
discussed briefly, below.
The costs included in this
report are those directly
attributable to control
measures (devices, process
changes, etc.) and program
costs for research,
administration, and
enforcement at the Federal,
State, and local levels. They
are assessments of what will
be required to meet existing
technology and water quality
standards, and to provide for
replacement and expansion of
existing facilities and
construction of new facilities.
74
-------
The costs of controlling
pollution from nonpoint
sources are also discussed.
The report includes
estimates (expressed in 1981
dollars) of investment and
annual costs for 1972-1981,
and projections of these costs
for the period from 1981
through 1990. According to
these projections, the Federal
water pollution control
program was estimated to cost
$135.7 billion in the period of
1979-1984. This figure
includes operation and
maintenance costs,
depreciation of investments,
and interest charges. The
capital investment for federally
required water pollution
controls was estimated at
about $48.4 billion during this
period. Between 1981 and
1990, the annualized cost of
the water pollution control
program is pro)ected to be
$270 billion; capital
investments for this period are
projected at $74 billion.
Projections for the annual
costs of controlling nonpoint
sources of pollution range from
$4 to $5 billion.
According to the report,
several differing views have
been expressed about the
economic impact of the costs
of EPA's pollution control
program. Some say the program
stimulates the economy and
creates jobs; others say it causes
capital shortages and inflation
in boom times, and leads to
unemployment and reduced
profits in recessionary times.
However, the report (p. 4) finds
that "... while the costs of
pollution control programs are
high in absolute terms, the
overall effects on prices, gross
national product, and
employment are projected to be
small, and neither strongly
positive nor negative in the long
run."
State
Recommendations
In their 1984 Section 305(b)
reports, sixteen States provided
recommendations for
additional program actions
necessary in order to achieve
the fishable/swimmable water
quality goal of the Clean
Water Act. Often expressed in
terms of State needs or
concerns that must soon be
addressed, these
recommendations call for
action on a number of
problems by Congressional,
Federal, State, and local
authorities. Underlying many
of these recommendations is
the need for continued or
additional funding.
These State
recommendations have been
grouped into ten basic
categories and are summarized
below. The ten categories are
discussed here roughly in order
of the frequency with which
they were cited in the State
reports. They are: municipal
sewage treatment facilities;
ground water; nonpoint
sources; toxic substances;
permitting, compliance, and
enforcement; monitoring;
lakes,- standards and criteria,-
combined sewer overflows;
and wetlands. In addition,
other recommendations were
provided by some States, but
are not discussed here because
of their State-specific nature.
In many cases,
recommendations may cut
across the category boundaries
used here for purposes of
analysis. For example, actions
to control toxics may involve
improvements to municipal
treatment plants, nonpoint
source pollution control
activities, improved
monitoring, development of
appropriate criteria, or more
effective enforcement of
permit limits. It should also be
emphasized that this
discussion is limited to a
presentation of what the States
themselves recommended, and
is not an analysis of the
appropriateness of these
recommendations.
Municipal sewage treatment
facilities: A recurrent theme in
State recommendations
concerning municipal sewage
treatment facilities is that
continued financial support
must be provided if these
facilities are to meet the needs
of the populations they serve.
In addition to continuing the
construction and upgrading of
municipal facilities, proper
operation and maintenance of
existing facilities is a high
priority. In order to accomplish
this, recommendations include
EPA-sponsored training
sessions for treatment plant
operators, implementation of
State municipal strategies that
describe how States plan to
meet the 1988 compliance
deadline for wastewater
treatment facilities, and
increased Federal and State
funding. Also recommended
are uniform, effective
pretreatment programs to
mitigate the impact of
industrial discharges to
municipal facilities, and an
emphasis on funding
municipal projects that will
result in significant water
quality improvements.
Ground-water management: In
order to correct existing
ground-water problems and to
prevent future problems from
arising, some of the States
recommend collecting more
comprehensive ground-water
data. Once aquifers are
classified, sources of pollution
located, and possible
impairments identified,
priorities for cleanup or
protection can be set. In many
cases, the States recommend
that regulatory controls be
developed or strengthened at
the State and Federal level to
manage problems such as
leaking petroleum storage
tanks and inadequately
protected waste disposal sites.
Comprehensive, cooperative
State/Federal ground-water
management strategies are
recommended, as is additional
funding for strengthening State
programs.
Nonpoint sources: In the area
of nonpoint source control,
funding issues again were cited
by a number of States.
Recommended actions include
increased data collection
activities to quantify the
impact of nonpoint source
pollution, evaluate the need
for controls, and determine the
effectiveness of best
management practices (BMPs);
development of incentive
programs to encourage
adoption of BMPs; and
expansion of the legal basis for
controlling nonpoint source
75
-------
pollution. Continued support
for public information
programs to educate
landowners, and the further
development and
implementation of State
nonpoint source control plans,
are also cited.
Toxic substances: Lack of data
is a substantial barrier to the
control of toxic substances in
the aquatic environment, and
many State recommendations
address this problem. The
extent, impact, and sources of
toxic substances must be
identified, and criteria must
yet be developed for many
contaminants in water, fish
tissue, and sediments. Long
term assessments of the health
effects of toxic substances are
recommended. Control actions
are recommended for abating
the impacts of accidental
spills, containing and issuing
permits for solid and
hazardous waste sites, and
determining appropriate
treatment of toxics from point
and nonpoint sources.
Permitting, compliance, and
enforcement: The need for
reducing permit issuance
backlogs for municipal and
industrial dischargers is cited
by several States. Other
recommendations include
simplifying and streamlining
the permitting and
enforcement processes;
continued monitoring to
gather information necessary
for enforcement activities; and
additional funding for
enforcement actions in order
to improve the rate of
municipal and industrial
compliance.
Monitoring: Several States
recommend continued and
coordinated water quality
monitoring efforts designed to
identify problem waters,
document improvements
resulting from the
implementation of controls,
and support management
actions such as standards
development and compliance
activities. The need for
increased Federal funding for
monitoring activities is cited.
Lakes: Federal funding of lake
monitoring and restoration
activities under the Clean
Lakes program is
recommended in order to
alleviate accelerated
eutrophication and other lake
water quality problems.
Standards and criteria: Several
States recommend that EPA
increase its efforts to
promulgate technology-based
limits. The need to develop
Statewide and site-specific
criteria that incorporate
human health and aquatic life
considerations is also cited.
Combined sewer overflows
(CSOs): Several States cited
the need to define the impacts
of CSOs and develop corrective
measures that will allow water
quality goals to be met.
Wetlands: Among the
recommended actions
necessary to protect valuable
wetland areas, several States
cite continuation of
inventorying and mapping
activities,- the development of
legislative authority and
incentives to protect and
manage wetlands; and the
continuation of public
education programs.
76
-------
In addition to the 1984 State
Section 305(b) submissions,
the following documents were
cited in this report:
Association of State and
Interstate Water Pollution Control
Administrators in cooperation
with the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency. America's
Clean Water: The States'
Evaluation of Progress, 1972-1982.
Washington, February 1984.
U.S. Congress, Office of
Technology Assessment.
Protecting the Nation's Ground
Water From Contamination.
OTA-0-233. Washington, October
1984.
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Office of Policy Analysis.
The Cost of Clean Air and Water
Report to Congress, 1984.
EPA-230-05-84-008. Washington,
May 1984.
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Office of Water, and U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service. 2 982
National Fisheries Survey, Volume
1 Technical Report. Initial
Findings. FWS/OBS-84/06.
Washington, June 1984.
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Office of Water Program
Operations. Report to Congress:
Nonpomt Source Pollution in the
U.S. January, 1984.
References
77
-------
Appendix
ALABAMA
For complete copies of the
Alabama 305(b) report, contact:
Alabama Department of
Environmental Management
State Capitol
Montgomery, AL 36104
Surface Water Quality
During 1982-1983, Alabama
assessed the quality of 12,100
miles of its rivers and streams and
found that 94 percent were
supporting their designated uses,
1.7 percent were partially
supporting their uses, and 4.3
percent were not supporting their
uses. For the 6 percent of rivers
and streams not fully supporting
their designated uses, the mam
cause (67 percent) appears to be
discharges from waste treatment
facilities. Industrial sources (20
percent) and nonpomt sources (13
percent) also contribute to the
problem. Of the 542 square miles
of lakes and reservoirs assessed, all
were found to be supporting their
designated uses.
Two of the State's special
concerns are the mercury
contamination of the Mobile River
from chlor-alkah facilities in the
Mobile River Delta, and the PCB
contamination of Weiss Reservoir
from an electrical transformer
facility on the upper Coosa River.
However, the levels of
contamination have decreased
sufficiently so that yearly
monitoring will no longer be
conducted for mercury in the
Mobile River, this sampling will
now be conducted every five years.
The sampling of PCBs will
continue to be done yearly.
Water Pollution Control
Programs
The State's municipal waste
control group issued 127 NPDES
permits and supervised the
issuance of approximately $45
million in construction grants
funds for the purpose of improving
the discharges from municipal
facilities and replacing outdated or
inadequate existing treatment
facilities.
The industrial control group
issued or modified 722 NPDES
permits, with the aim of having
State industries reach the best
available technology (BAT) level of
wastewater treatment by July of
1984.
At the present time, the control
of nonpomt source pollution in
Alabama is accomplished, with
various levels of success, by public
education programs administered
by various State agencies.
An ambient monitoring network
of 57 stations is maintained and
sampled monthly to ascertain the
status of water quality in selected
areas of the State Special studies
and intensive surveys are
conducted to provide information
on specific waterbodies At
present, the biological monitoring
effort consists of
macromvertebrate sampling at
selected ambient monitoring
stations, and of special studies.
Current plans for 1984-1985 call
for emphasis on the triennial
water quality standards review,
total maximum daily loads and
wasteload allocations, and the
National Municipal Compliance
Policy. There are also plans to
develop a more comprehensive
biomomtoring program, including
increased bioassay capability.
Special studies will be performed
as needed and as resources allow.
ALASKA
For complete copies of the Alaska
305(b) report, contact:
State of Alaska
Department of Environmental
Conservation
Pouch O
Juneau, Alaska 99811
Surface Water Quality
Most people agree that Alaska's
water quality is exceptionally
good. Pollution sources are not
widespread, and most waters are in
compliance with established
standards. However, Alaska faces
an array of administrative and
logistical problems that complicate
and sometimes preclude optimal
water quality management and
planning Alaska's immense size,
small and scattered population,
extreme climatic conditions, and
limited transportation systems are
frequently given as reasons why
protection of water resources is
difficult.
It is estimated that roughly half
of Alaska's water pollution comes
from point sources such as seafood
processing facilities, mines, sewage
treatment plants, and other
industrial dischargers For the
most part, Alaska has been
successful in applying traditional
means of controlling point
sources—i e., conducting plan
reviews to prevent the
construction of faulty facilities,
and issuing wastewater discharge
permits.
New strategies are needed,
however, to attack nonpomt
source pollution in Alaska
Sometimes difficult to detect, the
effects of nonpomt source
discharges can be chronic, causing
gradual damage for months or
years after an activity has begun or
even after it has ended.
A complicating factor in
choosing a control strategy for
discharges from some industries is
that the lines between point and
nonpomt source pollution are
sometimes blurred. Placer mining
is an example of a land use
activity that produces these "dual
discharges." Placer mining has
traditionally been considered a
point source. However, sediment
problems from tailings pile runoff
or road building are nonpomt
source concerns.
The groundwork is now being
laid for the rapid development of
the State's tremendous natural
resources. A balance must be
struck between protecting Alaska's
pristine beauty, valuable fisheries,
and seemingly limitless water
resources, and encouraging
industrial development Public
education and involvement will be
critical to successful management
of Alaska's water quality in the
coming years
Ground-Water Quality
Problems with drinking water
sources occur in locations with
shallow or limited aquifers,
mineral-rich ground waters, or
faulty drinking water storage,
filtering, and distribution systems.
Alaska's harsh climatic conditions
make the latter a common
occurrence, especially in smaller
communities.
Compared to other States,
Alaska's aquifer contamination
incidents are rare. However, leaks
from underground fuel storage
tanks have apparently polluted
limited aquifers in Nome, Minto,
and Fairbanks. Since many such
tanks may begin reaching their
design lifetime in the near future,
this type of pollution may
increase. Alaska's problems with
leakage of old fuel tanks are
expected to parallel those of other
States. Potential aquifer depletion
and pollution by leaching septage
will continue to worry officials
and the public in scattered
locations. With both development
and the State's population rapidly
increasing, protection of existing
and future drinking water sources
is more critical than ever. The
State has greatly increased its
efforts to enforce monitoring
regulations, and as a result has
seen a substantial increase in
monitoring.
A-1
-------
AMERICAN
SAMOA
For complete copies of the
American Samoa 305(b) report,
contact
Environmental Quality
Commission
Office of the Governor
Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799
Surface Water Quality
The quality of American Samoa's
120 streams is greatly influenced
by urban areas and weather
conditions. Periods of heavy ram
increase erosion and cause large
increases in turbidity and
suspended solids Heavy rains also
greatly increase the contamination
of streams from agricultural and
livestock sources.
Existing data indicate that
stream water quality has been
degraded by erosion, animal pen
location, agricultural practices,
individual sewer system location,
discharges of laundry and shower
water directly into streams, and
careless solid waste disposal
practices. Although there are only
limited data available, it appears
that nutrient concentrations in
streams are affected by livestock
pens that drain directly to streams,
and by the use of high phosphate
detergents. Maximum
contaminant levels established for
inorganic or organic chemicals or
radionuclides are not exceeded in
any of the streams used as water
sources
American Samoa has two kinds
of wetlands mangrove forests and
coastal marshes. These wetlands
are threatened by development.
The edges of wetlands are being
filled by villages seeking to extend
the limits of their useful land The
American Samoa Coastal Zone
Management program has
established as one of its program
objectives the protection of fragile
areas and their resources from
insensitive development Included
among the activities to protect the
Territory's wetlands are careful
review and enforcement of permits
for projects related to development
in fragile areas, and programs to
protect and restore wetlands
Ground-Water Quality
Ground water is a primary source
of potable water in American
Samoa. The need to identify new
ground-water sources and protect
existing sources is very great The
Tafuna-Leone plain ground-water
source has been greatly diminished
during periods of drought, and salt
water intrusion has also occurred
Additional demands for water are
expected with industrial expansion
and increased development
Preliminary evidence indicates
that surface water enters
ground-water aquifers at a very
fast rate, which makes ground
water very sensitive to
contamination by activities on the
surface. American Samoa and the
U S. Geological Survey are trying
to more accurately define the
limits of the ground-water supply
and rates of recharge
Water Pollution Control
Programs
American Samoa's water quality
standards were revised in 1981
These revised standards
established statistical limits for
various chemical and physical
parameters for Pago Pago Harbor,
embayments, ocean waters,
near-shore waters, and fresh water
streams. The information
generated by water quality
monitoring and various studies
currently underway will allow
American Samoa to determine
waste load reductions necessary to
comply with the 1981 water
quality standards The necessary
waste load reductions will be used
to determine NPDES permit limits
for appropriate discharges.
Other forms and sources of
water pollution are also addressed
by the 1981 water quality
standards. Dredging and filling
activities in the harbor area have
been restricted, and erosion
control on road construction
projects has been initiated.
Restrictions on the placement of
livestock pens over streams, grey
water discharges, and solid waste
disposal were also established.
ARIZONA
For complete copies of the Arizona
305(b| report, contact
Arizona Department of Health
Services
Division of Environmental Health
Bureau of Water Quality Control
1740 W. Adams St.
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Surface Water Quality
During water years 1982 and 1983,
the overall quality of Arizona's
surface water remained good
despite serious local water quality
problems. Over 90 percent of
Arizona's river miles have not
been assessed, primarily because of
their remoteness and their
ephemeral nature. Of the 1,579
river miles that were documented,
about 55 percent support their
designated uses and 18 percent
partially support their designated
uses. The remaining 27 percent do
not support their designated uses.
Arizona has over 100,000 acres
of lakes, of these, approximately
93 percent have been documented
for water quality. About 83
percent of the assessed total lake
acres support their designated
uses, and six percent partially
support their designated uses. The
remaining 11 percent do not
support their designated uses
Mining is one of the leading
causes of surface water quality
problems in the State Eight of the
nine river basins have at least one
major area of water quality
impairment caused by active or
abandoned mining operations.
Some of these problems are
localized, but others—such as the
elevated levels of radioactivity in
the Puerco River and the Little
Colorado River, and acid mine
runoff in the Final Creek
watershed—are quite extensive.
The State's growing population
and the associated increase in
recreational use of limited water
resources, especially near major
metropolitan areas, also cause
surface water quality problems.
Water quality problems associated
with heavy recreational use
include increased levels of bacteria
from human and domestic animal
wastes While most of these
bacteria are harmless, they are of
concern because of the correlation
between them and such
waterborne pathogens as
salmonella and typhoid.
Violations of nutrient standards
are also associated with increased
growth and recreation. Much work
needs to be done in the area of
nutrient dynamics to assess
sources, measure their impacts,
and determine how best to control
them Present information
indicates that the largest sources
of nutrients are nonpomt.
Flooding, erosion, and
sedimentation are of major
importance throughout Arizona
and contribute to many of the
State's nonpomt surface water
quality problems. Erosion-related
problems include loss of land, loss
of soil nutrients, water quality
degradation, sediment deposition
in stream channels and reservoirs,
damage to structural features on
eroding land, and release of soluble
salts Management of nonpomt
sources needs further evaluation
on a Statewide basis
Another major surface water
quality problem in Arizona is the
presence of numerous organic
compounds in water, sediment,
and fish downstream of Phoenix
and Tucson, Arizona. Many are
carcinogens or suspected
carcinogens. Several compounds
were found above the human
health criteria in water. Presently,
EPA's guidelines are inadequate to
evaluate the organic compounds
detected in sediment or fish tissue.
In water years 1982 and 1983,
six new or expanded wastewater
treatment facilities were either
completed or near completion
These should cause major water
quality improvements in
downstream areas. The six
facilities cost approximately 23
million dollars, of which about 80
percent was from EPA grants
administered by the Arizona
Department of Health Services.
A-2
-------
ARKANSAS
For complete copies of the
Arkansas 305(b) report, contact:
Arkansas Department of Pollution
Control and Ecology
8001 National Drive
Little Rock, AR 72209
Surface Water Quality
Arkansas has maintained its water
quality despite pressures brought
about by increased population and
growth. This effort was not
without great expense in terms of
tax dollars and product costs. To
date, most of the effort and money
spent have dealt directly with
abating point sources. The task of
dealing with nonpomt sources is
now drawing nearer, and may
prove even more difficult.
The State is divided into six
major river basins, and has 11,202
miles of rivers and streams. Of
these, 10,545 are supporting
fishable uses, 377 are anticipated
to support fishable uses, and 280
will never support fishable uses
Swimmable uses are supported in
5,976 miles, are anticipated to be
supported in 110 miles, and will
never be supported in 5,117 miles.
Thus while the vast majority of
the State's waters are supporting
fish life, about half are not
meeting the swimmable use
designation. However, the majority
of those streams not meeting the
swimmable use are not even
designated for primary contact
because of their physical features.
Arkansas' highly agricultural
Delta Region is heavily influenced
by nonpomt source runoff and by
the practice of channelizing
surface waters to facilitate
drainage. Surface waters in the
Gulf Coastal Region in the
southern part of the State still
exhibit the effects of petroleum
production In the Ouachita
Mountain Region, extensive
timbering operations may be
affecting water quality; their
effects are currently being
assessed. Past strip mining
practices in the Arkansas River
Valley Region have damaged many
of that area's streams. Population
migration to the Ozark Highland
Region, which is noted for its
extremely high quality waters, is
putting pressure on rivers and
streams in the area
Many short term gains in
agricultural production have been
made at the expense of Arkansas'
wetlands. In 1978, the Mississippi
River Delta contained about a
million acres of bottomland
hardwood forests. Based on U.S.
Fish and Wildlife projections, only
about 875,000 acres will remain in
the State in 1985, and only
800,000 acres will remain by 1990.
In addition to draining and
clearing, heavy ground-water
withdrawals may reduce
streamflow through wetland areas
and thus affect fisheries and
vegetation. Recreational uses of
wetlands and other types of uses
(such as farming) are in direct
conflict in Arkansas, particularly
in the eastern part of the State
Another important issue facing
the State is the need to develop a
total water resource policy. Some
activity in developing such a
policy occurred after the severe
1981 drought but has slowed since
that time.
Ground-Water Quality
The State's major freshwater
aquifers are considered relatively
free of contamination. However,
the potential for contamination of
these aquifers does exist and will
increase as the State's population
grows The need for safe waste
disposal sites is expected to
increase at the same time. One
particular method of waste
disposal—underground injection of
waste into deep saline
aquifers—will require careful
control if the State's freshwater
aquifers are to be protected. The
State's underground injection
program is concerned with this
issue.
CALIFORNIA
For complete copies of the
California 305(b) report, contact:
California State Water Resources
Control Board
Division of Technical Services
Investigation/Program
Development Section
Sacramento, CA 95801
Surface Water Quality
Using physical, chemical, and/or
biological measures or direct
observation/professional
judgement, California has rated its
waters according to support of
designated uses Waters supporting
designated have been ranked as
"good," those partially supporting
designated uses have been ranked
as "medium," and those not
supporting designated
uses have been ranked as "poor."
On this scale, the State's water
quality is generally good.
Sixty-six percent of the State's
stream miles have been ranked as
good, 27 percent as medium, and 7
percent as poor. Fifteen percent of
the State's lake acres have been
ranked as good, 55 percent as
medium, and 30 percent as poor
Of the State's coastal waters, 68
percent were ranked as good, 29
percent as medium, and 3 percent
as poor. Synthetic orgamcs, trace
metals, and fecal cohform
contamination of shellfish
harvesting areas are the major
factors resulting in poor marine
water quality.
Dramatic water quality
improvements were expected
following the passage of the Clean
Water Act and other legislation
designed to protect waters. Some
improvements have indeed taken
place, but the results have
generally been less dramatic than
was hoped. Pollution from
conventional point sources such as
public waste treatment facilities
and industrial sites has been
identified and controlled The
capability to find and monitor
toxic metals and synthetic organic
substances in both surface and
ground waters, and in fish tissue,
has also been developed.
However, disturbing issues
remain. Contamination of drinking
water sources is occurring in major
agricultural and urban areas, in
some cases, it can be attributed to
the treatment process itself
Nonpomt source pollution
generally has not been controlled.
Estimates are that half or more of
all water pollution is attributable
to nonpomt sources that have
proven difficult to control using
existing regulatory approaches.
Toxic or potentially toxic
synthetic organic chemicals used
in industry and agriculture are
being found m surface, ocean, and
ground water. Increased salinity is
becoming a problem, especially in
areas with poor natural drainage
where agricultural runoff
accumulates. Our knowledge of
the risks posed to human health
and the environment does not
match our ability to detect
pollutants in water, research has
been sporadic and often
inconclusive, and funding for the
development of effective treatment
technologies has been inadequate
Funds are not provided for the
operation and maintenance of
municipal sewage treatment
plants, and are inadequate for
nonpomt source pollution control
Regulation mandated by law has
proceeded slowly in some areas
such as the development of
standards for the protection of
aquatic life and public health
Ground-Water Quality
Fifty-four percent of the State's
ground-water basins were reported
to have good water quality in
1984. Thirty-one percent were
ranked as having medium quality,
and 15 percent as having poor
quality. The variability in
ground-water reporting is extreme,
it may reflect the lack of adequate
data necessary to quantify
ground-water quality, and the
difficulties inherent in identifying
the extent of a ground-water
quality problem. Problem
pollutants include industrial and
agricultural related orgamcs,
nutrients, dissolved solids, and
metals.
A-3
-------
COLORADO
For complete copies of the
Colorado 305(b| report, contact'
Colorado Department of Health
Water Quality Control Division
4210 East llth Avenue
Denver, CO 80220
Surface Water Quality
There are 14,000 miles of rivers
and streams in Colorado. The
State's Department of Health has
estimated that water quality
assessments have been made on
about 10,000 miles of streams,
which include 2,800 stream miles
that are routinely monitored for
long term trends. Monitoring
stations are generally concentrated
on those waters directly affected
by human activities. Waters
receiving minimal impacts have
not been evaluated, and are
believed to have equal or better
quality than those that have been
assessed
Of the stream miles that have
been assessed, 94 percent fully
support their classified uses. In
four percent of stream miles, water
quality considerations prevent
support of designated uses One
hundred and thirty miles of
streams have classified uses that
do not provide for the protection
of aquatic life. Approximately 700
stream miles have classified uses
and water quality standards that
are more stringent than the
fishable/swimmable criteria; these
are pristine waters that have State
or National significance and
generally are located in National
parks or wilderness areas, are
proposed for Wild and Scenic River
Designation, or contain
rare/endangered species of aquatic
life.
Of those stream miles that do
not fully meet their water quality
standards, 53 percent are degraded
by drainage from inactive mines or
mills, 16 percent by other
nonpomt sources, 26 percent by
municipal wastewater discharges,
and 5 percent by industrial
discharges
The chemical, physical, and
biological characteristics of the
State's waters are strongly
influenced by the geologic,
topographic, economic, and
demographic conditions that are
variable throughout Colorado's
hydrologic regions. Streams in the
mountainous region of the State
are generally pristine except where
they flow through the Colorado
Mineral Belt. Several of those
streams were affected by drainage
from mining and milling activities
that took place during the late
1800s and early 1900s. Portions of
waters diverted for municipal,
agricultural, and industrial uses
are returned to streams in the
larger mountain valleys and after
the streams have left the
mountain areas. Some of the water
returned to the streams carries
with it increased loads of dissolved
minerals, oxygen demanding
substances, nutrients, and metals.
The greatest volume of point
source discharges in the State
comes from municipal sewage
treatment plants. In 1983, the
combined discharge from ma] or
municipal plants equaled about
325 million gallons per day. Over
40 percent of that volume was
from a single source, the Denver
Metropolitan Sewage Disposal
District, which discharges to the
South Platte River. Combined
ma]or industrial discharges in 1983
averaged 97 million gallons per
day, with over 50 percent coming
from a fuel and iron corporation
discharge to the Arkansas River
near Pueblo. Other large industrial
sources include the mining,
brewing, sugar refining, and
photographic manufacturing
industries. Seventy-seven percent
of the State's municipalities and
87 percent of the industrial
dischargers complied with the
effluent quality requirements of
their discharge permits during
1983.
CONNECTICUT
For complete copies of the
Connecticut 305(b) report, contact.
Connecticut Department of
Environmental Protection
Water Compliance Unit
165 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, CT06115
Surface Water Quality
Great progress has been made in
improving the quality of the
State's waters since the passage of
.Connecticut's Clean Water Act in
1967, and the 1972 Federal Clean
Water Act. However, maintaining
or achieving the dual goals of
fishable/swimmable surface water
quality and adequate supplies of
unpolluted ground water for
potable use will require
considerable efforts to regulate,
and in some cases eliminate,
sources of pollution.
Over 90 percent of
Connecticut's 8,400 total miles of
rivers and streams meet Federal
and State goals. However, the
larger river and streams are more
heavily affected by man's
activities It is estimated that 65
percent of the State's 830 major
river miles fully support
designated uses.
Causes of less than full support
of designated uses are attributed to
municipal sewage treatment plants
(45 percent), toxic and
conventional pollutants from
industrial discharges (28 percent);
combined sewer overflows |19
percent) and nonpomt sources (8
percent)
Statistical analyses of eight years
of water quality data show
measurable improvements. Trends
such as the reduction of heavy
metals and total organic carbon
concentrations were nearly always
present in rivers and harbors
heavily affected by industrial and
municipal discharges.
Approximately 89 percent (by
area) of the State's 70 major
recreational lakes fully support
their uses. The growth of nuisance
weeds and algae caused by
nutrient enrichment is the most
common water quality concern in
lakes. Nutrient inputs are
attributed to natural sources (68
percent), plus a variety of nonpomt
sources such as septic systems,
fertilizers, erosion and
sedimentation, and stormwater
runoff (32 percent). The
elimination of Federal funding
under Section 314 of the Clean
Water Act seriously reduces the
ability of the State to conduct
additional studies or implement
recommendations for lakes
previously studied.
Long Island Sound, the major
marine resource in Connecticut,
has benefited from improved
municipal and industrial
wastewater treatment. The most
heavily affected areas are the
urbanized harbors and tidal
portions of the major tributary
rivers. Approximately 20 percent
of the 600 square miles assessed
are suspected of having water
quality problems. Sources of
pollution in marine areas not fully
supporting designated uses are
combined sewer overflows (51
percent); municipal sewerage
systems and failing septic systems
(20 percent), toxic and
conventional pollutants from
industrial sources (11 percent), and
nonpomt sources (6 percent). The
number of oysters and lobsters
harvested over the last 10 years
has dramatically increased. This
has been partially attributed to
improved water quality.
Ground-Water Quality
About 32 percent of the State's
population depends on ground
water for potable water supply
The vast majority of the State's
ground-water resources should be
suitable for drinking without
treatment. However, impacts from
improper solvents handling and
disposal, leaking underground
petroleum storage tanks, landfill
leachate, pesticides, and improper
road salt storage have resulted in
the contamination of about 500
water supply wells.
Water Pollution Control
Programs
The Connecticut Department of
Environmental Protection
continues to administer an
aggressive water quality
management program.
Comprehensive planning is
becoming more critical, since the
remaining water quality
management problems are much
more complex than in 1972 Water
quality and biological monitoring
is becoming similarly more
complex.
The Department's municipal
sewerage construction grants
program has been responsible for
major improvements in water
quality by eliminating discharges
of untreated and partially (less
than secondary) treated sewage
discharges from nearly all rivers in
the State. Progress in the program
has been slowed by reductions in
the Federal and State sewage
construction grants authorizations.
An increased reliance on State
funds may be necessary in order to
achieve water quality goals.
Connecticut is optimistic that
the progress already made in water
quality will continue and that the
goal of fishable/swimmable quality
for all waters can be achieved The
A-4
-------
availability of adequate unpolluted
ground water for public
consumption is an equally
important goal of the program.
Success will depend on a strong
State water pollution control
program, involvement of local
officials in water quality
management programs, and strong
support and direction from the
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency.
DELAWARE
For complete copies of the
Delaware 305(b) report, contact
Department of Natural Resources
and Environmental Control
Division of Environmental Control
Water Pollution Branch
89 Kings Highway
P.O Box 1401
Dover, DE 19903
Surface Water Quality
Delaware's surface waters are, for
the most part, in good condition
Most of the designated protected
uses for Delaware basins are
partially or totally supported Of
491 stream miles assessed, 75
percent (369 miles) support their
designated uses Most of the
remaining 122 miles listed as not
supporting uses are tidal rivers
closed to shellfish harvesting. If
these miles are discounted, only
about one percent of Delaware
stream miles remain in the
nonsupport category. It is unlikely
that these tidal rivers will ever be
opened to shellhshmg due to the
presence of excessive levels of
bacteria, the sources of this
bacteria are for the most part
probably natural and
uncontrollable.
The State's waters also generally
support the fishable/swimmable
goal. The analysis of water quality
for the reporting period of October
1981 to September 1983 indicates
that 98 percent of assessed miles
partially or totally support the
goal.
The primary factors impairing
uses in the State are excessive
bacteria levels, which affect both
recreational and shellfish
harvesting uses Reduced levels of
dissolved oxygen, a seasonal
occurrence in many tidal streams,
may cause partial nonattamment
of fish and aquatic life propagation
uses. Toxic substances affect uses
in limited areas.
All Delaware public lakes and
ponds are designated for fishing
and swimming Most ponds
support the swimming use, but
recurring high bacteria levels
impair this use, resulting in
periodic closures. Excessive
nutrient loadings and accelerated
eutrophication have fostered
nuisance aquatic plant growth and
reduced the quality of the fish
community in most ponds
Sedimentation of ponds is a special
concern.
In Delaware, nonpomt source
pollution is a much greater
concern than point source
pollution as a cause of
nonattamment of designated uses.
In fact, the majority of water
quality problems in the State are
caused by nonpomt sources.
Identifiable sources of nonpomt
pollution include runoff from land
surfaces, ground-water seepage,
and even direct rainfall. In many
Delaware streams, runoff from
tidal wetland areas has been
shown to add bacteria and depress
oxygen levels This type of
pollution is largely natural and
uncontrollable, but appears to be
the major cause of nonsupport of
designated uses in the State's tidal
waters This fact is good evidence
that the uses, or the criteria used
to measure the extent of
nonsupport of uses, may not be
appropriate for these stream
segments. Other important sources
of nonpomt pollution include
runoff and soil erosion from
farmland, animal confinement
areas, and construction sites,
runoff from urban and residential
areas, sewer overflows, and inflow
of ground water contaminated by
landfills, industrial operations,
septic systems, and agricultural
practices
Ground-Water Quality
Ground-water quality in the State
is generally good, although at least
three areas of concern are noted
First, the migration of toxic
pollutants from industrial areas
and dumps is an emerging
problem Some wells have had to
be abandoned due to such
pollution Second, contamination
of shallow water supplies with
nitrates presents a potential health
risk to infants Such
contamination is prevalent in
areas with sandy soils, where
infiltration of nitrogen from
agricultural fertilizers and septic
systems are probable contributors
Third, intrusion of saltwater is
occurring in domestic and public
water supplies in the growth areas
of coastal Sussex County
Overpumpmg of the limited water
supply has led to the abandonment
of many domestic wells, and has
forced many municipal suppliers
to move their wells farther from
the coast.
DELAWARE
RIVER BASIN
COMMISSION
For complete copies of the
Delaware River Basin Commission
305(b) report, contact
Delaware River Basin Commission
P O Box 7360
West Trenton, NJ 08628
Delaware River and Bay comprise
part of the boundary of four States
Delaware, New Jersey, New Yoik,
and Pennsylvania. From Hancock,
New York to the mouth of the
Delaware Bay, the Delaware River
flows 330 miles, draining one
percent of the land area of the U S
Over 10 percent of the Nation's
population relies on the waters of
the Delaware River Basin tor
potable and industrial water
The non-tidal Delaware
extending from Hancock, New
York to Trenton, New Jersey is
one of the Nation's premier
recreational rivers. Thirty-nine
percent of the non-tidal Delaware
has been included in the National
Wild and Scenic Rivers System,
and over half a million visitors aie
estimated to have used the
non-tidal river for recreation in
1983
The tidal Delaware River
Estuary extending from Trenton to
Listen Point, Delaware, flows
through the Nation's fourth largest
urban area This is the site ot one
of the world's greatest
concentrations ot heavy industn,
the second largest U S oil
refinmg-petrochemical center, .
-------
miles, designated uses were not
met. As may be expected, the
middle portion of the Delaware
Estuary in the
Philadelphia-Camden area was
found to have the worst water
quality.
In urbanized areas of the
Delaware River Basin, point
sources of pollution are dominant.
During rain events, however,
nonpomt source impacts are noted.
Elsewhere, nonpoint sources are
the major causes of pollution,
although at this time the available
data do not suggest major water
quality problems. The available
data suggest that toxics found in
the water column, sediments, and
fish warrant additional study.
DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA
For complete copies of the District
of Columbia 305(b) report, *
contact:
D.C. Department of Consumer and
Regulatory Affairs
Housing and Environmental
Regulation Administration
Environmental Control Division
Washington, D.C. 20032
Surface Water Quality
Surface waters in the District of
Columbia have improved
markedly in the last ten years as a
result of considerable expenditures
of Federal and local resources. The
clearest sign of improvement is
the return of fish such as shad and
striped bass. Algae blooms are not
as frequent as they once were, and
an increase in water-based
activities is noted.
The District of Columbia is
situated entirely within the
Potomac River basin, the second
largest tributary watershed to the
Chesapeake Bay. Within the
District, the Potomac River and its
main tributary, the Anacostia
River, form a tidal freshwater
estuary 6.7 square miles in area.
More than a dozen smaller
tributary streams totaling more
than 25 miles drain much of the
urban area and parkland. The
District has two impoundments
totaling 107 acres. These
impoundments were assessed,
along with 40 miles of rivers and
streams and the District's
estuanne waters.
Seven stream miles were found
to fully support their designated
uses, while 18 partially supported
their uses and 10 did not support
their uses. All 107 acres of
impoundments were found to
partially support their designated
uses. Five square miles of
estuarine waters were found to
partially support their designated
uses, and 1.2 square miles did not
support their uses.
The causes of nonsupport of
designated uses are different for
the different waters in the District.
In the Potomac River, the
significant use denied at this time
is contact recreation such as
swimming. Combined sewer
overflows (CSOs) are the primary
cause of this impairment. The
Anacostia River and the Rock
Creek are still subject to pollution
from CSOs and upstream nonpomt
sources. The District has recently
adopted a CSO correction strategy
to be funded by the city and the
EPA. Implementation of the
correction measure is scheduled
for 1995. In addition, the District
and Maryland have agreed to
jointly adopt measures to control
sediment and upstream pollutant
loadings to the Anacostia River.
Urban runoff is suspected to be
the mam source of toxic heavy
metals found in river sediments.
Agricultural activities in the upper
Potomac basin may contribute
pesticides to the District's waters.
Accidental spills may also be a
source of toxic substances. In
general, however, toxics do not
prevent the attainment of
designated uses in the District.
'Not included in the National analysis
FLORIDA
For complete copies of the Florida
305(b) report, contact:
Florida Department of
Environmental Regulation
Bureau of Water Analysis
Division of Environmental
Programs
2600 Blair Stone Road
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Surface Water Quality
Florida has an abundance of high
quality water that supports
recreational activities and healthy
communities of fish and wildlife.
Of the 6,917 miles of streams in
the State, 4,617 meet their
designated use and 800 partially
meet their use. The water quality
of the additional 1,158 miles is
unknown because of lack of
sampling data. Data collected
between 1981 and 1983 identifies
only 194 miles of streams—less
than three percent of Florida's
waters—with severe water quality
problems. Pollution sources
responsible for these water quality
problems include phosphate
mining and fertilizer production,
domestic wastes, agricultural
runoff, runoff from dairies and hog
farms, and urban runoff.
Trend analysis is an important
component of the Florida water
quality assessment. Historic and
recent data for stream reaches
were compared; the vast majority
(90%) of the waters were found to
have maintained good quality. A
few stream reaches showed
changes over time. The number of
streams showing improvements
(23) outnumbered those showing
degradation (10) by more than two
to one.
Florida has 4,298 square miles of
estuaries, and nearly all estuarine
areas meet their use designation
Only about three percent of the
State's estuarine areas are not
meeting their use designation. The
problem areas are some of the
smaller bays and inlets receiving
point and nonpoint source
discharges. The Department of
Environmental Regulation has
been actively working to alleviate
the problems in these areas by
controlling or eliminating
pollutant discharges.
Ground-Water Quality
In Florida, ground water has
historically been a high quality,
inexpensive, readily available
source of potable water. The State
is one of the few in the Nation
that depend almost totally on
ground water for drinking needs.
Ground water also supplies nearly
half the water needed for
agriculture, industry, and
thermoelectric power generation.
A-6
-------
This dependence on ground water
will increase along with the rise in
State population and industrial
development expected over the
coming years. In fact, the
development of south Florida as a
retirement and recreational area,
along with the influx of new
residents, has caused local
shortages of ground water for some
time.
The unique hydrogeology of
Florida renders its aquifers highly
susceptible to pollution by man's
surface activities. Detection of
ground water pollution and
subsequent cleanup is very
difficult and costly, if at all
possible. The current large-scale
pollution of ground water with
ethylene dibromide, and the
potential threats from existing
hazardous and non-hazardous
waste sites, are examples of the
seriousness of the problem
Florida has therefore undertaken
a massive effort to understand and
monitor its ground water. The
State Legislature initiated major
steps to address the problem by
enacting the Water Quality
Assurance Act of 1983. This Act
requires the Department of
Environmental Regulation, in
cooperation with other State and
federal agencies and local
governments, to establish a
ground-water quality monitoring
network to detect or predict
contamination of the State's
ground-water resources.
GEORGIA
For complete copies of the Georgia
305(b) report, contact:
Environmental Protection Division
Georgia Department of Natural
Resources
270 Washington St., SW
Atlanta, GA 30334
Surface Water Quality
During 1982-1983, water quality in
Georgia's streams, lakes, and
estuaries was good. Data from
State monitoring programs
revealed that 95 percent of the
stream miles, 86 percent of the
acres of publicly owned lakes, and
98 percent of the square miles of
estuaries in Georgia fully
supported designated water uses
No significant decreases in water
quality were documented during
1982-1983. Improvements have
been documented throughout the
State, most notably in the Flint
River and Chattahoochee River
downstream of metropolitan
Atlanta, and in the Savannah
harbor.
Municipal and industrial point
sources and nonpomt sources
contribute to use impairment in
Georgia's streams, rivers, lakes,
and estuaries. Generally, the
parameters of most concern are
fecal coliform bacteria, dissolved
oxygen, nutrients, pH,
temperature, and toxic substances.
The ma] or areas of poorer water
quality in the State are
downstream of major metropolitan
areas. Although improvements
have been made, additional efforts
are needed, many of which are in
progress. Many of the
municipalities are participating in
the constuction grants program
and are in need of additional
federal funding to complete
current projects.
Water Pollution Control
Programs
In 1982-1983, high priority was
placed on construction grants
management, NPDES permit
issuance, compliance and
enforcement; Statewide water
quality management planning,
including nonpomt assessments;
water quality monitoring,
including increased work to
identify toxic substances,-
justification of wasteload
allocations for treatment levels
more stringent than secondary,
and pretreatment programs for
industrial wastewaters discharged
into municipal treatment facilities.
Approximately 89 million
dollars in municipal construction
grant funds were obligated in
1982-1983. Construction activities
resulted in the completion of 18
new publicly-owned water
pollution control plants and the
elimination of 19 inadequate
plants. In 1982-1983, 3.2 million of
Georgia's 5.6 million people were
served by public sewerage systems,
with the remaining 2.4 million
served by individual septic tank
systems. Ninety percent of the
oxygen-demanding pollutants
generated by municipalities was
removed by wastewater treatment.
A survey of Georgia's needs for
municipal wastewater treatment
works for the decade 1982-1992
was conducted in 1982, this
survey estimated a total need of
1.5 billion dollars to construct new
plants to meet required standards,
correct sewer problems, build new
sewer systems, and control
combined sewer overflows.
Significant manpower was
allocated to permit reissuance
activities in 1982-1983. A total of
888 permits were reissued, 405 for
municipal dischargers and 483 for
non-municipal dischargers. No
permit backlogs exist in the State.
Compliance and enforcement
activities continued to receive
serious attention. Numerous
inspections were made at
municipal and non-municipal
facilities. Of 109 major municipal
discharges, 91 percent achieved
compliance with permit conditions
in 1982-1983. Of 95 significant
industrial discharges, 97 percent
achieved permit compliance.
Fifty-one legal orders were
issued to industries for improperly
treated discharges or spills, and
resulted in the collection of
$391,605 in negotiated
settlements. Twenty-five orders
were issued to municipalities for
failure to comply with permit
limitations, resulting in the
collection of $40,500 in negotiated
settlements. Twenty-eight
municipalities operated under
sewer connection bans in
1982-1983 as a result of poor
operation or insufficient capacity
to serve further development.
Toxic substance monitoring
efforts were intensified in 1983
with the initiation of two new
projects. One project consisted of
effluent stream sediment and fish
sampling and analyses at locations
downstream of selected discharges.
The second project consisted of
the purchase of aquatic toxicity
testing equipment and included a
mobile testing unit. The purpose
of the two projects is to identify
those discharges that need
additional controls to eliminate
toxic effects.
Efforts to determine the
magnitude of nonpomt sources of
pollution were continued in
1982-1983. Studies involving the
monitoring of 21 streams will
quantify the magnitude of impacts
from forestry, agriculture, and
urban runoff and will be
completed by 1984. Enforcement
actions were initiated in 1983 to
resolve several documented
problems caused by erosion from
construction sites.
Issues and challenges to be
addressed in future years include
the development of innovative
wastewater treatment plant
funding mechanisms, correction of
operation and maintenance
problems at treatment plants,
ground-water management, and
control of toxic substances. Great
progress in water cleanup has been
made to date in spite of increased
demand on the State's water
resources. This progress has
demonstrated that the goals of
economic growth and water
quality improvement are
compatible. Georgia's economy
and environment depend upon
maintaining the progress made
thus far. Meeting this challenge
will require continued strong
leadership, cooperation, and
initiatives from the State's leaders,
as well as the support of local
officials, industry, and all Georgia
citizens.
A-7
-------
GUAM
For complete copies of the Guam
305(b) report, contact:
Guam Environmental Protection
Agency
P.O. Box 2999
Agana, Guam 96910
Surface Water Quality
Guam's marine waters support an
abundance of beautiful coral reefs
and exotic tropical fishes. The
continuing challenge is to
maintain this existing superior
water quality.
The percent of nonsupport of
designated uses resulting from
various sources of pollution is
difficult to assess. Estimates of
nonsupport are based on
preliminary analysis and
professional judgement. They
show that the primary cause of
nonsupport of designated uses in
Guam appears to be nonpoint
source pollution, which accounts
for impaired uses in 55 percent of
assessed waters Municipal
discharges, combined sewer
overflows, natural conditions, and
other sources each appear to be
responsible for impaired uses in 10
percent of assessed waters.
Industrial sources are the cause in
the remaining 5 percent
Fecal coliform bacteria is the
parameter most frequently
violating water quality standards.
The problem is caused by on-site
sewage disposal overflows and
animal wastes carried to streams
or storm drains by runoff. Efforts
are being directed toward solving
these pollution sources.
Heavy silt loads carried by rivers
after periods of heavy ram are also
a problem. Although some erosion
is natural, man's activities such as
development and farming are
major contributing factors.
Grassland fires set by man are also
responsible for increased levels of
erosion.
Another pollution problem is
the occasional discharge of oil or
toxic materials from agricultural
runoff, storm drains, industrial
discharges, and ships.
Significant water quality
improvements have been made
through the efforts of the Guam
Environmental Protection Agency.
As an example, fecal coliform
violations have been reduced
significantly at a number of
stations as a result of the
construction grants program,
although contamination continues
to be a problem in many rivers.
Further implementation of the
Section 208 plan recommendations
should help to identify and control
nonpoint source pollution.
Ground-Water Quality
Ground water provides 70 percent
of the Island's potable water. The
quality of Guam's ground water is
unusually pure, although high in
calcium and magnesium
carbonates due to the composition
of the coral aquifer. Several
instances of saltwater intrusion
have occurred, these conditions
are caused by improper well
location and overpumpmg. Guam's
ground water contains nitrates at
twice the national average; the
exact source of these nitrates is
unknown, although cesspool
leachate is suspected.
Intensive ground-water
investigations have resulted in a
comprehensive management
program, including specifications
for well location, construction, and
operation; legal and institutional
frameworks; and land use
practices. This management
program is being implemented to
protect the quality of Guam's
ground water and ensure that it is
developed and managed for the
most beneficial uses.
HAWAII
For complete copies of the Hawaii
305(b) report, contact:
Hawaii Department of Health
Environmental Protection and
Health Services Division
P.O. Box 3378
Honolulu, HI 96801
Surface Water Quality
All rain falling on Hawaii's
mountains reaches the coastal
zone through streams or leakage of
underground waters. Water
pollution problems are to a large
extent determined by location and
geography. As a result, Hawaii's
water quality problems are mainly
found in coastal waters.
Island streams are characterized
by "flashiness," rapid changes
from normally low or non-existent
flows to flood stage during periods
of heavy precipitation. The flows
resulting from high runoff are the
major factors affecting the quality
of coastal waters.
The chemical quality of
Hawaii's surface water is excellent
near headwaters,- however,
significant amounts of dissolved
solids, nutrients, and cohform
bacteria can accumulate from
ground-water discharge, sewage
effluent, industrial wastes,
irrigation practices, and urban
runoff before these waters reach
the ocean.
With limited amounts of
expensive land and restrictions on
its use for waste disposal, coastal
waters have of necessity been the
receiving area for most of the
wastewater generated by
agricultural, industrial, and urban
activities. These point source
discharges, along with nonpomt
sources from land and vessel waste
discharges, have contributed to the
degradation of coastal waters.
Principal industrial dischargers
in the State are the sugar and
pineapple industries, oil refineries,
and electrical generation facilities.
Military installations contribute
both industrial and domestic
treated wastewaters. Irrigation
tailwaters that have been
combined for treatment are
another point source. The
remaining point source discharges
are principally municipal sewage,
both treated and untreated.
Nonpoint source discharges also
have an impact on nearshore
coastal waters. From agricultural
areas, nonpoint sources include
unconfined irrigation tailwaters
carrying silt, cane wastings,
chemical fertilizers, and pesticides.
Other significant nonpoint source
discharges include sedimentary
material eroded by heavy rain,
storm runoff from urbanized and
construction areas, and cesspool
seepage from unsewered areas.
Nonpoint sources of pollution are
major factors contributing to the
high concentrations of nitrogen
and phosphorus, coliform bacteria
counts, and turbidity in identified
problem areas.
Ground-Water Quality
Most of the drinking water in
Hawaii comes from basal aquifers.
In general, ground-water quality is
good. All ground water developed
for public and domestic purposes
is chemically suitable for use
without treatment, and
concentrations of all constituents
are within the limits of U.S.
drinking water standards.
However, with the inland
movement of developments
encroaching on previously
undeveloped ground-water
recharge areas, and with irrigation,
land disposal, and subsurface
waste disposal practices, some
deterioration of ground water is to
be expected. Pesticide
contamination of ground water is a
special concern in the State, as is
the disposal of wastewater by
subsurface injection. Additional
increases in the rate of
ground-water withdrawal to meet
the needs of a growing population
may result in future salt water
intrusion.
A-8
-------
IDAHO
For complete copies of the Idaho
305(b) report, contact:
Idaho Department of Health and
Welfare
Statehouse
Boise, Idaho 83720
Surface Water Quality
Ambient water quality monitoring
data are available for
approximately 765 miles of the
15,720 total river and stream miles
within the State. Based on
monitoring data and field
observation, Idaho's water quality
is generally good to excellent, with
significant seasonal deterioration
occurring in conjunction with
nonpoint source activities,
particularly irrigation return flows
The leading cause of use
impairment in the State's waters is
nonpoint sources, affecting 91
percent of those waters with
impaired uses. Municipal sources
affect six percent, and industrial
sources affect three percent
The majority of Idaho's surface
water quality problems are
associated with runoff from
agricultural lands (irrigated and
non-irrigated cropland, grazing).
Other nonpoint sources include
silviculture, mining, construction,
urban runoff, and residual waste
disposal. Pollutants most
commonly generated by nonpoint
sources include sediment,
nutrients, bacteria, and toxic
chemicals.
Many of Idaho's lakes are
characterized by pristine water
quality conditions and year-round
recreational use. The State's Fish
and Game Department supplies
fisheries stock populations on a
rotating basis to even the most
remote high mountain lakes.
General water quality data are
available for just over two percent
of the total 1,350 named lakes and
reservoirs spanning 508,180 acres
of land area. Nonpoint sources are
the cause of use impairment in 98
percent of lake acres with
impaired uses, and municipal
sources affect the remaining two
percent.
Ground-Water Quality
Idaho's ground water is used
mainly as a source of drinking
water, irrigation supplies, and for
certain industrial purposes such as
aquaculture, cooling, and
processing. Ground-water quality
among 84 identified hydrologic
units in the State is generally
good. Previous monitoring studies
attribute occasional exceedences of
primary and secondary drinking
water standards for pH, dissolved
solids, sulfate, chloride, and nitrate
to natural background levels
However, localized contamination
is known or suspected to occur in
conjunction with various waste
disposal or materials storage
activities and hazardous materials
spills.
Water Pollution Control
Programs
Past water pollution control
activities (monitoring, planning,
and enforcement) have centered
almost exclusively on protection
and restoration of water quality
among rivers and streams.
Considerable effort has been
expended on Statewide protection
from nonpoint source impacts.
Further studies are needed to
assess individual point source
impacts or cumulative impacts of
multiple activities within single
watersheds.
Limited protection of ground
water is indirectly afforded
through Statewide regulations for
various programs and activities.
The recently completed
Ground-Water Quality
Management Plan for Idaho
outlines a coordinated approach to
ground-water quality management
among several State agencies.
Since actual ground-water
conditions are not currently
monitored or defined to a level
enabling priontization of water
quality-based problem areas, the
management plan ranks ground
water based on pollution
"potential." Policy and standards
are currently being developed by
the State as recommended by the
management plan.
ILLINOIS
For complete copies of the Illinois
305(b) report, contact.
Illinois Environmental Protection
Agency
Division of Water Pollution
Control
2200 Churchill Road
Springfield, IL 62706
Surface Water Quality
Illinois contains approximately
13,200 miles of interior streams
and 245,930 acres of inland lakes,
and is bordered by 880 miles of
streams and 63 miles of Lake
Michigan. In 1982, of 7,270 stream
miles assessed, 38.4 percent fully
supported their designated uses,
58.2 percent partially supported
their designated uses, and 3.4
percent did not support their
designated uses. Between 1972 and
1982, 35 percent of the stream
miles assessed showed
improvement, while 64 percent
were maintained and less than one
percent were degraded.
The major cause of less than full
support of designated uses in
streams in Illinois is municipal
pollution, which affects 80 percent
of the streams not fully supporting
their uses. Nonpoint sources and
industrial dischargers each affect
10 percent of the streams not fully
supporting their uses. The two
major parameters of concern are
dissolved oxygen and ammonia
nitrogen. About 250 stream miles
are affected by toxics.
In 1982, 137,532 acres of lakes
and reservoirs were assessed. Of
those, 21.8 percent fully supported
their designated uses, 77.6 percent
partially supported their
designated uses, and 0.6 percent
did not support their uses.
Between 1972 and 1982, 26
percent of the total lake acres
assessed showed improvement,
65.6 percent were maintained, and
8.4 percent showed degradation.
The major cause of use
impairment in Illinois' lakes and
reservoirs is pollution from
nonpomt sources, which affects 85
percent of those lakes not fully
supporting their designated uses.
Municipal sources affect 10
percent of lakes not fully
supporting their designated uses,
and industrial sources affect 5
percent. The most serious
parameters of concern in the
State's lakes are nutrients that
contribute to excessive algal and
macrophyte growth, and suspended
solids that contribute to turbidity.
Ninety-five percent of the inland
lakes were classified as eutrophic,
and five percent were classified as
mesotrophic. It is estimated that
approximately 23,196 acres of
inland lakes are affected by toxics,
the major toxics of concern are
chlordane, dieldrin, PCBs, and
heavy metals.
Fish flesh data from 1981-1983
were evaluated for excursions
above Food and Drug
Administration action levels.
Excursion rates greater than 30
percent were obtained for
chlordane in lake fish samples
from the Sangamon basin and Lake
Michigan, and instream fish
samples from the south central
portion of the Mississippi River.
Dieldrin excursions occurred in
fish samples from the north
central portion of the Mississippi.
PCB excursions occurred in the
Illinois River, the Little Calumet
River, and Lake Michigan.
Heptachlor epoxide excursions
occurred in Lake
Michigan-Waukegan Harbor.
Ground-Water Quality
Currently, 37 percent of the State's
population depends on ground
water for human consumption;
this use is projected to increase.
Rural uses are especially
important, since 85 to 100 percent
of the rural population depends
entirely on ground-water supplies.
The quality of ground water is
highly variable in Illinois. Aquifers
in unconsohdated deposits are
generally of good quality except in
certain local areas where land uses
may have led to degraded
conditions. Aquifers in bedrock are
generally of good quality in the
northern third and the southern
tip of the State, and of moderate
quality elsewhere in the State.
Water quality decreases with
depth; at a depth of 500 to 3,000
feet, total dissolved solids may
exceed the level beyond which
treatment for human consumption
is considered economical. Trend
analysis has been applied to
municipal well fields in several
parts of the State.
Water Pollution Control
Programs
Point and nonpomt source issues
are addressed by the following
water pollution control programs'
Monitoring, Planning, Permitting,
Construction Grants
Administration, Compliance
Assurance, Enforcement and
Program Management. A
lake/watershed management
program, besides addressing point
and nonpoint pollution control
issues as part of the monitoring
program, also addresses in-lake
restoration issues. Program efforts
have emphasized compliance with
effluent and water quality
standards for deoxygenating wastes
and heavy metals from both
municipal and industrial
dischargers. Future program efforts
will emphasize maintenance of
A-9
-------
existing point source controls,
toxics control, ground-water
management, and the State Water
Plan, which provides for integrated
management of the State's water
resources by State and Federal
agencies.
INDIANA
For complete copies of the Indiana
305(b) report,* contact:
Indiana State Board of Health
Division of Water Pollution
Control
1330 West Michigan Street
Indianapolis, IN 46206
Surface Water Quality
Indiana has an estimated 90,000
miles of rivers and streams. No
more than 45,000 miles are large
enough to be fishable throughout
the year. The rest are often pooled
or dry, especially m the summer.
A vast majority of these small
streams are not affected by point
source pollution discharges and are
assumed to have good water
quality. Since 1972, water quality
has improved in at least 800
stream miles, and only about 230
miles of waterways have
significant water quality problems
remaining. No new stream miles
have been degraded since 1972.
The greatest improvements have
occurred in the upper West Fork of
the White River, the East Fork of
the White River, and upper
Wabash River, and the Maumee
River. In the 1982-1983 reporting
period, the most serious remaining
problems were in the Little
Calumet and Grand Calumet River
basins in Lake and Porter counties,
Trail Creek at Michigan City, and
the West Fork of the White River
below Indianapolis.
Ammonia is the ma] or cause of
stream fisheries impairment.
Ammonia removal is being
required at all locations where
stream standards are not being
met. Fish populations downstream
from nearly all of the major
municipal and industrial
wastewater treatment facilities
have significantly improved in
recent years. However, in some
areas, agricultural pesticides
and/or PCBs have accumulated in
fish tissue to levels in excess of
FDA action levels. This has
prompted the issuance of
consumption advisories for fish
taken from 125 miles of rivers and
streams and from Lake Michigan
Where fish tissue contamination
has been traced to a specific
source, corrective action has been
initiated.
Municipal dischargers account
for roughly three-fourths of the
number of stream miles and Lake
Michigan shoreline miles not
presently supporting their
designated uses. Low dissolved
oxygen and high fecal cohform
concentrations are the primary
problems associated with these
discharges Industrial discharges
and nonpomt runoff account for
the remaining areas with poor
water quality. Low dissolved
oxygen, elevated temperatures, and
toxic substances are the major
problems associated with
industrial discharges. The effects
of nonpomt sources are difficult to
quantify, but runoff from urban
and agricultural areas and
abandoned surface mines cause
turbidity and may contain
pesticides and heavy metals. Other
areas of concern are water quality
problems associated with oilfield
brines.
A few public lakes and
reservoirs receive discharges of
metals and other pollutants, and
many occasionally have nuisance
algae problems. Nevertheless, all
have relatively diverse fish
populations and little or no use
impairment. Close to one-third of
all the water stored in Indiana's
lakes and reservoirs is used for
drinking water supply. No water
quality problems associated with
this use have been identified.
In addition to the open water
wetlands represented by lakes and
reservoirs, Indiana has
approximately 100,000 acres of
other wetland types. Most of these
are marshes and shrub swamps,
although bogs and wooded swamps
are also present. No significant
wetland areas are known to be
adversely affected by point source
wastewater discharges in Indiana.
However, wetlands are
disappearing at a significant rate as
they are drained or filled for
agriculture or residential
development.
Ground-Water Quality
Until early 1984, the Indiana State
Board of Health had no official
ground-water program even though
about 3.3 million people in Indiana
derive at least some of their
drinking water from ground-water
sources. Recently, it has become
apparent that contamination of
ground water by chemicals can
occur more readily than previously
thought. Potential sources of
contamination include
underground storage tanks,
landfills and waste disposal sites,
agricultural bulk chemical storage
and handling facilities; and
accidental chemical spills.
Consequently, a program is being
developed to deal with these
potential problems, staffing began
in early 1984
'Not included in the National analysis
IOWA
For complete copies of the Iowa
305(b) report, contact:
Iowa Department of Water, Air,
and Waste Management
Records Center (515) 281-8895
Henry A. Wallace Building
Des Moines, IA 50319
Surface Water Quality
Iowa has over 18,000 miles of
streams and over 129,000 acres of
lakes and ponds. While essentially
none of the lakes in the State are
being adversely affected by point
sources of pollution, some stream
segments have unacceptable water
quality due to point source
discharges. Thirteen problems
caused by point sources were
observed during monitoring
activities conducted between 1981
and 1983. In addition,
mathematical modeling predicted
that sixty-seven municipal sources
could cause problems during
critical low stream flow
conditions.
The great majority of point
source problems will be addressed
by treatment plant improvements
financed with Federal/State grants,
by local governments, or by
industry. Four of the facilities
observed to be causing water
quality problems in 1981, 1982, or
1983 have already improved. In
some cases, the State will be
involved in better defining the
problem before requiring solutions.
Nonpoint sources, on the other
hand, affect most of the State's
streams and lakes. Nonpoint
sources cause unacceptably high
nitrate levels at three stream
locations, as well as increasing
levels of nitrates throughout
central and eastern Iowa.
Sedimentation of streams and
lakes is occurring Statewide, and is
resulting in the loss of original
storage capacity in Iowa's major
reservoirs.
Solutions are not easily found to
the widespread water quality
problems caused by nonpomt
sources. This is because nonpomt
pollutants come from agricultural
land, which covers 85 percent of
the State's land area. Control of
the problem would require the
implementation of additional
structural and/or management
practices on much of this area.
Nonpoint source control
programs are generally voluntary,
and usually include financial
incentives for implementing
structural practices. The programs
currently used to address nonpomt
sources include: State and Federal
cost sharing; no-interest loans and
low-interest loans, and Federal
watershed control projects. The
control process is proceeding based
A-10
-------
on a list of priorities established
by the Department of Water, Air,
and Waste Management and the
Department of Soil Conservation.
Progress is difficult due to limited
funds and agricultural production
policies
Of Iowa's 107 significant
publicly-owned lakes, 54 percent
are fully supporting their
recreational and fisheries uses; the
remainder are below their resource
potential. Use impairments in 47
lakes are attributed directly or
indirectly to nonpoint sources.
Most impairments are attributed
to agricultural practices. The
levels of pesticides in lake
sediments, water, and fish are
being monitored in several lakes.
Low levels of dieldrin, a pesticide
banned for use in 1977, are
consistently found in lake
sediments. To date, the levels of
pesticides found in fish in these
lakes are not considered harmful.
Few priority pollutants have
been detected in Iowa's aquatic
environment. The most commonly
found toxic substances are heavy
metals and chlorinated
hydrocarbon pesticides. The heavy
metals cannot be linked to point
sources and are probably naturally
occurring. The most commonly
found chlorinated pesticides have
been banned for several years and
are therefore residuals from
previously applied materials.
Further studies will be conducted
at those locations where data
indicate toxic contaminants exist
in amounts that exceed Food and
Drug Administration action limits
for human consumption of fish, or
National Academy of
Science/National Academy of
Engineers criteria for fish
consumption by predators.
Control of toxics from point
sources is accomplished through
the NPDES permit program and
the pretreatment program for
industries discharging to
municipal wastewater treatment
facilities. Implementation of
nonpoint source pollution controls
will also help reduce the runoff of
toxic pollutants into the State's
streams.
KANSAS
For complete copies of the Kansas
305(b) report, contact.
Kansas Department of Health and
Environment
Division of Environment
Forbes Field
Topeka, KS 66620
Surface Water Quality
Kansas has 20,570 miles of rivers
and streams, of which 3,750 major
river miles are regularly
monitored. A total of 13,810
stream miles are assessed on the
basis of monitoring, intensive
surveys, creek surveys, and the
professional judgement of water
quality analysts. Most of the
State's 103 river water quality
network stations are located in the
eastern half of the State, where
rivers are perennial. Of the 13,810
total miles assessed, 13 percent
support their designated uses, 5
percent partially support their
designated uses, 7 percent do not
support their designated uses, and
75 percent are unknown. Fifty-five
percent of nonsupport of
designated uses is attributed to
municipal and industrial sources;
34 percent is attributed to
nonpoint sources, 4 percent is
attributed to "other" sources, and
7 percent is unknown
From 1975 to 1982, the State
monitored 22 Federal reservoirs, 29
county lakes, and 7 city lakes.
Since 1979, pesticides have been
found in surface and sediment
samples from 19 of the 58 lakes
Most occurrences were in the
northeastern part of the State.
Several lakes in central and
western Kansas have high
concentrations of sodium and/or
chloride. Most of the lakes,
especially those that stratify in the
summer and produce an anoxic
bottom water layer, exhibit
concentrations of iron and
manganese in excess of secondary
drinking water criteria. Several
other trace metals were found very
rarely in a few of the lakes. Copper
and zinc were found in many
lakes, and at concentrations
exceeding EPA 1981 chronic
toxicity criteria. The
concentrations found were similar
to those reported for natural
background concentrations m
other U.S. lakes. Of the lakes with
sufficient data on algal biomass, 19
percent were very eutrophic, 46.6
percent were eutrophic, and 25 9
percent were mesotrophic. Severe
eutrophication problems are most
likely in county and local lakes.
Substantial use impairment m
the State's lakes and reservoirs is
likely to continue and increase as
the demand grows for lake water
suitable for drinking, recreation,
and aquatic life support. The
immediate problem is low levels
of pesticides in drinking water
supply lakes and in other
recreational lakes. Long-term
problems include the maintenance
of aquatic communities,
good-quality drinking water
supplies, and the loss of
recreational benefits.
The State lists a number of
remaining problem areas,
including municipal wastewater
management; industrial activities;
drinking water supplies;
agricultural activities; and water
quality monitoring.
Ground-Water Quality
More than 65 percent of water
used for municipal, domestic,
industrial, irrigation, and
agricultural uses is drawn from
ground water. A review of 1983
public water supply data found a
total of 67 instances of
State/Federal primary drinking
water standard exceedences. All 67
instances were related to one of
four chemical parameters.
selenium, nitrate, radium, or
fluoride. All 67 violations were
attributed to either natural
conditions, or, in the case of
nitrates, to possible agricultural
fertilizer practices. None of the
cited violations resulted in public
health problems. Thus while no
significant Statewide ground-water
quality problems exist in Kansas,
numerous isolated, site-specific
problems exist, and the State
expects to find many more such
occurrences. These problem areas
are generally the result of
ground-water contamination from
man's activities such as spills,
leaks; hazardous waste discharges,
industrial, agricultural, and oil
field-related activities, and old
landfills. In several cases,
site-specific problems are the
result of natural contamination.
The State continues to monitor
these areas, and will have to
extend its monitoring network in
order to develop site-specific
ground-water management plans.
KENTUCKY
For complete copies of the
Kentucky 305(b) report, contact
Kentucky Natural Resources and
Environmental Protection Cabinet
Department for Environmental
Protection
Division of Water
18 Reilly Road, Fort Boone Plaza
Frankfort, KY 40601
Surface Water Quality
The water quality in Kentucky's
rivers and streams during
1982-1983 was generally fair.
Approximately 44 percent of the
10,500 river and stream miles
assessed experienced some degree
of use impairment. Uses were not
supported in 776 miles (7.4
percent). Of the known causes of
use impairment Statewide, 57
percent was attributed to nonpomt
sources, 24 percent to municipal
sources, 16 percent to acid mine
drainage, and 3 percent to
industrial sources
Problem water quality
parameters throughout the State
include nutrients, related to
agricultural activities and, to a
lesser extent, the discharge of
domestic wastewater; fecal
cohform bacteria, caused by
improper wastewater treatment
plant operation, faulty septic
systems, and agricultural runoff;
and suspended solids and metals
such as copper, iron, and zinc, tied
to land disturbances from
agricultural activities or mining
operations.
Ninety lakes were surveyed by
the State for trophic status and
restoration needs. Lake water
quality during 1982-1983 was
generally good. An area of 358,214
acres of lakes was assessed.
Forty-five of the lakes assessed
were eutrophic (21 percent of
assessed acreage), 26 lakes were
mesotrophic (51 percent of
assessed acreage), and 17 were
oligotrophic (28 percent of assessed
acreage). Two of the lakes were
hypereutrophic (less than one
percent of assessed acreage).
Forty-one of the 90 lakes do not
fully support their designated uses.
However, this represents only 9
percent of the total lake resource
by surface area Natural conditions
are the leading cause of
nonsupport of designated uses,
followed by surface mining.
Special concerns in the State
include the improper disposal of
wastewater from oil and gas
production activities, acid mine
drainage from abandoned mine
lands, and fish kills attributed to
pollution
Ground-Water Quality
Ground water accounts for over 13
A-11
-------
percent of the State's total use of
water for public supplies, and for
over 90 percent of use for rural
domestic supplies. Unfortunately,
no single State agency has
responsibility for comprehensive
ground-water management since
this resource is addressed in many
laws dealing with solid and
hazardous wastes, mining, and
surface water. As a result,
protection efforts are difficult.
In the past two years, a number
of ground-water contamination
incidents have occurred in the
State Problems include high
nitrate and bacteria levels from
septic tanks and seepage pits, oil
brines; volatile orgamcs, infectious
agents due to faulty waste disposal
and septic systems, and mining
activities.
Water Pollution Control
Programs
In 1983, Kentucky was delegated
responsibility for the National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System in the State and inherited
a backlog of nearly 1,700 expired
or unissued permits, many of them
for minor coal mining facilities. A
high priority task will be to reduce
this backlog while maintaining
water quality goals and objectives
As a result of the construction
grants program, $183 million m
wastewater projects became
operational during 1982-1983.
Thirty municipal wastewater
projects were completed, with an
additional 39 projects in various
stages of construction.
Nonpomt sources of pollution
are responsible for use impairment
and habitat modification in
Kentucky's streams, lakes, and
wetlands In many cases,
documented proof has been
gathered showing the serious
water quality implications of
unabated sediments, nutrients,
pesticides, and pollutants from
acid mine drainage. In 1984,
Kentucky completed a nonpomt
source assessment to determine
the extent and severity of
agriculture, silviculture, mining,
and construction-caused sediment,
nutrient, and/or pesticide
pollution.
LOUISIANA
For complete copies of the
Louisiana 305(b] report, contact:
Louisiana Department of
Environmental Quality
Water Pollution Control Division
Capitol Station
PO. Box 44091
Baton Rouge, LA 70804
Surface Water Quality
The overall quality of water in
Louisiana is fair. The most
widespread problem in the State is
the discharge of untreated or
inadequately treated sewage,
which causes violations of
bacterial criteria (fecal and total
coliform). Violations of the
dissolved oxygen criteria are also
common in many of Louisiana's
waters, although in some areas
low dissolved oxygen levels result
from natural conditions
In most of the State's
waterbodies, designated uses are
supported despite water quality
problems. Where uses are only
partially supported, fecal coliform
and dissolved oxygen violations
are the most common cause of use
impairment The sources of
bacterial pollution are both point
and nonpomt sources. There are a
number of unsewered
communities in the State, as well
as a number of municipal waste
treatment facilities that require
upgrading. In this time of cutbacks
of federal funds, the State and
municipalities will become more
responsible for funding the
construction or renovation of
sewage treatment facilities.
Construction of new facilities or
upgrading of old facilities becomes
increasingly important as
population increases.
The State's twelve ma]or river
basins have been subdivided into
115 stream segments, which are
further divided into two
categories—effluent limited and
water quality-limited—for the
purpose of water quality
management activities. Effluent
limited segments are those m
which Best Practicable Treatment
levels for point source discharges
are required to meet stream
standards. Water quality-limited
segments are those in which
treatment levels for point source
discharges must exceed Best
Practicable Treatment in order to
maintain stream standards.
Ninety-four of Louisiana's stream
segments are effluent limited, and
the remaining 21 segments are
water quality-limited. Eleven
rivers, lakes, and bays have been
designated by the State as priority
waterbodies, these waters will be
given priority for further study, for
development and implementation
of control measures or best
management practices, or for
cleanup and restoration.
Louisiana lists three special
concerns, ground-water quality,
wetland loss, and atmospheric
deposition. Toxic pollutants in
water and fish are a major public
health issue in the State.
Agricultural pesticides such as
compounds of DDT, dieldnn,
toxaphene, chlordane compounds,
and endrin are a problem in many
agricultural areas. Creosote
residues and PCBs in sediments
will require cleanup and disposal
m Bayou Bonfouca and Capitol
Lake Studies of Lake
Pontchartram are continuing in
order to determine levels of toxic
substances in nearshore sediments.
These toxic substances may
originate from urban stormwater
drainage, and from discharges and
spills from marine facilities and
vessels. They have the potential to
adversely affect biological
communities, but to date have not
been found at levels considered
hazardous to aquatic life or human
health. Coliform contamination of
waters used for oyster harvesting
and of waters used for primary
contact recreation is another
concern cited by the State
MAINE
For complete copies of the Maine
305(b| report, contact
Department of Environmental
Protection
Bureau of Water Quality Control
Division of Environmental
Evaluation and Lake Studies
State House
Augusta, Maine 04330
Surface Water Quality
In general, Maine's water quality
is good. Many of the rivers and
lakes that were grossly polluted
earlier in the century have
recovered since the passage of the
Clean Water Act in 1972. Most of
the western and northern portions
of Maine contain waters that are
relatively pristine. They are
affected, if at all, primarily by low
flow conditions, timber-harvesting
activities, and natural disasters
such as forest fires.
In the more populated areas of
Maine, water quality is affected by
a combination of point sources
such as industrial and municipal
effluents, and nonpomt sources
such as urban and suburban
stormwater runoff, combined
sewer overflows, agriculture,
silviculture, construction-related
runoff, and waste disposal
practices. Most of the larger
municipal and industrial effluents
now receive the equivalent of best
practicable treatment; hence the
huge improvement in river water
quality since about mid-century
Given the difficulties of
controlling nonpomt sources, the
few remaining point sources, and
the emergence of ground-water
quality and hydropower as major
concerns, it is doubtful that future
water quality improvements will
continue at the same pace as over
the past 20 years.
Roughly 66 percent or 1,744
miles of Maine's 2,652 assessed
miles of rivers and streams fully
support their designated uses. A
great majority of waters that do
not fully support their uses or the
fishable/swimmable goal are
judged to be fully supporting the
fishable part of the goal—i.e.,
dissolved oxygen levels are good to
excellent, and healthy populations
of fish and aquatic invertebrates
appear to be present. Many of
these waters are m violation of the
fecal coliform bacteria standard
due to a combination of factors
such as nonpomt sources
(especially agriculture], urban
stormwater, combined sewer
overflows, Klebsiellae bacteria, and
untreated or inadequately treated
domestic wastewater discharges
Maine's 5,779 lakes and ponds
cover an estimated 994,560 acres,
sufficient information is available
A-12
-------
to estimate water quality for
928,325 acres (1,838 lakes)
Virtually all of Maine's lakes and
ponds are fit for fishing and
swimming However, many are
threatened by accelerated
eutrophication as a result of
changing patterns of land use
within their watersheds. The
Maine Department of
Environmental Protection has
identified roughly 500 lakes that
have significant levels of
development within their
watersheds, and therefore are
regarded as being more likely to
experience accelerated
eutrophication. Agricultural runoff
is the primary nutrient source in
most of the lakes exhibiting signs
of accelerated eutrophication
Residential development within
lake watersheds is also regarded as
an important source of excess
phosphorus in some of these lakes.
Maine has an estimated 579,743
acres of coastal and inland
wetlands Overall, there is
relatively little pressure to develop
Maine's inland wetlands as
compared to its coastal wetlands
Water quality in coastal wetlands
is influenced by wastewater
discharges, tidal action, and waters
of fluctuating salinity Relatively
tiny areas of coastal marshes and
wetlands are believed to support a
huge amount of marine fish and
wildlife during critical parts of
their life cycles. Consequently,
protection of these areas is a high
priority. The destruction of coastal
wetlands has slowed considerably
since the enactment of the
Alteration of Coastal Wetlands Act
of 1975. Inland wetlands are
indirectly protected by the Great
Ponds Act and Site Location of
Development Act.
Maine is faced with a variety of
issues that affect water quality and
State programs dealing with water
quality problems. For example,
acid ram continues to be a major
water quality issue in the State,
though the full range of impacts is
not well understood, several Maine
ponds are exhibiting signs of acid
rain impacts. Ground water in
Maine is generally believed to be
of excellent quality, yet a variety
of ground-water threats and
contamination incidents have
raised the public perception of
these issues over the past few
years.
MARYLAND
For complete copies of the
Maryland 305(b) report, contact:
Maryland Department of Health
and Mental Hygiene
Office of Environmental Programs
201 West Preston St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
Surface Water Quality
Over the past two years, the
quality of the State's waters has
remained stable and is generally
good, although many problems
still exist. The State's foremost
pollution problem is the increasing
accumulation of nutrients in tidal
waters and impoundments
Suspended sediments continue to
be a problem in both flowing and
tidal waters Of lesser severity, but
deserving continuing attention, is
the occurrence of locally elevated
bacterial densities found
throughout the State The
continuing diminution of prized
anadromous fish species and the
loss of submerged aquatic
vegetation is noted in the
Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries,
but the reason for this continuing
loss is not known. Finally, acid
mine drainage from many
abandoned coal mines in western
Maryland remains a long-standing
and difficult problem to solve.
Of the 7,440 stream miles
assessed for their degree of
designated use support, 6,843
miles fully support their
designated uses, 452 partially
support their designated uses, and
145 are not supporting their
designated uses. 20,696 acres of
lakes and reservoirs were assessed,
of those, 13,587 fully support their
designated uses; 7,100 acres
partially support their designated
uses, and 9 acres are not
supporting their uses And lastly,
of the 1,822 estuanne or ocean
square miles, 1,159 fully support
their designated uses and 663
partially support their designated
uses
Excessive nutrient
concentrations cause the most
impacts and are of prime concern
in the State. The primary sources
of nutrient enrichment include
both point source municipal
discharges and nonpomt discharges
of urban and agricultural runoff.
Excessive nutrient accumulation is
currently most evident in
reservoirs and tidal waterbodies
ad)acent to population centers.
Impacts from the second most
significant pollutant, suspended
sediments, are most noticeable as
turbid waters during and after
moderate to heavy rainfall.
Suspended solids are generated
from a variety of sources, and are a
problem in those areas where man
has disturbed the landscape, e.g.,
the agricultural portions of central
Maryland, smaller watersheds
along the western Bay, and
urbanizing areas of the State
Elevated bacterial levels have
the third most significant impact
on surface water quality in the
State. These levels are generally
localized, are not significantly
increasing, and have, in general,
only a minor impact on water
quality. Point and nonpomt
sources all contribute to this
problem Generally, elevated
bacteria levels are most
pronounced in waters adjacent to
urban centers; however, their
impact on direct water uses is
minimal.
Last, and much more difficult to
solve, is the State's acid mine
drainage problem. This is confined
to areas near abandoned coal
mines m Allegany and Garrett
Counties in western Maryland.
Although extensive and exhaustive
control measures have been
explored for more than twenty
years, no practical solution has
been found to abate this problem.
Ground-Water Quality
Maryland's ground water has not
suffered serious, widespread
contamination even through it is
an industrialized State and its
ground-water resources are heavily
utilized. Specific ground-water
contamination problems do occur,
however Man-induced
ground-water contamination in
Maryland, excluding natural
problems such as saltwater
intrusion that may be aggravated
by man's activities, occurs in
widely scattered areas around
specific sources of contamination.
The most widely reported cause of
ground-water contamination is
malfunctioning septic systems.
Localized incidents of
contamination by petroleum
products, such as gasoline leaking
from buried tanks, are also
numerous and have been reported
in most areas of the State.
Episodes of contamination by
industrial wastes are less common.
Efforts are underway to assess the
impact of existing and abandoned
landfills. Excessive fertilization of
farmland may contribute to high
nitrate levels in ground water
Water Pollution Control
Programs
Maryland has shown leadership in
developing new nonpomt source
control programs over the last five
years. The State has taken full
advantage of the opportunities
offered by Federal funding and the
invaluable new knowledge gained
from special Federally-funded
studies such as the Rural Clean
Water Program, the National
Urban Runoff Program, and the
Chesapeake Bay Program. Major
new initiatives were taken by the
State legislature, at State expense
and without waiting for mandatory
requirements from Congress or the
EPA.
Maryland's municipal waste
control program centers around
the Construction Grants program
The objective of this program is to
establish effluent limitations and
to use available Federal and State
funds to achieve the highest
practical level of sewage treatment
and obtain the maximum amount
of pollution control. To meet this
objective, the State develops a
priority list of projects to be
funded. This list is based on
priority stream segments,
anticipated benefits, and the
ability to meet Federal and State
permit limitations.
Maryland's municipal water
pollution control enforcement
compliance activities continue to
be concentrated on operation and
maintenance inspections, NPDES
enforcement, and operator
training.
The State's industrial waste
control program centers around
the review and processing of
applications of industrial NPDES
and State discharge permits. The
enforcement program concentrates
on inspections and participates in
administrative and legal actions
and in special civil or criminal
investigations.
A-13
-------
MASSACHUSETTS
For complete copies of the
Massachusetts 305(b] report,
contact:
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Department of Environmental
Quality Engineering
Division of Water Pollution
Control
Westborough, MA
Surface Water Quality
Through the combination of the
National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System and
Construction Grants programs, the
classic biochemical oxygen
demand/dissolved oxygen
(BOD/DO), solids, and aesthetics
problems in the surface waters of
Massachusetts have been
eliminated to a great extent.
As of 1984, 47 percent of
assessed river miles, 69 percent of
assessed harbor square miles, and
61 percent of assessed lake acres
met their designated uses. Partial
use support, particularly due to
cohform violations, occurred in 44
percent of river miles, 22 percent
of harbor square miles, and 34
percent of lake acres assessed. A
large fraction of those segments in
partial or nonsupport will comply
with standards in the next few
years because of municipal
projects that are presently under
construction. The value of proper
operation and maintenance of
existing facilities is recognized,
and is administered through a new
technical assistance section of the
Regulatory Branch.
The present focus is on the
complex problems of combined
sewer overflows, toxic
contamination, and
eutrophication. These problems
are difficult to assess and
expensive to correct The
likelihood of successful abatement
proiects being funded decreases as
federal support lessens.
Health issues are part of the
shift away from BOD/DO issues.
PCB contamination of New
Bedford Harbor and the
Housatomc River resulted in fish
consumption advisories The
acreage of open shellfishmg
remains static because the number
of beds opened recently equals the
number closed. The issuance of
EPA priority pollutant criteria has
aided the assessment of wildlife
health effects which result from
various levels of exposure to trace
elements and toxic organic
compounds.
Surface water monitoring has
expanded recently to meet
evolving needs to include harbor
assessments; toxicological
sampling, eutrophication analyses,
and combined sewer overflow
studies. The lakes program
continues to document ambient
conditions and develop lake
restoration/preservation schemes.
Toxicity testing (bioassay) is being
applied to effluent evaluation and
m-stream assessments.
Ground-Water Quality
As of 1982, 53 percent of
Massachusetts communities
derived their drinking water from
ground-water sources, with an
additional 24 percent using
combined surface and
ground-water sources. A total of 51
wells, one reservoir, and four
wellfields have been closed due to
chemical contamination. Two
wells in Provmcetown are
experiencing saltwater intrusion
due to temporary excessive
pumping. This excessive pumping
is necessary in order to replace
water lost to chemical
contamination.
In response to this need for
control, the Department is
committed to developing a
program to ensure that ground
waters meet the standards for their
intended use, given public health,
economic, and technical
constraints. Protection of the
Commonwealth's ground-water
resources is provided through
ground-water discharge permitting,
resource information maps, and a
cleanup program.
MICHIGAN
For complete copies of the
Michigan 305(b) report, contact:
Michigan Department of Natural
Resources
Environmental Protection Bureau
Surface Water Quality Division
Stevens T. Mason Building
Lansing, MI 48926
Surface Water Quality
Michigan's water quality is
generally good, with high quality
streams and lakes found in most
areas of the State.
Tributaries in the Lake Superior
drainage basin continue to be of
very good quality, with minor
exceptions in areas of the
Montreal River, the Carp River,
and the Anna River due to
wastewater treatment plant
discharges.
In the northern half of the Lake
Michigan drainage basin, stream
quality is good to excellent.
Localized problems are evident in
portions of the Iron River, the
Mamstique River at Mamstique,
and the Michigan waters of Green
Bay. In the southern portion of
Lake Michigan, stream quality
varies but is generally best in
headwater areas. Lower quality
waters are found downstream of
major urban areas, due to the
combined effects of point source
dischargers, urban runoff,
combined sewer overflows, and
habitat alteration. The Kalamazoo
River from Kalamazoo
downstream has improved from
the severely polluted conditions
which existed in the past, but still
fails to support beneficial uses
Tributaries in the Lake Huron
drainage basin north of Saginaw
Bay are generally excellent in
quality, with most streams
supporting designated uses. Within
the Saginaw River drainage basin,
headwaters of the ma)or tributaries
are of good quality. However,
designated uses are not supported
in the downstream reaches of the
Tittabawassee, Flint, Shiawassee,
and Cass Rivers due to the effects
of urbanization, point source
discharges, and agricultural runoff.
Within the Lake Erie drainage
basin, stream quality is fairly good,
although localized problems exist
in the Saline and Raisin River
basins due to point source
discharges, agricultural runoff, and,
in part, natural soil conditions. In
the Detroit metropolitan area,
urban runoff, habitat alterations,
combined sewer overflows, and
flow fluctuations negatively affect
stream quality. The quality of the
Detroit River continues to
improve as a result of point source
controls on both sides of the
border, and because of the river's
naturally high flushing rate The
river's bottom sediments, however,
continue to show high levels of
heavy metals and PCBs
downstream of the Zug
Island-Rouge River mouth and in
the Trenton Channel.
Michigan's inland lakes are of
generally good quality, with the
highest quality lakes found in the
northern half of the lower
peninsula. The greatest percentage
of eutrophic lakes occurs in the
southern half of the lower
peninsula, where Michigan's most
fertile soils and largest population
centers are located. However, there
appears to be a trend toward
improving water quality in lakes
in this area, as evidenced by
increasing levels of transparency.
Recent survey results of 656
Michigan lakes indicate that 12
percent are ohgotrophic, 62
percent are mesotrophic, and 26
percent are eutrophic.
Major progress has been made in
the past ten years toward meeting
the goals of the Clean Water Act
Significant reductions in BOD and
phosphorus loadings to Michigan
lakes and streams have occurred as
a result of improved municipal and
industrial wastewater treatment
With major point source controls
largely in place, future program
efforts must focus on maintenance
of existing water quality, control
of nonpomt source pollutants, and
control of toxic contaminants.
A-14
-------
MINNESOTA
For complete copies of the
Minnesota 305(b) report, contact
Minnesota Pollution Control
Agency
Division of Water Quality
1935 West Country Rd. B-2
Roseville, MN55113
Surface Water Quality
The overall quality of Minnesota's
waters is generally quite good. The
State's lakes and rivers support a
wide variety of recreational uses
and provide water for agriculture,
industry, and domestic
consumption.
In the decade since the passage
of the Clean Water Act in 1972, an
improvement in water quality has
occurred in Minnesota's rivers,
lakes, and Lake Superior shoreline
This is a direct result of an
increase in the percent of the
State's population served by
secondary or more advanced levels
of sewage treatment, and an
increase in significant municipal
and industrial facility compliance.
During water years 1982-1983,
river water quality has been
maintained, and ranges from
excellent in the Lake Superior
Basin to somewhat impaired in the
Minnesota River Basin, where
fecal coliform contamination,
nutrient enrichment, and sediment
loads remain a problem. Of the
2,708 miles of rivers monitored
during 1982-1983, 1,776 supported
their designated uses, 768 partially
supported their designated uses,
and 172 did not support their
designated uses.
The water quality in assessed
acres of lakes was also maintained
during water years 1982-1983. Of
the 17,298 acres assessed, 11,256
supported their designated uses
and 6,842 partially supported their
uses. The water quality of
Minnesota's lakes varies with the
geology and development
surrounding them. In southern and
western Minnesota, eutrophication
proceeds more quickly than in the
northeastern part of the State due
to the nature of the basins and
watersheds. The eutrophication
process has been further
accelerated by wastewater
discharges, urban runoff, erosion,
and drainage from cultivated
farmlands. In the northeastern and
central part of the State, lakes face
a different but equally serious
threat to their water quality.
These lakes tend to have low
alkahmties and are sensitive to
acid rain.
As point source dischargers have
provided better treatment,
Minnesota has begun to address
the problems of nonpoint source
pollution. Runoff in both
agricultural and urban areas
contributes to pollution in the
State's lakes and streams.
Combined sewer overflows in the
Minneapolis/St. Paul area continue
to adversely affect the Mississippi
River in the metropolitan area.
Statewide, nonpoint sources of
pollution are the cause of 72
percent of nonsupport of
designated uses in the 932 assessed
stream miles that failed to meet
uses. In the State's lakes, 75
percent of use impairment is
attributed to nonpoint source
pollution. Control of nonpoint
source pollution and combined
sewer overflows will help ensure
the maintenance of existing good
water quality, and will also help
improve water quality in lakes and
streams with impaired uses
Ground-Water Quality
The extent of ground-water
pollution in Minnesota is
presently undefined. However, it is
estimated that less than one-tenth
of one percent of available ground
water in Minnesota has actually
been made unusable due to
contamination. Most State
programs currently monitor in
areas where ground-water
contamination is known to have
occurred, and examine areas where
potential contamination is
suspected. During water years
1982-1983, domestic consumption
wells were closed at eight sites
due to contamination.
MISSISSIPPI
For complete copies of the
Mississippi 305(b) report, contact:
Mississippi Department of Natural
Resources
Bureau of Pollution Control
P.O. Box 10385
Jackson, MS 32909
Surface Water Quality
Surface water quality in
Mississippi is generally good. Most
waterbodies either meet all
applicable water quality standards
or fully support their designated
uses
Over 10,000 miles of rivers and
streams were evaluated for water
quality. Of this amount, 90
percent of the river miles currently
support their designated uses, with
the remainder partially supporting
their uses. At present, it is
anticipated that all of the State's
streams, except those classified for
lower uses, will meet the
fishable/swimmable goal.
Over 495,000 acres of lakes and
reservoirs were assessed. Of these,
96 percent support their designated
uses. The remainder partially
support their uses. With
implementation of best
management practices, it is
anticipated that all lakes and
reservoirs could meet the
fishable/swimmable goal. Of the
34 lakes surveyed in 1982 for
trophic status, 29 were found to be
eutrophic and 5 were found to be
mesotrophic.
Approximately 133 square miles
of estuaries were assessed for this
report. Of these, 118 square miles
support their designated uses, 14
square miles partially support their
uses, and one square mile does not
support its uses. All 133 square
miles could eventually meet the
fishable/swimmable goal with
implementation of nonpomt
source controls.
Of 10,274 miles of rivers and
streams assessed for water quality
trends, 400 miles were found to
have improved between 1972 and
1983. Approximately 3,800 acres of
lakes and reservoirs improved,
5,300 acres degraded, and 486,000
acres maintained their level of
water quality. Of the 133 square
miles of estuaries assessed, 7
improved while the remainder
maintained their water quality.
All waterbodies were assessed to
determine the pollution sources
that are causing nonsupport of
designated uses. For rivers and
streams, the major cause of
nonsupport is nonpomt sources,
affecting 72 percent of river miles.
In addition, significant impacts are
noted from municipal sources
(affecting 22.5 percent).
Nonsupport of designated uses in
lakes and reservoirs is attributed
entirely to nonpoint sources. Uses
in estuaries are affected by
nonpoint sources (56 percent),
municipal sources (31 percent),
and industrial sources (12.5
percent)
Approximately 811 miles of
streams and 12,673 acres of lakes
are adversely affected by toxics in
Mississippi. All of these waters are
within the Yazoo River Basin,
which is affected by extensive
agricultural activities. High
bacteria counts along the
Mississippi Gulf Coast are a
continuing problem, and are
attributed to improperly treated
wastewater and urban runoff.
Ground-Water Quality
Ground-water pollution problems
in Mississippi are attributed to
overpumping of wells, oil field
contamination, surface
contamination, and naturally
occurring conditions. The State
has recently initiated a
comprehensive ground-water
sampling program to define the
baseline quality of Mississippi's
fresh water aquifers.
Water Pollution Control
Programs
Significant improvements have
occurred in Mississippi as a result
of the combined effect of
construction of new municipal and
industrial wastewater treatment
facilities, and improved operation
and maintenance of existing
facilities. During fiscal year 1984,
approximately 17 municipal
construction grants projects will
be completed.
Through the efforts of the
State's compliance assurance
activities, several major industrial
permittees have installed
additional or improved treatment
facilities. This has resulted in
significant reductions of
conventional, nonconventional,
and toxic pollutants discharged to
State waters.
During 208 water quality
planning, the State found two
major nonpoint source pollution
problems in Mississippi. These are
agricultural runoff in farming
areas, and urban runoff,
particularly along the Mississippi
Gulf Coast. The current
implementation strategy for
agricultural nonpoint source
pollution control is based on the
use of educational programs to
emphasize the use of agricultural
best management practices.
Emphasis will be on developing a
State cost-share program for
implementation of these practices.
In addition, extensive planning has
been conducted along the
Mississippi Gulf Coast to develop
a management strategy for
A-15
-------
providing effective wastewater
collection and treatment.
MISSOURI
For copies of the Missouri 305(b)
report, contact:
Missouri Department of Natural
Resources
Water Pollution Control Program
Jefferson City, MO 65101
Surface Water Quality
Missouri has 19,000 miles of
streams and lakes. Water quality
standards have been established for
the protection of the beneficial
uses of these waters. At this time,
50.9 percent (9,908 miles) of these
waters fully support all beneficial
uses, 48.8 percent (9,476 miles)
have problems that cause some
use impairment, and 0.3 percent
(71 miles) exhibit such poor water
quality that some or all beneficial
stream uses have been lost.
The major causes of partial use
impairment in Missouri are soil
erosion and stream channelization,
which together affect about 9,000
miles of streams. The major causes
of non-attainment of beneficial
uses are acid mine drainage (34
miles); municipal discharges (18
miles); erosion and seepage from
abandoned lead and zinc mine
areas (7 miles); and hydropower
generation (5 miles).
A combination of local, State,
and Federal funding for
construction or upgrading of
municipal sewage treatment plants
is meeting much but not all of the
State's municipal treatment needs.
Adequate treatment is provided by
most private dischargers, and any
additional treatment needs m the
private sector will be addressed
through the NPDES permit
process.
Nonpomt source pollution,
particularly agricultural soil
erosion, stream channelization,
and problems from abandoned coal
and lead-zinc mining areas, are not
being adequately addressed at the
local, State, or Federal level.
In order to achieve the goal of
the Clean Water Act, the most
significant step taken by the State
during the last two years has been
to rely more heavily on actual
knowledge of instream water
quality conditions when writing
NPDES permits, ranking
construction grants, and focusing
compliance and enforcement
activities.
Wetland loss is a problem in the
State. The greatest loss of
wetlands in Missouri occurred
from 1900 to 1920. During this
time, many of the 2.5 million
acres of wetland hardwood forest
in southeast Missouri were drained
and cleared for agricultural land.
By 1975, less than five percent of
this wetland acreage was left.
In the remainder of Missouri,
most wetlands are associated with
streams. The most significant
cause of wetland loss m these
areas is stream channelization.
Channelization reduces wetlands
by shortening stream lengths,
narrowing stream widths, and
eliminating wetlands adjacent to
streams.
Ground-Water Quality
Most ground-water monitoring in
the State is conducted in order to
comply with safe drinking water
regulations. All public water
supplies must be frequently tested
for bacteria, and are also tested for
an extensive list of chemical
parameters. In addition, public
water supplies are in the process of
being tested for the 129 priority
pollutants. As of January 1984,
two hundred supplies had been
tested, and detectable levels of
toxic orgamcs were confirmed in
four supplies. Eight ground-water
quality problem areas are
discussed in the report.
MONTANA
For complete copies of the
Montana 305(b) report, contact:
Montana Water Quality Bureau
Environmental Services Division
Department of Health and
Environmental Sciences
Helena, Montana 59620
Surface Water Quality
Sections of 70 Montana
streams—accounting for about
1,165 miles of degraded rivers and
creeks—have predominantly
man-caused problems that could
be improved by pollution control
efforts. Inactive or abandoned
mines are a factor m over half of
Montana's principal man-caused
stream water quality problems.
Agricultural practices and
municipal wastewater treatment
plants are also significant
contributors. These sources
underscore the importance of
corresponding pollution control
programs, including the Superfund
and Abandoned Mine Land
programs, various agricultural
conservation programs, and
permits and enforcement programs
under the Construction Grants and
Montana Pollution Discharge
Elimination System programs.
In addition, scores of segments
totaling thousands of stream miles
are affected by farming, grazing,
and forestry practices. The
parameters involved are mostly
sediments, salts, and elevated
temperatures, the last due in part
to dewatermg for irrigation.
Because these pollutants occur
naturally in Montana streams, and
because they are not discharged at
the end of a pipe, it is often
impossible to determine what
fraction of a pollution problem is
caused by human activities, if any,
and what amount of improvement
can be expected. Except in cases of
extreme nonpomt source
pollution, control efforts on these
streams may have a relatively
small chance of succeeding,
depending on the level of
background or natural pollution.
A cooperative Statewide
inventory of 1,000 lakes has
resulted in the creation of a
computerized data base. Thirty
lakes were identified for more
intensive investigation, which
includes studying relationships
between nutrient status and
physical/chemical parameters.
Little progress has occurred in
identifying the number of wetland
acres in Montana. Due to funding
shortages, local, State, and Federal
efforts to inventory these areas
have nearly slowed to a halt.
Without this information, it is
difficult to assess the status of
Montana's wetlands. The greatest
A-16
-------
wetland water quality concerns are
the haphazard use of pesticides
and herbicides, and increasing
salinity due to poor agricultural
practices. The actual loss or
destruction of wetlands is of
greater concern than impairments
to water quality.
Special concerns identified by
the State include eutrophication of
Flathead Lake, saline seep and
sodbustmg; riparian zone
management; stream dewatermg;
nonpoint source pollution control;
control of sediment and nutrients
from Muddy Creek; discharge of
brackish water from Freezeout
Lake through the Priest Butte
Lakes into the Teton River; and
many environmental problems
associated with toxic algae
blooms.
For years, the principal goals of
Water Quality Management have
been "making waters fishable and
swimmable by 1983," and
eliminating the discharge of
pollutants by 1985. Although both
are admirable goals, they remain
for future accomplishment. In
keeping with these goals,
Montana's water quality managers
will work to reduce the backlog of
identified polluted waters and
prevent degradation of high quality
waters.
Ground-Water Quality
A comprehensive ground-water
quality monitoring network has
not been developed in Montana.
Information is generally collected
in response to specific problems,
making Statewide ground-water
quality conditions and trends
difficult to establish. It is generally
believed that there is no major
threat to ground-water quality in
Montana, but that localized
ground-water pollution has
occurred.
Montana's previous biennial
water quality assessment discussed
ground-water quality and use in
terms of saline seep, mining,
accidental spills, septic tanks and
dramfields, oil and gas exploration
activity, solid waste disposal
landfills, and municipal/industrial
wastewater disposal. The 1984
assessment discusses ground-water
quality impacts associated with
Superfund/hazardous waste/solid
waste management sites, and with
leaking petroleum storage tanks
and delivery systems.
NEBRASKA
For copies of the Nebraska 305(b)
report, contact:
Nebraska Department of
Environmental Control
Water Pollution Control Division
Water Quality Section
P.O. Box 94653
State House Station
Lincoln, NE 68509
Surface Water Quality
Water quality conditions in
Nebraska's streams have generally
improved or been maintained in
the past decade. Sixty-seven
percent of the State's 165 defined
stream segments have good to
excellent water quality, while only
about two percent of these
segments may have poor water
quality.
The two water uses most
frequently impaired are
fish/wildlife support and body
contact recreation. An estimated 4
to 8 percent of Nebraska's stream
miles are impaired to some degree
by municipal wastewater
treatment facilities. Industrial
facilities impair uses on an
estimated 1 to 2 percent of the
State's stream miles. Nonpoint
sources, however, are believed to
have some adverse effect on nearly
every stream in the State. The
most significant nonpoint source
category is agricultural runoff.
Sediment and fecal coliform
bacteria are the primary nonpoint
source pollutants affecting
Nebraska's streams.
Nebraska has 356 publicly
owned lakes (136,039 acres).
Generally, the water quality of
these lakes is quite good The
majority of lakes are eutrophic;
none are ohgotrophic and only a
few can be classified as
mesotrophic. These lakes generally
support their designated uses.
Nutrients and sediments
originating from agricultural
runoff, stream bank erosion,
rangeland runoff, urban runoff, and
irrigation have accelerated the
aging process in many lakes.
Toxics from both point and
nonpoint sources are becoming an
increasing concern in Nebraska. A
more comprehensive monitoring
effort is needed in areas with a
high potential for toxics
contamination in order to quantify
the impacts of toxics. Surface
waters near the Omaha urban area
are believed to be most affected.
The State is ranking priority areas
of potential impairment and will
be conducting detailed studies to
establish levels of impairment and
abatement needs.
It is estimated that nearly half of
the State's original wetland acres
have been lost. The major factor
responsible for this wetland loss is
draining or filling for agricultural
purposes.
Ground-Water Quality
Ground water is an extremely
important Nebraska resource.
Several regions of the State are
experiencing significant
ground-water level declines.
Center pivot irrigation
development is believed to be the
principal reason for these declines.
Ground-water contamination has
also been detected in recent years.
Numerous communities have
relocated their municipal wells
due to excessive levels of
contamination. The primary
pollutants of concern in
Nebraska's ground water are
nitrates, synthetic organic
compounds, metals, and petroleum
hydrocarbons.
Water Pollution Control
Programs
Pollution abatement programs
(primarily the construction grants
program and the NPDES permit
program) in Nebraska have been
quite effective in minimizing the
impacts of point sources to surface
waters over the past decade Only
two Nebraska facilities out of the
339 with permits are presently
designed to provide less than
secondary treatment.
Nonpoint source pollution
abatement programs are primarily
voluntary in Nebraska. Although a
great deal of money has been spent
to reduce nonpoint source
pollution, much still remains to be
done. Nebraska is accelerating its
efforts in this area through water
quality management planning,
priority area identification, and the
development of a State Soil and
Water Conservation Strategy.
In order to better protect its
water resources, Nebraska cites
the following needs: expansion of
surface water programs to address
toxics issues; better definition of
stream types (classification) and
attainable uses, implementation of
a ground-water protection
program, along with ground-water
monitoring; completion of the
National Wetlands Inventory,
along with subsequent
development of wetland protection
mechanisms; and comprehensive
identification of priority nonpoint
source areas, along with a well
coordinated implementation
strategy to abate pollution in these
areas. Many of these needs may
require new or amended
legislation. Completion and
effective implementation of these
program needs are contingent upon
adequate State and Federal funding
at a level commensurate with
these needs.
NEVADA
For complete copies of the Nevada
305(b) report,* contact:
Nevada Department of
Conservation and Natural
Resources
Division of Environmental
Protection
Capitol Complex
Carson City, NV 89710
Surface Water Quality
This report addresses the State's
major waterbodies, which include
the Colorado, Truckee, Carson,
Walker, and Humboldt Rivers and
Lake Tahoe.
The Colorado River met water
quality standards, provided for
protection and propagation of fish
and wildlife, and allowed
recreational activities in and on
the water.
The Truckee River continues to
show improvement in aquatic life
below the Reno/Sparks wastewater
treatment plant because of the
control of toxics and a reduction
in phosphates. The river provides
for the protection and propagation
of fish and wildlife and allows for
recreational activities.
Historically, nutrient standards
were frequently exceeded in most
reaches of the Carson River. The
planned upgrading of municipal
discharges is intended to reverse
the trend toward deterioration that
has been occurring over the past
fifteen years
Water quality data for the
Walker River reflect minor
violations of water quality
standards for dissolved oxygen,
temperature, nutrients, solids, and
aesthetics with no appreciable
effect on aquatic life, recreation, or
other beneficial uses. However,
reports have been received of the
impacts on agricultural use
because of high sediment loads
being deposited in irrigation
ditches and fields.
In general, the Humboldt River
met water quality standards.
Exceptions were parameters
associated with high flow.
Lake Tahoe's pristine water
quality continues to degrade.
Levels of primary productivity and
clarity indicate decreasing water
quality, but do not interfere with
the lake's ability to support fish
and wildlife, and allow
recreational activities.
Aggressive administration of the
State's nonpoint source control
law, implementation of best
management practices, and point
source controls are necessary to
achieve the goal of the Clean
Water Act. Improvement should
occur in the Truckee, Carson,
Humboldt, and Colorado river
systems (as well as some minor
A-17
-------
river systems) as a result of the
implementation of proposed
sewerage projects and the
implementation of best
management practices. Nonpoint
source problems caused by existing
on-site disposal of wastewater will
be resolved by implementation of
sewerage projects which eliminate
on-lot disposal.
'Not included in the National analysis.
NEW
HAMPSHIRE
For complete copies of the New
Hampshire 305(b) report, contact:
New Hampshire Water Supply and
Pollution Control Commission
P.O. Box 95, Hazen Drive
Concord, NH 03301
Surface Water Quality
Overall, the water quality in New
Hampshire is generally good to
excellent. A tabular summary of
water quality by basin is provided
below.
Water Quality Summary
industrial wastewater treatment
facilities and modified processes to
reduce water consumption. There
is still room for progress, however,
especially in the area of toxics and
phosphorus controls.
Nonpoint sources of pollution
due to agricultural runoff are still
not well documented, in large part
due to the masking effects of
municipal and domestic
discharges, especially in the
Connecticut River Basin. Farming
has continued its decline in New
Hampshire, although the trend
towards consolidation into larger
operations may have the
compounding efect of
concentrating animal populations
Total River
Miles Violating
Water Quality
River Basin Standards
Total Miles
Total Miles Not Since 1982
Expected to 305(b) Report
Meet Class B Downgraded/
or Better Upgraded
Androscoggin
168
07/0
Connecticut
269 1
204
4.0/8 6
Mernmack
82.6
15.0
0/697
Piscataqua
and Coastal
61 5
0.1/0
Saco
04
0/0
TOTAL
433.3
52.2
48/78.3
It is important to note that
nearly all of New Hampshire's
rivers and streams are now
fishable—i.e., they will support
fish populations. The salmonid
sports fishery, however, is largely
dependent on annually stocked
fish. In several of the State's lakes
and ponds, fisheries are
characterized by reduced diversity
and greater size of individual fish.
Acid ram is felt to be largely
responsible for reducing the
alkalinity in upper elevation lakes
in New Hampshire.
A significant portion of the
remaining point source problems
in the State should be resolved by
completion of new municipal and
smaller community wastewater
treatment facilities and collector
systems. Additional improvements
in surface water quality will come
with the upgrading of existing
facilities from primary to
secondary, and with the separation
of storm and sanitary sewers. In
large part, the success of this
facility planning continues to
hinge on EPA's Construction
Grants Program, as well as
continued enlightened
commitment by the State and by
local citizenry.
New Hampshire's industrial
sector has committed significant
funds to build and upgrade
and necessitating special manure
storage facilities.
Pollution abatement costs are
increasing, both in terms of
facility planning and construction,
as well as operation and
maintenance. Including federal and
State shares, construction grants
for publicly owned wastewater
treatment facilities during 1982
and 1983 totaled over 69 million
dollars. New industrial treatment
facilities and upgradings have
required substantial commitments
to achieve the interim 1983 goals
and use classifications for New
Hampshire streams. There is still
room for improvement.
Ground-Water Quality
Of increasing concern is local
ground and surface water
degradation due to underground
fuel storage, leachate from town
dumps and landfills, and illegal
hazardous waste disposal sites.
New Hampshire has responded to
this threat by promulgating
ground-water regulations and
permitting procedures to protect
ground waters as special sources
for drinking water purposes, and
enacting new laws and
implementing regulations to better
control solid and hazardous waste
disposal. A significant share of
federal "Superfund" monies,
combined with State and local
(including industrial) resources,
have been drawn upon to clean up
various illegal hazardous waste
sites. The concern is that there are
more sites than resources
available. There is a pressing need
for properly sited and operated
hazardous waste treatment and
disposal facilities to handle the
thousands of gallons generated
annually.
A-18
-------
NEW JERSEY
For complete copies of the New
Jersey 305(b) report, contact:
New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection
Division of Water Resources
Bureau of Planning and Standards
CN 029
Trenton, NJ 08625
Surface Water Quality
This report draws some significant
conclusions about New Jersey's
water quality, based on data
compiled to assess progress
between 1972 and 1982. Where
monitored, stream water quality
generally improved since 1972, but
many pollution indicators still did
not meet State water quality
standards. Of the 6,100 river miles
assessed, 365 miles fully supported
their designated uses in 1982, 640
partially supported their uses, 95
did not support their uses, and
5,000 were unknown. Municipal
sources were cited as the cause of
nonsupport in 35 percent of
assessed stream miles, nonpoint
sources in another 35 percent,
industrial sources in 25 percent,
and unknown or other sources in 5
percent.
Reduced bacteria concentrations
in certain coastal bays and
estuaries occurred between 1972
and 1982 because of improved
municipal sewage treatment
plants. This, in turn, resulted in
less restrictive shellfish harvesting
classifications, and is regarded as
New Jersey's greatest water quality
improvement over the decade.
The overall removal of
oxygen-demanding wastes by
municipal sewage treatment plants
went from 10-30 percent in 1972
to 76 percent in 1982.
Improvement in municipal sewage
treatment efficiencies, combined
with reduced industrial
wastewater contributions, resulted
in a decrease of as much as 83
percent in the amount of
oxygen-demanding wastes
discharged in 1982 compared to
1972.
New Jersey's surface waters are
affected by nonpoint sources of
pollution, a particularly complex
problem because of the diversity
and intensity of land uses in most
watersheds in the State. Prominent
nonpoint sources in New Jersey
include drainage from agricultural
areas (bacteria from animal wastes,
nutrients, and pesticides) and
contaminated runoff from
urban/suburban areas (consisting
of toxics, sediment, nutrients,
bacteria, petrochemicals, and
metals). New Jersey's 12 water
quality management plans identify
nonpoint sources as contributing
various pollutants at levels often
equal to, or greater than, pollutant
loads from point sources.
The number of major water
quality issues in New Jersey has
grown over the past decade. The
State's prime concern in the 1970s
was improving treatment
efficiencies at municipal and
industrial wastewater facilities.
New issues that developed after
early water pollution control
efforts began to address this
concern include: maintaining
water quality while meeting water
supply needs; expanding
information on ground-water
quality and quantity issues;
developing a ground-water
permitting program and responding
to a major increase in
ground-water pollution incidents;
identifying the presence of toxic
substances in the State's water
environment; controlling the
spread of toxic substances from
abandoned and existing landfills,
accidental spills, and industrial
facilities; and understanding and
controlling, where possible,
nonpoint pollution sources.
Ground-Water Quality
New Jersey has nearly 140
landfills/dump sites that are
known to be contaminating
surface and/or ground waters.
This, in combination with the
high number of operating and
abandoned chemical, petroleum,
and other industrial facilities,
points to the potential for harmful
contamination by toxic substances
in many areas of the State.
Approximately half the State
currently relies on ground water
for its water supply. Ground water
issues are of major concern,
because as demand for ground
water increases, pollution
incidents rise, water levels drop,
and salt water intrusion occurs.
NEW MEXICO
For complete copies of the New
Mexico 305(b) report, contact:
New Mexico Water Quality
Control Commission
P.O. Box 968
Santa Fe, NM 87504-0968
Surface Water Quality
There are 3,500 miles of perennial
streams in New Mexico. The
quality of surface waters varies
according to the locality but is
classified as generally good. Water
originating in the high mountains
is usually of excellent quality. At
lower elevations, water is
frequently of lesser quality. Due to
the presence of more readily
soluble materials, good quality
water may be subjected to
degradation through use as it flows
downstream.
During water years 1979-1983,
less than two percent of the
estimated 3,500 perennial stream
miles covered by standards had
significant standards violations.
Standards violations occurred in
six stream reaches comprising 61
of the 3,500 stream miles. In the
State's best professional judgment,
uses are partially impaired in five
stream reaches comprising 56 of
those 61 miles. Partial use
attainment is attributed to
hydrologic modification in 45
percent of the stream miles
affected; to poorly treated
community wastewater discharges
in 34 percent of the stream miles
affected; and to nonpomt sources
in the remaining 21 percent of
affected stream miles.
The State has identified 15
stream segments as priorities for
water quality management, based
on water quality standards
violations, vulnerability of
designated uses, information
needed to make water quality
management decisions, and
regulatory priority for point source
control.
Ground-Water Quality
Ground water is an important
resource in New Mexico, and is
the only source of water in many
areas. Overall, the quality of the
State's ground water is good.
While there are significant
pollution problems affecting
limited areas around the State,
contamination by human activity
has affected only a small
percentage of the State's ground
water.
Known or potential
ground-water contamination
problems have been documented
at 159 sites in New Mexico. The
nature and extent of
contamination at these sites is
varied. Twenty-seven of these sites
have been contaminated by
nitrates, six by bacteria, 45 by
brine, five by increased
mineralization, and seven by
mining and milling activities.
Contamination of ground water by
refined petroleum products has
been documented at 53 sites, and
contamination by other organic
compounds at 25 sites.
To date, studies indicate that
organic chemical discharges,
including hydrocarbon fuels, are a
more widely distributed and
significant contamination problem
than previously thought. Cases of
contamination from hydrocarbon
fuels have been documented
Statewide, with leaking
underground fuel storage tanks
being the most common source.
Many more cases of this kind of
contamination are expected to be
documented.
The State has recently initiated
an investigation to determine the
most significant potential
hazardous waste contamination
sites. This effort is part of the
National hazardous waste site
inventory program, and includes
both active and inactive sites. In
addition, the State has recently
completed two important studies
on the uranium mining and
milling industry, and is focusing
attention on ground-water
contamination by nitrates.
Water Pollution Control
Programs
State and Federal water pollution
control programs have been
generally effective in protecting
and maintaining the quality of
New Mexico's surface and ground
waters. The number of stream
miles in New Mexico with
significant standards violations
have been reduced from 300 in
1980, to 200 in 1982, to 61 in
1984. Moreover, while the total
biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)
load received by municipal
treatment plants throughout the
State increased by 119 percent
between 1977 and 1982, the BOD
load of treated effluent discharged
by these plants decreased by 54
percent. Further, despite increasing
numbers of significant municipal
and industrial facilities, both the
absolute number and the
percentage currently able to meet
today's Federal NPDES permit
limitations have increased over
past years.
New Mexico's Water Quality
Control Commission has adopted
a voluntary approach to nonpomt
source control. Sediment is the
primary nonpoint source pollutant
affecting surface water in the
State. Among the State's nonpoint
source control activities are
revised stategies for silvicultural
A-19
-------
activities and rural road
management; development of an
education program on rural road
construction and maintenance,
proposed designations of State,
Federal, and local agencies to
implement nonpoint source
control strategies set forth in the
State water quality management
plan, and development of a
computerized system for tracking
and assisting in the
implementation of nonpoint
source controls.
NEW YORK
For complete copies of the New
York 305(b) report, contact:
New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation
Division of Water
Bureau of Monitoring and
Assessment
Albany, NY 12233
This report summarizes support of
designated best use in 1972 and
1982 for four categories of surface
waters—streams and rivers, lakes
and reservoirs, Great Lakes, and
salt waters. It shows what
percentage of New York's waters
now support designated uses, and
compares that percentage with
figures from 1972 to determine
changes in overall water quality.
Surface Water Quality
New York has about 70,000 miles
of streams and rivers. Only about
two percent of these streams are
affected by industrial or municipal
wastewater discharges. The
emphasis of regulatory programs
and treatment facility construction
has been on these streams and
rivers.
The quality of 21 percent of
assessed streams improved
between 1972 and 1982, so that 64
percent of stream miles affected by
wastewater discharges supported
their designated uses. Seventy-four
percent of assessed lakes and
reservoirs supported their
designated uses in 1982.
Comparison of 1972 and 1982
data shows no change in the
amount of Great Lakes water
supporting designated uses. Large
amounts of bottom sediments in
Lake Ontario are contaminated
with the pesticide Mirex and other
toxic organic substances. Removal
of these sediments has proven to
be impossible, and they remain a
continuing source of toxics to the
lake's fish and other life. A health
advisory has been issued
concerning Lake Ontario fish.
Figures on use support for the
State's 523 square miles of salt
water remain essentially
unchanged between 1972 and
1982, with 63 percent fully
supporting designated uses. There
is evidence, however, that
conditions have improved in some
of the more severely polluted
waters.
Water Pollution Control
Programs
Although the basic elements of
New York's Clean Water program
have not changed since 1972, the
program emphasis has changed. In
1972, the New York State
Department of Environmental
Conservation (DEC) was directing
its resources toward the abatement
of conventional pollutants in
surface waters. Today, control of
toxic pollutants, maintenance or
rehabilitation of treatment plants,
and protection of ground-water
resources are the areas of priority
concern.
In 1982, sewage was collected
and treated for more than
three-quarters of New York's
citizens. Secondary or more
advanced levels of treatment
served 66 percent of the State's
population, an increase of 26
percent over 1972. Most of this
increase resulted from upgrading
plants that were operating at
primary levels of treatment in
1972. One widely used measure of
municipal pollution—biochemical
oxygen demand—decreased 38
percent during the decade. This is
a strong indication that upgrading
the State's sewage treatment has
reduced pollutant discharges to
waterways.
Since 1972, industry has
responded positively to the
mandates of federal water
pollution control laws. Cleaner
industrial discharges have made a
marked contribution to New York
State's improved water quality.
Programs that combine
regulation of discharges with
government assistance to build
and maintain municipal treatment
facilities have provided effective
control of conventional pollutants
in surface waters. The New York
DEC is developing a program with
the same two elements to control
toxic substances.
NORTH
CAROLINA
For complete copies of the North
Carolina 305(b) report, contact:
North Carolina Department of
Natural Resources and
Community Development
Division of Environmental
Management
Raleigh, NC 27611
Surface Water Quality
Substantial progress has been
made toward meeting the goals of
the Clean Water Act. Nearly all
freshwaters and tidal saltwaters in
North Carolina have been
classified to meet the
fishable/swimmable goal of the
Act. In 1982 and 1983, it is
estimated that 77 percent of
streams and rivers were supporting
their designated uses; 17 percent
were partially supporting their
uses; 3 percent were not
supporting their uses; and in 3
percent of streams, use support
was unknown.
For lakes, 82 percent of assessed
acreage supported designated uses,
and 18 partially supported their
uses. North Carolina is actively
working toward solutions to lake
eutrophication problems.
Of the State's approximately 2
million acres of tidal saltwater
estuaries and sounds, about 85
percent are open for shellnshmg
for market purposes, and 15
percent are closed. Of the 314,000
closed acres, many are not
classified for shellfishing due to
low salinity levels. Estimates of
use support for estuaries indicate
that 84.5 percent supported their
uses, 15.4 percent partially
supported their uses, and 0.1
percent did not support their uses.
Coastal waters are seriously
threatened by extensive conversion
of natural forests to agriculture
and silviculture, as well as by
extensive real estate development
along coastal waters inland and on
the barrier islands.
It is estimated that municipal,
industrial, and nonpoint sources
contribute equally to nonsupport
of uses in freshwater streams and
rivers. Nonpoint sources account
for about 55 percent of lake and
reservoir eutrophication problems,
with municipal sources
responsible for approximately 40
percent of the problems. Coastal
waters are primarily affected by
nonpoint sources, although
municipal and industrial
discharges may have localized
impacts. Major factors adversely
affecting streams include fecal
cohforms, oxygen demand,
nutrients, and heavy metals.
Sediments, which were not
A-20
-------
included in the water quality
analysis, are considered to affect
more miles than all other
parameters.
Approximately 1,400 stream
miles were affected by metals or
ammonia toxicity m 1983. Two
creeks in the Yadkm River basin
have fish consumption advisories
m effect due to mercury
contamination. No public water
supplies were closed at the end of
1983 due to contamination by
toxic substances.
Ground-Water Quality
North Carolina has a ground-water
program that includes
classifications and standards,
permitting, compliance
monitoring, and ambient quality
monitoring. About 60 percent of
the State's population uses
ground-water supplies. Leaking
underground petroleum storage
tanks are the most frequent causes
of ground-water contamination.
Although no public water systems
have been closed through 1983, a
number of private wells were
closed due to a variety of pollution
sources. Depletion problems occur,
primarily in the coastal plain, due
to heavy industrial and municipal
withdrawals.
Water Pollution Control
Programs
At the end of 1983, there were
approximately 2,489 surface water
dischargers in the State with
NPDES permits. Major objectives
of the point source program
include permitting,
implementation of a pollution
prevention program, increasing
facility compliance,
implementation of a pretreatment
program, and adequate training
and certification of wastewater
treatment plant operators.
Nonpoint source pollution is
considered a problem to some
extent m nearly all waters of
North Carolina. Sediment is
considered the most severe
nonpoint pollutant, since it is
generated from nearly every source
category and serves as a carrier for
other pollutants. An existing
management program is m place
for seven nonpoint source
categories. Implementation of
controls has been initiated, but
additional resources are required.
NORTH DAKOTA
For complete copies of the North
Dakota 305(b) report, contact:
North Dakota State Department of
Health
Division of Water Supply and
Pollution Control
1200 Missouri Ave.
Missouri Office Building
Bismark, ND 58505
Surface Water Quality
Water quality degradation of North
Dakota's streams results primarily
from natural substances occurring
in the soils, but is aggravated by a
number of point and nonpomt
sources. In 1984, water quality
conditions in 5,109 miles of rivers
and streams were assessed. Of this
total, 4,518 were found to fully
support their designated uses and
591 were found to partially support
their designated uses. A total of
1,711 miles were declared
improved since 1972. Use
impairments were attributed to
nonpomt sources (40 percent of
stream miles), natural sources (40
percent), municipal sources (15
percent), and industrial sources (5
percent).
Lake acres were also assessed for
degree of designated use support.
Of 850,000 lake acres assessed,
770,000 acres were found to fully
support their designated uses, and
degree of use support was
unknown in the remaining 80,000
acres. Use impairments were
attributed to nonpoint sources (50
percent of lake acres), natural
sources (37 percent), municipal
sources (12 percent), and industrial
sources (1 percent).
No municipal facilities m North
Dakota are presently discharging
completely untreated wastes.
However, some provide less than
the desired level of treatment
because of a lack of storage
capacity or a lack of resources to
provide upgraded treatment. A
number of municipalities will
need additions, modifications, and
new facilities in order to comply
with permit requirements.
Major industrial dischargers do
not appear to be causing
significant stream degradation
problems. Major industrial sources
include power plants, sugar beet
processing plants, and oil
refineries. Minor industrial sources
include potato washing plants,
sand and gravel operations, water
treatment plants, and coal mines.
There are a few combined sewer
systems in North Dakota's older
cities. The major water quality
problem associated with combined
sewers is the overflow discharge of
diluted, untreated wastewater as a
result of intermittent heavy flows
due to rainstorms or snowmelt.
Most of the affected cities are
presently involved in combined
sewer separation projects.
All major cities and several
minor cities in the State have
storm sewer systems. Because of
an increase in urban population in
the past few years, storm sewer
discharges have also increased.
Urban runoff characteristics are
highly variable depending on the
density and duration of storms, the
management of street sanitation,
and the contributions from
adjacent runoff areas.
Nonpoint sources are
responsible for most of the surface
water degradation m the State.
Nonpoint pollutants include
sediment and plant nutrients,
wastes from stock raising
activities, and pesticides contained
in the runoff from croplands,
rangelands, pastures, farmsteads,
and urban areas. Phosphorus,
ammonia, nitrates, sediment, and
pesticides are found to present a
problem in most streams.
Agricultural activities often
increase the amount of phosphorus
and other pollutants that may be
present in surface runoff
Agricultural Best Management
Practices that reduce soil loss may
reduce the amount of phosphorus
in runoff to a level approaching
that of natural or baseline
conditions.
The smaller tributaries of the
major streams in the State may
contain no flow at certain times of
the year. Larger tributaries may
also experience no flow conditions.
Chemical constituents in surface
water increase during low flow
conditions due to the influence of
ground-water inflow. Historically,
dissolved solids concentrations
may reach impairing levels m
nearly all streams and rivers m the
State during low flow. The most
commonly occurring constituents
of dissolved solids are sodium,
calcium, magnesium, sulfates, and
chlorides, and these are the
parameters that are of prime
concern in the State.
Ground-Water Quality
North Dakota has experienced
only minor ground-water quality
problems. Monitoring indicates
that concentrations of arsenic m a
localized area and nitrates in one
community and several
non-communities have exceeded
primary drinking water standards,
and concentrations of total
dissolved solids, iron, manganese,
sodium, sulfate, and chloride have
exceeded secondary drinking water
standards in some aquifers. Almost
all of these conditions are natural
background levels. Man-caused
contamination of aquifers has been
limited to small, isolated areas and
to aquifers of poor quality.
Sources of ground-water
contamination include
bacteriological contamination from
septic tank drain fields, solid
waste disposal sites, and waste
impoundments; hydrocarbon
contamination from underground
storage tanks; and increased total
dissolved solids concentrations
from oil and gas activities. A large
portion of the State's ground-water
resources are at a depth that
naturally protects them from
manmade sources of pollution. In
areas with shallow, high quality
aquifers, few contamination
problems have been experienced
due to the absence of industry and
other detrimental land uses above
these aquifers.
Although the State has
encountered only minor
ground-water contamination, the
potential for future incidents
exists. Recent surveys have shown
that many surface impoundments
have high pollution potentials
because of their geologic siting.
Underground storage tanks pose
another threat to ground-water
quality. Potential problems exist
in the western part of the State
due to mining, oil and gas
exploration, and other
energy-related activities. The State
is currently evaluating the nature,
extent, and severity of these
potential ground-water
contamination sources as part of
the State Ground-Water Protection
Strategy.
A-21
-------
NORTHERN
MARIANA
ISLANDS
For complete copies of the
Northern Mariana Islands 305(b)
report, contact:
Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands
Department of Public Health and
Environmental Services
Division of Environmental Quality
P.O. Box 1304
Saipan, Mariana Islands 96950
Surface Water Quality
The Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)
consists of a chain of 14 islands,
the three major islands (Saipan,
Timan, and Rota) are the subject
of this report.
The marine waters surrounding
the islands of the CNMI have been
designated as either Class AA or
Class A. Class AA waters are of a
pristine nature and are to be
maintained as nearly as possible m
that state, with an absolute
minimum of pollution or
alteration of water quality from
any human-caused source or
actions. Class A waters are
protected for recreational purposes
and aesthetic enjoyment, with
other uses permitted as long as
they are compatible.
Class AA waters, which are used
primarily for swimming, boating,
and fishing, have shown little or
no degradation over the past 3-4
years. Although occasional
microbiological contamination
occurs along the coastlines due to
surface runoff following heavy
rains or typhoons, these waters are
generally pristine.
Class A waters are more likely
to lose their high quality due to
the introduction of pollutants.
Saipan's two primary sewage
treatment facilities discharge
effluents into the deep waters off
the western and southern shores.
Occasionally, the claridigesters are
bypassed and the sewage goes
directly into the ocean. Data
indicate high fecal coliform
bacteria levels near one plant
outfall.
Another potential troublespot is
the Timan Harbor, where a tuna
transhipment operation is located.
Oil transfer operations are
expected to commence in the near
future. Illegal vessel discharges
have caused water quality
standards violations in the harbor
and the occurrence of oil slicks.
CNMI has only one significant
fresh water lake, Lake Susupe. The
lake supports several species of
fresh water macrofauna.
Degradation of water quality is
directly attributed to the closing of
drainage channels originally built
to carry runoff from the lake
during torrential rams, and to the
lack of management and operation
and maintenance of the existing
drainage system.
Saipan's wetlands are threatened
by development that would fill in
sensitive areas, destroying the
natural habitats of some
endangered species. Flooding is a
problem in the Lake Susupe
wetlands. Agricultural
development and road building are
also cited as possible problem
sources. However, there appears to
be little chance of ma)or pollutants
entering wetland areas in the
foreseeable future, since no
heavily-polluting industries exist.
Any danger from large
earthmoving activities will be
minimized through the
environmental review process.
No serious or permanent
degradation of water quality in the
CNMI has occurred, based on
existing microbiological and
chemical monitoring data.
Designated uses have not been
seriously affected, and improved
enforcement capabilities could
help to prevent permanent damage
to reefs and fishes due to oil spills
or illegal dumping of sewage,
chemical, or other toxic wastes.
OHIO
For complete copies of the Ohio
305(b] report, contact:
Ohio Environmental Protection
Agency
Division of Water Quality and
Assessment
Columbus, Ohio 43216
Surface Water Quality
In Ohio, 4,949 stream
miles—eleven percent of the
State's total stream mileage—were
assessed for the 1984 report. Over
62 percent of the stream miles
evaluated were found to currently
meet the fishable/swimmable goal
of the Clean Water Act. The small
percentage of the total stream
mileage evaluated, and the bias
toward evaluating stream
segments in problem areas,
precludes any projection of the
percentage of total stream miles in
Ohio currently meeting the Clean
Water Act goal.
Of the 1,867 stream miles
determined not to be achieving the
fishable/swimmable goal, 763 (41
percent) were affected primarily by
municipal discharges. In addition,
180 stream miles (10 percent) were
affected by industrial discharges,
and 80 stream miles (4 percent)
were affected primarily by
combined sewer overflows.
Approximately 497 stream miles
(25 percent) were affected by a
combination of all three sources.
In addition to point source water
quality problems, nonpomt source
problems are a suspected cause of
non-attainment of the goal. About
290 stream miles (16 percent) were
judged to be affected by various
types of nonpomt source runoff.
The primary nonpomt problem
appears to be acid mine drainage
(affecting 11 percent of stream
miles), followed by other nonpomt
sources (3 percent) and urban
runoff (1 percent). Much of the
impact of nonpomt source
pollution is localized; for example,
mine drainage is a primary source
of water quality impacts in only 3
of the 16 subbasms evaluated in
this report.
The trophic status of 119 lakes
was determined. Of these, 73
percent were classified eutrophic,
16 percent mesotrophic, and 11
percent hypereutrophic.
Sedimentation was noted as a
severe problem in many lakes, and
exceedences of metals standards
(primarily copper, an ingredient in
herbicides used for the control of
algae) were observed in 34 lakes
The sanitary quality of Ohio lakes
was generally within standards.
Ground-Water Quality
Nearly 45 percent of Ohio's
population uses ground-water as a
source of drinking water through
more than 550 municipal supplies
and nearly one million individual
wells. Ground water is also widely
used for industrial, agricultural,
and various commercial uses.
Overall, ground water in Ohio
has not been contaminated to any
significant degree, and for the
most part meets all primary
drinking water standards without
treatment. Ground-water
contamination problems are
generally of limited extent and
involve no more than one or two
individual wells close to a
pollution source. The leading
causes of contamination are on-lot
sewage systems, hydrocarbon spills
and leaks, pesticide application
around the home, and oil and gas
drilling. Waste disposal sites such
as sanitary landfills, unregulated
hazardous waste sites, wastewater
lagoons, and sludge disposal
facilities are potential sources of
ground-water contamination in the
State.
A-22
-------
OHIO RIVER
VALLEY WATER
SANITATION
COMMISSION
For complete copies of the
ORSANCO 305(b) report, contact:
Ohio River Valley Water
Sanitation Commission
414 Walnut Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Surface Water Quality
This report, prepared by the Ohio
River Valley Water Sanitation
Commission (ORSANCO),
summarizes water quality
conditions in the Ohio River and
the lower reaches of its major
tributaries during water years 1982
and 1983. The Commission is an
interstate compact agency
representing Illinois, Indiana,
Kentucky, New York, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West
Virginia, with participation by the
federal government.
In the reporting period, the Ohio
River supported all uses but
contact recreation among the uses
established by the Commission
compact and designated by the
member States' water quality
standards. Other uses include
public and industrial water supply
after reasonable treatment, and
habitat for fish and other aquatic
life.
The Commission has adopted
water quality criteria
recommendations for a total of 25
parameters m order to protect the
uses of the river. Ten parameters
met the recommended criteria in
all samples: arsenic, barium,
chromium, selenium, silver,
dissolved solids, nitrate plus
nitrite nitrogen, sulfate, chloride,
and fluoride. Commission criteria
for cadmium, cyanide, and
un-iomzed ammonia were each
exceeded in less than one percent
of the monthly samples collected
at 37 locations on the Ohio River
and its tributaries. Criteria for pH
and temperature, measured at 20
locations, were exceeded about one
percent of the time. Criteria for
dissolved oxygen, fecal coliform
bacteria, mercury, and phenohcs
were exceeded more frequently.
The Ohio River was divided into
19 segments for purposes of
evaluating designated use support.
Thirteen segments fully supported
the use of the river for water
supply, while 5 partially supported
the use. In these 5 segments, water
plants must provide a higher
degree of treatment in order to
produce safe finished water. One
segment did not support the water
supply use; however, there are no
water supply intakes on this
segment. Six segments fully
supported water contact
recreation, and 9 segments
partially supported contact
recreation. Four segments did not
support this use due to high
bacteria levels. Thirteen segments
fully supported the fish and
aquatic life use, while 6 partially
supported it. Low dissolved oxygen
levels and/or high metals
concentrations could affect the
suitability of these 6 segments for
fish and aquatic life habitat;
however, diverse fish populations
have been found in these
segments.
Seven fish kills occurred during
the reporting period (two in 1982
and five in 1983). The most
significant was a kill of 1.5 million
fish near Martin's Ferry, Ohio, in
September 1983. Caused by a spill
of zinc cyanide from a nearby
plating plant, the kill stretched for
seven miles along both the Ohio
and West Virginia sides of the
Ohio River. The plant's operations
were suspended until corrective
action was taken and fines were
levied.
Special studies conducted in
1983 indicate that the major cause
of low dissolved oxygen levels and
high fecal coliform bacteria during
the recreation season is inadequate
treatment by publicly owned
wastewater treatment facilities in
certain parts of the river.
Secondary municipal treatment
facilities have been constructed for
86 of the 128 plants along the
Ohio River with flows above
40,000 gallons per day. However,
at several of the large
municipalities where secondary
facilities are in place, the effluent
quality specified in permits is not
being achieved at all times.
Forty-two facilities still provide
only primary treatment. These
plants treat the wastewater of only
ten percent of the 3.3 million
people served by municipal
facilities discharging to the Ohio
River. Nine communities with a
total population of 28,000 do not
provide central treatment. Only 11
of the 129 industrial facilities
discharging wastewater to the
Ohio River need improvements.
A special study has indicated
that nonpoint sources, especially
urban runoff and combined sewer
overflows, also contribute to the
high fecal coliform bacteria levels
that affect recreational uses. The
data indicate that nonpoint
sources also contribute to high
levels of iron and copper, both of
which are highest during periods
of high runoff. Most nonpoint
source pollutants reach the Ohio
River by way of its tributaries.
Based on this analysis of current
water quality conditions, the
issues facing the Commission and
its member States are: municipal
treatment plants that fail to meet
even minimum discharge
requirements; industrial
discharges, particularly of organic
chemicals in toxic amounts, spills
and unreported discharges of toxic
substances; and pollution from
nonpoint sources such as
agricultural and urban runoff. In
combination with concern over
pollution of ground water and its
effect on surface waters, these are
the issues on which further work
must be concentrated.
OKLAHOMA
For complete copies of the
Oklahoma 305(b) report, contact:
Oklahoma State Department of
Health
1000 N E. 10th
Oklahoma City, OK 73152
Surface Water Quality
This report constitutes a
coordinated interagency effort to
assess the quality of State streams,
lakes, and ground water. Current
conditions have been outlined, and
outstanding problems and trends
have been identified.
Of the 11,985 stream miles
assessed for this report, 82 percent
fully support their designated uses,
9 percent partially support their
designated uses, and 9 percent fail
to support their designated uses.
Of stream miles not fully
supporting their designated uses,
52 percent are affected by
municipal sources, 34 percent are
affected by industrial sources, and
14 percent are affected by
nonpoint sources. All of the
646,664 lake acres assessed were
reported to support their
designated uses.
Major Statewide parameters of
concern include fecal coliform
bacteria, dissolved oxygen, metals,
pH, nutrients, and toxics. A total
of 979 stream miles are reportedly
affected by toxics.
Oklahoma's major nonpoint
source problems are: high turbidity
levels and rapid siltation rates in
small, 10- to 50-year-old municipal
water supply lakes, increased
water treatment costs due to
elevated turbidity levels; and
increased loss of storage capacity
in many multi-purpose reservoirs.
Major significant contributing
nonpoint source categories include
critically eroded (gullied) areas,
including both field gullies and
roadside erosion problems,
construction and urban
development sites; and sheet and
rill erosion of cropland and
grassland. It must be emphasized
that these problems and
contributing sources have been
identified only indirectly by runoff
sampling. These are broad
generalizations and should be
recognized as such. Because of the
nature of the complex forces that
interact to produce nonpoint
source runoff, the level of water
quality may or may not be
demonstrably improved even with
acceptable management of a
contributing source area.
The State has conducted a toxic
monitoring survey of reservoirs in
order to measure and evaluate the
level of toxic heavy metals and
organic compounds in fish tissue.
Forty-nine reservoirs were
A-23
-------
sampled, and of these, 26 did not
have any toxic residues in fish
above the State's Concern Level.
Sixteen reservoirs showed residues
exceeding the Concern Level, five
reservoirs had chlordane residues
exceeding the Warning Level, and
one reservoir had residues
exceeding the FDA action level. Of
the fish collected, bottom feeders
exhibited the greatest
accumulation of toxic residues.
Those fish sampled in reservoir
headwaters where silt deposition
was occurring consistently
contained higher levels of toxic
organics.
OREGON
For complete copies of the Oregon
305(b) report, contact:
Oregon Department of
Environmental Quality
Water Quality Division
522 S.W. Fifth Street
Portland, OR 97204
Surface Water Quality
Oregon's surface water resources
include nearly 90,000 miles of
rivers and streams. Ambient
monitoring efforts, however,
concentrate on "streams of
significant interest"—the largest in
terms of flow and drainage area,
those to which the public has
greatest access, and those that
have been designated as State or
National scenic waterways.
Although only 3,500 miles of the
State's total river miles are
routinely monitored through a
network of stations, they receive
an estimated 90 percent of the
point source load. An assessment
of these waters relative to the
most sensitive beneficial uses
shows that cold water fisheries
uses and water contact recreation
are supported in 74 percent of the
stream miles assessed. Twenty
percent of assessed streams
partially support their designated
uses, and 6 percent do not support
their designated uses.
Fecal coliform bacteria in some
stream segments exceed levels
necessary to support water-based
recreation. Bacterial contamination
can come from nonpomt sources
(failing septic systems,
inadequately managed animal
waste disposal operations, and
cattle grazing), point sources
(bypasses and inadequately treated
sewage from municipal sewerage
systems); and natural sources.
Algae and aquatic weed growth
occur at some sites due to
excessive nutrients, physical site
conditions, and low flow These
conditions cause dramatic
fluctuations in dissolved oxygen
and pH, which can affect
coldwater fisheries. Between 1972
and 1982, it is estimated that
water quality improved in 500
river miles, degraded in 65 river
miles, and was maintained in
3,200 river miles.
Oregon has nearly 3,000 named
lakes and reservoirs that have a
combined total area of over
500,000 acres. Primary uses of
Oregon's lakes and reservoirs
include public water supply,
fishing and swimming, and storage
of water for power generation and
irrigation purposes. For the most
part, Oregon's lakes are of
excellent chemical and physical
quality, and are low in mineral
content. Most natural lakes in
National forests or on Bureau of
Land Management lands have
difficult access and show little
evidence of human impacts Many
of the more accessible lakes also
have good quality water.
Nevertheless, as more demands for
recreation and development are
placed on these lakes and their
drainage basins, potential problems
or water quality deterioration may
develop.
Between 1972 and 1982, 65 lakes
totalling approximately 200,000
acres have been assessed. These
are considered the most significant
in terms of size and public interest
or access, and are those for which
the most water quality
information is available. The most
sensitive designated uses are
supported in 59 percent of the
200,000 lake acres, partially
supported in 39 percent, and not
supported in 2 percent. Factors
such as reduced depth due to
sedimentation and erosion, and
naturally occurring nuisance
aquatic plant growth, account for
less than full support of designated
uses in some of Oregon's lakes.
Oregon has 14 significant
estuaries and bays totaling about
50,000 acres. For this report, water
quality in 12 estuaries was
assessed, 6 bays are monitored
routinely. Bacterial standards,
established to protect shellfish
growing and based on public
health considerations, were used
to evaluate use support in
Oregon's estuaries The
assessment shows that uses are
fully supported in 6 percent of
estuarine acres. Shellfishing in the
remaining 94 percent is partially
supported because bacterial
standards are exceeded during the
winter. It is estimated that
nonpomt sources, including
inadequate animal waste disposal
practices and on-site sewage
disposal, account for the largest
contribution of fecal coliform
bacteria. Sewage system overflows
during the winter are significant
contributors to bacterial pollution
in Coos Bay, and contributing
natural factors include tidal
flushing characteristics, estuarine
circulation patterns, and ocean
upwellmg
Ground-Water Quality
In several areas of the State,
ground-water pollution has been
documented Elevated
nitrate-nitrogen concentrations
and bacterial contamination have
indicated waste seepage. Recent
data suggests the need to
investigate toxic chemical and
hydrocarbon contamination
Acknowledging public concern,
major steps have been taken that
emphasize the prevention of
ground-water pollution. A
Statewide protection policy was
established in 1981; projects to
quantify problems and develop
programs to alleviate aquifer
contamination are underway or
completed in a number of areas,
and efforts are underway to expand
ground-water monitoring and
refine the State's ground-water
policy.
Water Pollution Control
Program
Major improvements in Oregon's
water quality were accomplished
in the 1960s and early 1970s
through control of point source
waste discharges. Both industries
and municipalities have spent
substantial amounts of money to
construct facilities and control
wastes. With the State's
population expected to expand,
Oregon will have to work hard
with available resources to
maintain water quality. Efforts
will continue to be directed to
correct localized water pollution
problems and nuisance conditions,
replace and rehabilitate aging
pollution control facilities, and
ensure proper operation and
maintenance of facilities. Based on
the current assessment of water
quality problems and programs,
Oregon has identified five major
program goals for fiscal year 1985
to protect recognized beneficial
uses of water through attainment
and maintenance of water quality
standards; to develop programs to
protect ground water; to reduce
bacterial contamination in
shellfish-producing waters and
fresh waters where body contact
recreation is not fully supported,
to improve knowledge and control
of toxics; and to work with other
State agencies to develop a process
for balancing the management of
the State's water resources.
A-24
-------
PENNSYLVANIA
For copies of the Pennsylvania
305(b) report, contact:
Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Resources
Bureau of Water Quality
Management
P.O. Box 2063
Hamsburg, PA 17120
Surface Water Quality
The Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania covers an area of
approximately 45,333 square
miles. Pollution problems vary
with the population
concentrations, type of industry,
mineral resources, geology, or
topography of an area. In areas
with heavy industrial and
population concentrations, sewage
and industrial wastes are the major
pollution problems. Storm water
runoff and combined sewer
dischargers add to the pollution
problems. In western and parts of
central Pennsylvania, drainage
from bituminous coal mines
(primarily abandoned mines)
creates serious water quality
problems. The same situation
exists in the anthracite area of
northeastern Pennsylvania.
Other pollution sources in
Pennsylvania include oil and gas
well operations, construction, and
other earthmovmg operations
which have created erosion and
sedimentation problems. A
significant number of power plants
scattered throughout the State
discharge heated water, also a
potential pollutant.
The effectiveness of
Pennsylvania's water quality
management program can best be
measured by the improvement in
quality of previously polluted
waters, and by the degree to which
good quality waters are protected.
In 1983, a net improvement of
10.5 miles was recorded. Reasons
for improvement include improved
sewage treatment, elimination of
discharges, and recovery from past
problems.
Summarized below, by drainage
basin, is a status report on
compliance with water quality
standards. Overall, about 79
percent of the State's ma) or
streams comply with water quality
standards.
Loss of wetlands in
Pennsylvania is due to a myriad of
activities, including second home
development, coal mining,
metropolitan development,
impoundment of rivers and
streams, road and highway
construction, and agricultural
activities. A ma)or cause of
wetland loss has been identified as
peat extraction. A previously
unknown peat industry has existed
for a number of years in the
Poconos and the western part of
Pennsylvania. Wetlands are
eligible for protection under the
State's anti-degradation program.
Acid deposition is a long-term
problem that appears to be
adversely affecting water quality in
the State. While the extent and
significance of its effects are as yet
undefined, it is known that
Pennsylvania is receiving the most
acidic precipitation in the Nation.
Recent studies in Pennsylvania
have indicated that water quality
impacts are occurring in small
headwater streams on poorly
buffered watersheds and in
vulnerable Pocono mountain lakes
Ground-Water Quality
Even though ground water
provides over 90 percent of the
fresh water in the State, the
protection and management of
ground water has not been
emphasized as much as it has for
surface water. On a Statewide
basis, ground water contributes
about 70 percent of all stream flow
under average conditions, and up
to 100 percent during drier periods
More than two-thirds of public
water supplies and almost all
private water supplies in the State
come from ground water.
Except for excessive iron,
sulfate, and total dissolved solids
concentrations in portions of
western Pennsylvania, the quality
of ground water in most of the
remainder of the State is believed
to be acceptable for drinking with
little or no treatment. Heavy
mining and oil and gas production
activities are contributing to
Compliance with Water Quality Standards
Drainage Basin
Miles of
Major Streams
Percent of Major Stream
Miles Meeting Standards
Delaware
2,019
75
Susquehanna
6,269
83
Ohio
4,151
72
Lake Erie
105
99
Potomac
418
99
ground-water problems m western
counties. Hardness, flounde, and
nitrate-nitrogen problems are of
limited extent.
Future problems could occur
with ground-water depletion due
to overpumping, and with
contamination from
malfunctioning on-lot systems,
landfills, dumping of toxic
substances, impoundments, and
excessive use of fertilizers,
pesticides, and road salts.
TOTAL
12,962
79
PUERTO RICO
For complete copies of the Puerto
Rico 305(b) report, contact:
Environmental Quality Board
1550 Ponce de Leon Avenue
Santurce, PR 00910
Surface Water Quality
Puerto Rico has 96 river basins, 19
lakes, and several extensive
aquifers to meet the Island's water
demands. However, the quality of
the available water limits its uses.
Water quality analyses carried out
during 1982 and 1983 indicated
that most surface waterbodies are
polluted by fecal coliform bacteria,
and that ground water in various
parts of the Island is polluted by
organic substances.
Of a total of 3,534 stream miles,
2,229 are monitored by the 57
stations of the surface water
quality monitoring network. At
these stations, water quality has
been evaluated on the basis of the
frequency and magnitude of fecal
coliform violations. According to
this evaluation, only 8 percent of
stream miles are considered to
have good quality; 18 percent have
fair quality, and 74 percent have
poor quality.
Municipal and nonpomt sources
of pollution are considered to be
the main causes of fecal cohtorm
contamination. Among the
different sources of nonpomt
source pollution, livestock
enterprises such as poultry, dairy,
and hog farms are considered to be
the most significant. The report
cites causes of nonsupport of
designated uses in rivers and
streams: in 43 percent of river
miles, municipal sources are cited;
in another 43 percent, nonpomt
sources are cited; in 8 percent,
industrial sources are cited; and
for the remaining 6 percent,
sources are unknown. Industrial
pollution is cited as the cause of
nonsupport of designated uses in 8
percent of assessed streams.
High concentrations of mercury
and silver were found at only two
of the 57 surface water quality
monitoring stations. However,
several primary pollutants have
been detected in industrial
discharges to some streams, as
indicated by National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System
permit compliance sampling
inspections.
Of the 19 man-made lakes that
serve as reservoirs, 9 percent are of
good quality, 47 percent are of fair
quality, and 44 percent are of poor
quality. Most are classified as
eutrophic, with high levels of
nutrients causing algal blooms and
excessive growth of water
hyacinths. Municipal discharges,
fertilizers from agricultural runoff,
A-25
-------
and animal livestock operations are
the primary causes of eutrophic
conditions. Causes of nonsupport
of designated uses in lakes are
cited as municipal sources (44
percent), nonpoint (23 percent),
industrial (6 percent), and unknown
(27 percent).
Fecal coliform contamination
appears to be less severe in Puerto
Rico's coastal waters than in its
rivers. According to evaluations
based on this pollutant, the quality
of coastal waters is improving. Of
a total of 434 coastal miles, 63
percent are of good quality, 5
percent are of fair quality, and 32
percent are of poor quality. High
concentrations of other pollutants
such as zinc, iron, and magnesium
have been found at many of the
coastal water monitoring stations.
Violations of the lead and copper
standards were also detected at
several stations.
Studies of the water quality of
Puerto Rico's mangroves are not
available. However, several studies
conducted by the Department of
Natural Resources show a trend
toward the reduction of mangrove
area.
Ground-Water Quality
Ground water in different parts of
the Island has been shown to be
contaminated by various synthetic
organic pollutants. In a 1982-83
study, of 20 wells analyzed for
organic primary pollutants, 80
percent were found to be
contaminated by one or more
organic pollutants. Six drinking
water supply wells have already
been abandoned as a result of
organic pollution. This pollution
represents a serious problem, since
ground water is withdrawn at a
rate of approximately 246 million
gallons per day, mostly for
drinking water, industrial, and
agricultural purposes. Effective
interagency coordination is
necessary in order to reduce
ground-water pollution and
maintain the quality of
uncontaminated supplies.
RHODE ISLAND
For complete copies of the Rhode
Island 305(b) report, contact:
Division of Water Resources
Department of Environmental
Management
75 Davis St.
Providence, RI 02908
Surface Water Quality
In general, the overall quality of
Rhode Island waters is good. The
number of stream miles assessed
in 1984 is more than twice the
number assessed in 1982. Of the
724 miles assessed, 81 percent
meet fishable/swimmable criteria
and 90 percent meet their
designated uses. The 113 lakes and
ponds assessed totaled 16,520
acres, of which 97 percent meet
both fishable/swimmable uses and
designated uses. A total saltwater
area of 257 square miles was
assessed; 94 percent meet
fishable/swimmable quality, and
89 percent meet designated uses.
The main causes of nonsupport
of designated uses in rivers are
industrial and municipal sources
of pollution, with high coliform
counts and low dissolved oxygen
being the major problems. In lakes,
problems are caused primarily by
municipal and nonpoint sources of
pollution, coliform counts are
high. Municipal sources are the
main cause of nonsupport of uses
in estuarme and ocean waters;
coliforms, dissolved oxygen, and
solids are the parameters of major
concern.
Because of sewage treatment
plant improvements, several areas
appear to have improved in water
quality. On the negative side,
some estuarme areas have had
shellfish harvesting restricted in
the last two years due to either a
gradual deterioration of quality
over a longer period of time, or to
a recent change in the policy
restricting harvesting, with no
change in water quality.
Public concern over priority
pollutants in both surface and
ground water is great. Studies of
the sources and fates of priority
pollutants are being undertaken on
a site-specific basis. An estimated
16 river miles are adversely
affected by priority pollutants;
metals, primarily copper and zinc,
are of primary concern. Five lakes
(totaling 312 acres) are estimated
to be affected by metals and
hydrocarbons. It is also estimated
that 8.8 square miles of estuarine
water are affected by priority
pollutants, primarily metals.
Special concerns of the Rhode
Island Department of
Environmental Management
include ground-water quality
protection, proper operation and
maintenance of municipal
wastewater treatment facilities,
and nonpoint source pollution due
to land development.
Ground-Water Quality
In Rhode Island, ground-water
resources provide approximately
30 percent of the State's
population with potable water. In
recent years, ground-water
protection programs have been
expanded.
Existing and potential
ground-water contamination
problems are discussed in the
report. Sixty-six contamination
sources are listed. The effects of
these sources on public and private
drinking water supplies is
documented. Seven public water
supply wells have been taken out
of service because of organic
chemical contaminant levels
exceeding guidelines. Three
hundred and twenty-five wells
have been listed as contaminated,
i.e., showing measurable levels of
contaminants not necessarily in
violation of guidelines. Many of
these wells remain in service.
Water Pollution Control
Programs
The Department of Environmental
Management (DEM) has the
primary responsibility for restoring
and protecting the quality of the
State's waters. The point source
control program consists of
planning, construction grants,
permits, and monitoring. In
addition, the DEM is also charged
with implementing control
measures to combat nonpoint
source pollution. DEM and
cooperating agencies are currently
studying runoff problems.
Nonpoint sources of pollution are
significant in Rhode Island, and
much work remains to be done to
quantify and reduce their effects.
SOUTH
CAROLINA
For complete copies of the South
Carolina 305(b) report, contact:
South Carolina Department of
Health and
Environmental Control
Office of Environmental Quality
Control
J. Marion Sims Building
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 29201
Surface Water Quality
Based on available data for 1983,
sixty percent of the assessed river
and creek miles support
State-classified uses. About 18
percent of miles assessed showed
improvement in achieving
classified uses, and 12.8 percent
showed a decline in achieving
classified uses from 1982 to 1983.
Possible reasons why waters are
not fully supporting classified uses
include municipal and industrial
point sources, nonpoint sources,
and unknown causes.
About seventy-four percent of
assessed lake acres support
classified uses in 1983, with 1.8
percent showing improvement and
4.5 percent showing a decline in
achieving uses from 1982 to 1983.
Point sources, nonpoint sources,
and unknown sources may have
contributed to the decline.
Approximately 56 percent of the
miles of assessed tidal saltwaters
support classified uses in 1983,
and 28.7 percent of the miles
showed improvements from 1982
to 1983. Point sources, nonpoint
sources, and unknown sources
may have contributed to
impairment of classified uses. An
estimated 65 to 120 additional
acres of waters were closed to
shellfish harvesting during 1982
and 1983 due to bacterial levels.
An estimated 450 miles of rivers
and 2,910 acres of lakes are
affected by toxics. Sixty-one fish
kills were reported in 1983, killing
an estimated 50,670 fish. One
hundred and forty-three oil spills
and 26 hazardous materials spills
occurred in 1983.
The State notes several special
concerns. Because of PCB levels in
fish in a portion of Lake Hartwell
and Twelve Mile Creek, a fish
consumption advisory is still
required. It is uncertain when the
advisory will be lifted. The
deposition of a black organic
material in the North Fork of the
Edisto River and the Edisto River
has been linked to a combination
of water filtration plant discharge,
dyes in an industrial discharge,
and unusually low river flows.
Dischargers have improved their
treatment process and river flows
A-26
-------
are now more normal.
Other special concerns are also
noted. Increased numbers of
applications for construction of
dead-end residential canals and
boat basins are a problem because
of their effect on water quality.
Irrigation canals are also increasing
in number and may affect water
quality because of factors such as
poor flushing, bypassing the
filtering action of wetlands, and
increased water temperatures due
to lack of tree cover. In addition,
the coast of South Carolina is
continuing to experience rapid
development, and recreational
boating in shellfish harvesting
areas is increasing. A conflict of
demands has therefore arisen
between the marina industry and
the shellfish industry. This
increase in development is
reducing the area of waters
achieving shellfish harvesting uses.
Water Pollution Control
Programs
Improvements in water quality
have been seen at seven completed
municipal projects. Federal funds
used to upgrade municipal
wastewater treatment facilities
have contributed to significant
improvements in water quality.
Improvements include changes in
bacterial levels, dissolved oxygen
levels, and oxygen demanding
substances.
South Carolina recommends
that: EPA continue to fund
municipal waste treatment
projects that will result in
significant improvements in water
quality problem areas; funding be
increased to enable the State to
assume more functions adequately
and to better support needed
existing activities; EPA develop
fiscal incentives for best
management practices
implementation to reduce
nonpoint source pollution; EPA
expedite promulgation of
industrial BAT/BCT guidelines;
and EPA provide additional
training to assist States'
development of their staff.
SOUTH DAKOTA
For complete copies of the South
Dakota 305(b) report, contact:
South Dakota Department of
Water and Natural Resources
Office of Water Quality
Joe Foss Building
523 East Capitol
Pierre, SD 57501
Surface Water Quality
South Dakota has a total of 9,937
miles of rivers and streams. Of
these, 3,987 miles have been
assessed for water quality. Roughly
63 percent of assessed waters
support their assigned beneficial
uses, 27 percent partially support
their uses, and 10 percent do not
support their uses. Nonpoint
sources are the primary cause of
use impairment, affecting 63
percent of waters not fully
supporting their uses; industrial
sources affect 19 percent and
municipal sources affect 18
percent.
Severe use impairment occurs in
many of the ten South Dakota
river basins. Municipal
wastewater, urban runoff,
agricultural runoff, livestock
runoff, and mine tailings
contribute to the overall
impairment of the Whitewood
Creek/Belle Fourche
River/Cheyenne River drainage.
Impairments of the White River
are primarily related to natural
erosion of the badlands, and to
livestock watering. Soil erosion
from natural and man-induced
causes, variable flows, and
livestock watering are primary
causes for degradation in the Bad
River Basin. Lower Rapid Creek is
degraded by urban runoff and
effluent from the Rapid City
municipal wastewater treatment
plant, as well as by runoff from
livestock areas.
Impairment of the Big Sioux
River is partly due to agricultural
nonpoint sources such as livestock
feeding and grazing. Some
impairment below Sioux Falls is
attributed to uncontrolled storm
sewer bypasses of the wastewater
collection system. The elimination
of these bypass structures is
ongoing and should not cause
further stream degradation. Further
study is needed to find the sources
of extreme fecal coliform and
suspended solids violations
occurring from Sioux Falls to the
Missouri River. Water quality
improvements all along the Big
Sioux River have been documented
by sampling above and below
several new wastewater treatment
facilities.
Lake water quality within South
Dakota is severely affected by
runoff carrying silt and nutrients
from farms and pastures. Most
lakes are characterized as
eutrophic to highly eutrophic. Of
the 655,697 lake/reservoir acres
assessed, 84 percent are supporting
their designated uses while the
remaining 16 percent are partially
supporting their uses based on
current numerical criteria. Based
on narrative standards such as
color and the existence of algal
mats, however, the designated
beneficial uses of most South
Dakota lakes are being impaired.
Exceptions would include Missouri
River impoundments and certain
lakes in the Black Hills. In 1981,
lake water quality was examined
and a priority ranking was
produced for lake restoration in
the State. One hundred of the 790
publicly-owned lakes were ranked
so that restoration efforts would be
focused on projects that would
produce the most lake
improvement and benefit the most
people.
Ground-Water Quality
In South Dakota, 45 percent of all
water used is obtained from
ground-water resources. The
quality of this water is varied and
determines the amount used.
Many of the deeper aquifers are
unfit for domestic uses and/or
irrigation because of high
concentrations of dissolved salts.
Many of the more shallow aquifers
are polluted with high
concentrations of nitrates. Nitrate
contamination is of particular
concern in Brookings, Hamlm, and
Gregory counties. The largest
sources of ground-water pollution
are storage and spillage of
petroleum products, improper
storage and use of agricultural
chemicals, and leakage of poor
quality water from deep aquifers
into higher quality, shallow
aquifers due to improperly built
and abandoned artesian wells. The
Big Sioux aquifer, which supplies
water for 32 percent of South
Dakota's population, is showing
preliminary indications of
declining quality and is being
intensivelv monitored and studied.
Ninety-five percent of the public
drinking water supplies in the
State are drawn in whole or in part
from ground water. Many of these
supplies do not meet federally
recommended criteria for dissolved
solids, chloride, sulfate, iron,
manganese, fluoride, nitrate,
sodium, and selenium. Two public
water supplies exceed the
maximum contaminant level for
trihalomethanes, and three percent
are seeking appropriate treatment
or alternative water sources
because of Radium 226/228
contamination.
Water Pollution Control
Programs
South Dakota has administered
$120.7 million of EPA
Construction Grant Program funds
since 1972. The rate of compliance
with State and federal standards
for the projects funded by the EPA
program has been excellent.
Ninety-six percent of the
completed projects are consistently
meeting their NPDES permit
limitations. The State recognizes
the need to accumulate more
specific data to document
improvements in water quality
due to these EPA projects. The
Department of Water and Natural
Resources (DWNR) continues to
conduct special chemical/physical
stream surveys as well as aquatic
life/fish surveys to show
improvements in receiving
streams. Since the quality of
finished water or wastewater from
treatment plants is highly
dependent on the skill of the plant
operator, the State assures that
training for these operators is
continually upgraded.
Many challenges will be
emerging in the next decade as
research documents the low-level,
chronic effects of many pollutants.
Better monitoring equipment will
allow lower detection levels as
new chemicals and combinations
of pollutants occur. The DWNR is
continually striving to maximize
water quality improvements for
the enjoyment of all who live and
visit South Dakota.
A-27
-------
TENNESSEE
For complete copies of the
Tennessee 305(b) report, contact:
Tennessee Department of Health
and Environment
Office of Water Management
150 Ninth Avenue, North
Nashville, TN 37203
Surface Water Quality
Water quality across the State
generally ranges from very good to
moderately good. There are no
pollution problems encompassing
lengthy stream segments. Most of
the point source pollution,
conventional or toxic, is localized
and confined to short segments of
streams.
Water quality trends Statewide
seem to be stabilized. Over the
last ten years, some localized
waterways have degraded or
improved, but overall, good water
quality is being maintained.
West Tennessee has the worst
water quality in the State. The
major rivers in this region are
affected by agricultural practices
carried out on highly erodable soils
and channelization of waterways.
Agricultural runoff adds sediment
loads, nutrients, and organic
chemicals. Mining runoff from
coal, phosphate, and mineral
mines, in addition to
agriculture-related runoff, affect
many stream miles in middle and
east Tennessee.
A total of 5,990 river miles, or
about one-third of the total miles
of rivers and streams in the State,
were assessed for degree of use
support. Of those, 50 percent
supported their designated uses, 16
percent partially supported their
uses, and 3 percent did not support
their uses. Nonpoint sources
account for use impairment in 55
percent of the rivers and streams
that do not fully meet their
designated uses. These nonpomt
pollutants include agricultural and
urban runoff, agrichemicals, and
animal wastes. In addition, an
estimated 808 miles of streams,
mostly in east and southeast
Tennessee, are affected by mine
drainage. Municipal discharges
affect approximately 30 percent of
the streams with nonsupport of
designated uses. Industrial
pollutants affect about 15 percent
of the stream miles not fully
supporting their designated uses.
Tennessee has approximately
675,550 acres of lakes and
reservoirs. Of those, 62.3 percent
supported their designated uses,
19.7 partially supported their uses,
and 18 percent did not support
their uses. Industrial sources are
the major cause of nonsupport in
lakes and reservoirs, affecting
about 51 percent of acres not
A-28
supporting their uses. Municipal
discharges affect 33 percent of lake
acres with impaired uses; nonpomt
source pollution, which is the
major cause of nonsupport in
rivers and streams, affects only 15
percent of lake and reservoir acres.
This may be explained by the fact
that most reservoirs and lakes are
in east Tennessee, while west
Tennessee is the State's major
farming region. Existing and
potential eutrophication caused by
nonpomt runoff and poorly treated
wastes is a major problem in the
State's lakes.
The major parameters of concern
in the State were found to be
mercury, lead, cadmium, and
suspended solids. The exact source
of the metals is unknown;
industrial discharges, atmospheric
fallout, auto emissions, and urban
runoff are all possible sources.
Nonpoint pollution and poorly
treated municipal and industrial
wastes threaten future water
quality. Another concern for the
future is the loss of wetlands
which have the ability to control
flood waters and filter pollutants.
Ground-Water Quality
Tennessee has abundant
ground-water resources,
particularly in the sand aquifers of
west Tennessee. Over half of
Tennessee's population depends on
ground water as a source of
drinking water. Currently, the
Division of Water Management is
studying ground water across the
State to determine the quantity
and quality of this resource.
Preliminary findings indicate that
there are reasons for concern about
ground-water contamination.
Several contaminated wells have
been found in the State. The main
cause of contamination seems to
be the indiscriminate disposal of
wastes by underground injection,
use of unlmed waste lagoons; and
waste disposal in sinkholes.
Although investigation into the
problem of gasoline contamination
of ground water is still in its
preliminary stages, this seems to
be an emerging problem Statewide
Water Pollution Control
Programs
The National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System and the
Tennessee Pretreatment Program
are examples of two programs to
control point source pollution in
the State. The Division of Water
Management's authority to
regulate agriculture and
silviculture nonpoint pollution is
nonexistent; both these industries
are exempt from regulation under
Tennessee's Water Quality Control
Act of 1977. Because of a recent
increase in enforcement actions
against violators of water quality
standards, there is a backlog of
cases awaiting hearings before the
Water Quality Control Board. The
report offers fourteen
recommendations to maintain
Tennessee's good water quality
and to abate existing or future
problems.
TEXAS
For complete copies of the Texas
305(b) report, contact:
Texas Department of Water
Resources
P.O. Box 13087
Austin, TX 78711
Surface Water Quality
The availability of adequate,
usable water has been a major
factor in the economic
development of Texas. Programs to
measure, evaluate, and manage the
quality of the waters of the State
have been in existence for several
decades. The emphasis of these
water quality management
programs has shifted over the
years in recognition of the changes
in population growth and
distribution patterns, and changes
in the economic structure of the
State.
Texas' waters are subject to
increasing pressures from
industrial, agricultural, and
recreational activities due to the
State's rapid population growth.
The State's water quality remains
surprisingly good in the face of
these pressures. Of the 16,129
stream miles comprising the
State's designated stream
segments, only 1,676 miles (10.4
percent) are not currently
considered fishable and
swimmable. Of the miles not
currently fishable and swimmable,
56 percent (944 miles) are affected
by one of the six largest
metropolitan areas within the
State (Beaumont-Port Arthur,
Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth,
Austin, San Antonio, and
McAllen-Harlingen-Brownsville).
The other miles that are not
fishable and swimmable are
affected by domestic and industrial
effluents from smaller
communities or are naturally
unsuitable for fishing and
swimming.
As might be expected in a State
as large as Texas, there are some
areas that show decreasing water
quality trends, but the
maintenance of existing water
quality or trends toward improved
water quality are obvious
throughout the State. In any
evaluation of Texas water quality
trends, two factors must be
considered. First, significant
improvements can be realized in
only the 10 percent of total miles
not supporting their designated
uses. Second, with the rapid
increase in State population, a
large portion of available water
quality management resources
must be allocated toward the
maintenance of existing water
quality, and priorities must be
established for allocating resources
-------
required to significantly improve
water quality.
Present and future water quality
concerns will be associated with
rapidly expanding urban areas.
Population in the six priority areas
will produce about 450 million
gallons per day of domestic sewage
that will have to be treated and
discharged into receiving waters
that are, even today, overloaded
with sewage. In response to this
concern, Texas is intensifying the
water quality management
resource allocation to the six
priority areas.
Ground-Water Quality
Ground water comprises
approximately 75 percent of the
total water used by Texans for
domestic, municipal, industrial,
and agricultural purposes.
Expanded development of the
State's water resources, and
pressures to satisfy many
beneficial uses, have created local,
regional, and Statewide problems
of varying intensity. Ground-water
overdraft and degradation are
particularly troublesome because
of expanding economic activities
that are ground-water dependent.
The State has identified a
number of water resource
problems and has delineated them
on the basis of eight geographic
regions. These problems overlap,
and the solution to any one
problem should not be considered
m isolation.
TRUST
TERRITORY OF
THE PACIFIC
ISLANDS
For complete copies of the Trust
Territory of the Pacific Islands
305(b) report, contact:
Trust Territory Environmental
Protection Board
Office of the High Commissioner
Saipan, CM 96950
Surface Water Quality
The Trust Territory of the Pacific
Islands (Micronesia) has a total of
13 identified water segments, four
of which are fresh surface waters.
These segments have either
improved in quality due to the
elimination of a number of point
and nonpoint sources, or remain in
their previous condition.
Urbanization, rapid population
growth, substandard housing,
incomplete sewer and solid waste
disposal systems, nonpoint
pollution sources, and a lack of
adequate safe drinking water are
serious environmental pollution
problems.
Water pollution from municipal
sources results in water below
existing standards in most
government centers, and remains a
major public health problem.
Micronesia is continuing to
construct sewer treatment
facilities, collection systems,
house connections, and on-site
facilities.
Rainfall runoff, poor land
management practices, and the
prevalence of pit and over-water
latrines in urban and rural areas
contribute substantially to the
largely undefined nonpoint source
problem. The implementation and
general acceptance of earthmovmg
permit regulations has tended to
reduce this problem from
construction causes. However,
manmade erosion threatens the
water quality, ecology, subsistence
fishing, and overall productivity of
the many lagoons and reefs
fringing Micronesia's population
centers. Alterations in reefs and
lagoons caused by dredging,
blasting, landfill operations, and
other nonpoint sources have
caused severe water quality
impacts at many islands.
No major oil spills have
occurred recently. Offshore oil
spills and/or bilge pumping and
spills of waste oil at local power
plants continue to occur, although
usually in small amounts. An
additional problem is that of
abandoned ships, which create a
pollution and navigational problem
in ports.
Water pollution from solid waste
continues to be a problem. The
problem covers all aspects of solid
waste management, including
storage, collection, and disposal.
UTAH
For complete copies of the Utah
305(b) report, contact:
Utah Department of Health
Division of Environmental Health
Bureau of Water Pollution Control
State Office Building, Room 4267
P.O. Box 45500
Salt Lake City, UT 84145-0500
Surface Water Quality
Although Utah is the second driest
State in the Nation, it experienced
record-breaking precipitation
during the reporting period. This
had a distinct effect on water
quality.
Comparison of 1984 data to
1982 data shows that
concentrations of total suspended
solids are greater, while
concentrations of other parameters
such as total dissolved solids and
nitrite-nitrate nitrogen are lower.
When the holding capacity of soils
is approached, overland flow
increases, which increases the
erosion potential and the
concentration of total suspended
solids in waters. The overall effect
of increased levels of suspended
sediments and increased flows is a
loss or degradation of established
beneficial stream uses, especially
fisheries.
Concentrations of total
phosphorus have increased in most
streams as a result of the wetter
climate. These increases are due to
the increased amount of overland
flow and inundation of vegetated
areas.
Higher surface and ground
waters tend to reduce wastewater
treatment plant efficiencies.
Problems include line breakage,
infiltration into sewer lines
through cracks or joints, excessive
flow rates, and facility flooding.
High ground water creates
problems for individual subsurface
absorption systems by filling
septic tanks and drain fields. This
may result in contaminated
ground water flowing into streams.
Point sources are a
geographically limited problem,
but are most significant in highly
populated areas. Wastewater
treatment facilities concentrated
in certain drainage areas (e.g., the
Jordan River, which runs through
the Salt Lake Valley) can seriously
affect receiving streams.
Most water quality problems in
Utah result from nonpomt sources
rather than point sources.
Nonpoint sources include runoff
from natural sources, hydrologic
modification, mining, septic tanks,
construction, and silviculture.
Natural sandstone formations in
eastern and southern Utah
contribute significant amounts of
sediments through erosion
A-29
-------
Natural deposits of salts,
phosphates, fluorides, nitrates, and
arsenic also contribute to
decreasing water quality in certain
areas of the State.
Most of the water allocated in
Utah is for agricultural use. As a
result, this is one of the primary
sources of man-induced nonpoint
pollution. Diversion of waters for
irrigation tends to concentrate
salts and solids in original stream
channels. Irrigation return flow
discharges add salts, nutrients, and
sediments from croplands into
stream channels. Overland runoff
contributes salts and sediments
from nomrrigated croplands, and
coliform bacteria from pastures.
Salinity will remain a problem
in Utah. High runoff has decreased
total dissolved solids
concentrations, but increased
flows have increased total loadings
to the Colorado and Sevier River
systems. Salinity control projects
are underway in the Umta Basin
and the Price, San Rafael, and
Dirty Devil Rivers. The State will
continue to pursue salinity control
projects with available resources.
Water Pollution Control
Programs
In an ongoing effort to identify and
correct pollution problems, Utah
has implemented several water
quality programs. Of nine certified
water quality management plans,
three have certified updates. Salt
Lake County has recently
completed a draft study under the
Nationwide urban runoff program.
The Mountamlands Association of
Governments, with funding from,
the Utah Department of
Agriculture, is monitoring water
quality to determine the
effectiveness of implemented Best
Management Practices m the
Snake Creek Rural Clean Water
Project.
The Utah State Wastewater
Loan Program was established by
the State Legislature in 1983 in
recognition of, and to offset,
Federal funding shortfalls,
increasing wastewater facility
needs, and prevailing high bonding
interest rates currently available to
communities. The program
provided a total of $20 million to
loan to communities and sewerage
districts for the specific purpose of
constructing needed wastewater
facilities. The Utah State
wastewater Credit Enhancement
Agreement Program was also
established by the State
Legislature in 1983. This program
will permit the State to enter
agreements with communities to
improve the security for, or
marketability of, the communities'
wastewater project obligations.
Industrial wastewater systems
have been constructed as a result
A-30
of the Utah Water Pollution
Control Committee regulations
and the Federal Clean Water Act.
Various municipal, industrial, and
agricultural facilities have active
Federal discharge permits which
are reviewed regularly under the
five-year renewal system.
Continued sampling of the
discharge from these facilities will
help enforce the requirements of
the NPDES program.
VERMONT
For complete copies of the
Vermont 305(b) report, contact:
Vermont Agency of Environmental
Conservation
Department of Water Resources
and Environmental Engineering
State Office Building
Water Quality Division
Montpelier, VT 05602
Surface Water Quality
Vermont has now achieved
fishable/swimmable standards or
better in 85 percent of its
segmented stream miles. The State
has 1,199 miles of non-segmented
streams with drainage areas greater
than 10 square miles, and all
non-segmented stream miles meet
these standards.
Progress toward a higher
percentage of streams meeting
standards has slowed in the last
two years because it is becoming
more expensive to achieve high
water quality. Recent efforts have
been concentrated toward
upgrading the larger community
sewage treatment plants, which
frequently cost upwards of $10
million or more (the total amount
of State and Federal appropriations
for one year).
The level of coliform
bacteriological organisms in
flowing waters has continued to
occasionally present itself as a
basic water quality problem.
Nonpomt runoff originating from
agricultural, silvicultural, and
urban areas (stormwater and
combined sewer overflows) is
believed to be essentially
responsible for the elevated
bacteriological levels. The public
health significance of these
elevated levels is not known at
this time.
Presently, 36 of Vermont's lakes
are being monitored to determine
what damages are occurring in
their aquatic ecosystems as a
result of acid precipitation. Six
lakes in the southern Green
Mountains have been found to be
critically acidified. Monitoring has
determined that 82 lakes either
show a high potential to suffer
acidification damage, or are
already damaged to some extent by
acidic conditions.
As part of the Lakes and Ponds
Management Program, phosphorus
data are collected from
approximately 70 lakes each
spring. Data for 220 lakes indicate
that 25 are eutrophic, 79 are
mesotrophic, and 116 are
oligotrophic.
The rate of development of
Vermont's rivers and streams for
hydropower has begun to decrease
as many of the sites have already
been or are being developed.
Nevertheless, attractive sites
continue to be developed, which
may adversely affect water quality,
aesthetics, fisheries, and
recreational activities.
Water Pollution Control
Programs
Compliance with applicable water
quality standards has been
achieved in Vermont's waters
mainly through the upgrading and
new construction of municipal
wastewater treatment facilities.
The State's program to maintain
maximum pollutant removal
efficiency and maximum effective
useful life of treatment facilities is
a vital link in overall water
resource management activities.
Three smaller municipalities
currently discharging untreated
wastes have received construction
funding and will have treatment
plants under construction during
the summer of 1984. There are
only two municipalities with
collection systems that discharge
untreated sewage, and 12
communities with untreated
discharges from scattered
individual sources. Increased
emphasis on operation and
maintenance will be needed to
provide technical assistance to
municipal facility operators and
local officials.
A necessary part of Vermont's
clean water program is compliance
monitoring to ensure that
permitted dischargers are in
compliance with their limits.
Other program activities include
revising Water Quality Standards;
updating basin plans under the
Section 205(j) planning agenda;
drafting a proposed Disinfection
Policy to limit and regulate the
amount of chlorine discharged
from the State's wastewater
treatment facilities; and
establishing an Ambient
Biomomtonng Program to monitor
the aquatic biota of rivers
undergoing water quality changes
due to changes in land use.
It is fully recognized that serious
potential problems still remain
and must be addressed if the high
quality of Vermont's water is to be
maintained for future generations.
Many of these problems do not
have straightforward solutions and
will require new and innovative
management approaches. In the
face of increasingly limited
financial resources,
implementation of viable solutions
will be difficult. Vermont is
determined to meet this challenge
and to protect its waters.
-------
VIRGIN ISLANDS
For complete copies of the Virgin
Islands 305(b) report, contact:
Division of Natural Resources
Management
Department of Conservation and
Cultural Affairs
Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, VI
00801
Surface Water Quality
Water quality around the U.S.
Virgin Islands is excellent in most
bays. Out of a total of 138
stations, only 13 partially
supported or did not support
designated uses. At most stations,
water quality has neither improved
nor declined. However, there are
serious, recurrent problems at a
few locations. Sewage pollution
and increased turbidity from runoff
following careless coastal
development are the major causes
of poor water quality.
Point source discharges,
primarily from sewage treatment
plants, are responsible for
degradation of priority
waterbodies, including the
Mangrove Lagoon in St. Thomas.
The Lagoon also suffers from
alteration of natural circulation
patterns resulting from the filling
of part of the Lagoon.
Nonpoint source pollutants
include urban, agricultural, and
construction runoff, hydrologic
modification, landfill-residual
wastes, vessel wastes, and on-site
disposal (septic tanks). The
contribution of vessel wastes to
pollution has not been determined,
as the bays most heavily used for
mooring and anchoring often
receive other pollutants, especially
when sewage treatment plants
malfunction and discharge
effluent. A sediment reduction
plan to reduce sediment discharges
into the Territory's coastal waters
was developed and will be
implemented following EPA
approval. If the proposal for
development of a cruise port in
Christiansted Harbor, St. Croix, is
carried out, water quality in the
harbor will deteriorate as a result
of increased sedimentation.
Development of Virgin Island
coastlines has not been a
coordinated process, and no
comprehensive land use plan has
been adopted. Therefore, water
quality may not improve in the
near future at those stations where
serious degradation exists, and the
possibility exists for further
degradation,
Ground-Water Quality
Preliminary investigations of
ground-water quality in the Virgin
Islands indicate that ground water
does not comply with established
standards for drinking water.
Several well fields have been
contaminated by sewage, saltwater
intrusion, or other pollution. The
Department of Conservation and
Cultural Affairs should conduct
further monitoring of ground
water, particularly where
contamination may present a
health hazard.
VIRGINIA
For complete copies of the Virginia
305(b) report, contact:
Virginia State Water Control Board
P.O.Box 11143
Richmond, VA 23230
Surface Water Quality
Virginia is a water-rich State with
nine river basins totaling over
27,000 miles of streams, 131,000
acres of lakes and impoundments,
213,000 acres of tidal wetlands,
and 2,000 square miles of tidal
embayments and estuaries. Water
quality control is made complex
by the need to protect tidal waters
with sensitive shellfish growing
areas, and by the seasonally low
flows of many freshwater streams.
Water quality in the State was
measured on the basis of water
quality standards violations for
four primary parameters: dissolved
oxygen, pH, temperature, and fecal
coliform bacteria.
Dissolved oxygen violations
occurred at 19 percent of the
State's 307 monitoring stations
during the reporting period. Of
those stations, only four percent
reported that more than 10 percent
of the oxygen samples were below
the standard. The majority of
dissolved oxygen violations were
attributed to natural conditions
rather than man-made pollution.
pH violations occurred at 47
percent of monitoring stations. At
only 20 percent of the stations,
however, were more than 10
percent of the samples out of
compliance. The majority of pH
violations were attributed to
natural conditions.
Temperature violations occurred
at less than one percent of
monitoring stations. All violations
were attributed to natural
conditions.
Fecal coliform bacteria
violations occurred at 65 percent
of monitoring stations. The three
leading causes of pollution by fecal
coliform bacteria were cited as
municipal discharges, animal
wastes, and agricultural runoff.
The ma)onty of streams affected
by municipal discharges are in the
southwestern section of the State,
where several construction grants
projects are slated. However, direct
discharges to streams persist in
isolated areas that are unsuitable
for septic systems and would be
prohibitively expensive to connect
to central sewage systems. Bacteria
violations are by far the State's
leading cause of less than full
support of designated uses.
Three waterbodies in Virginia
have toxic pollution problems; a
fourth area is under study. In the
James River estuary, 113 miles are
subject to seasonal commercial
fishing restrictions due to
contamination by the pesticide
Kepone. Sport fishing is allowed.
In the North Fork of the Holston
River, 81 miles are restricted to
catch-and-release fishing due to
mercury pollution. A fish
consumption Health Advisory is in
effect for 102 miles of the South
River and the South Fork of the
Shenandoah River due to mercury
pollution. And lastly, Chesapeake
Bay Program data indicate elevated
levels of metals and organic
substances in sediments of the
Elizabeth Rivet; investigations are
continuing.
Water Pollution Control
Programs
As of June 30, 1983, 944 municipal
and 782 industrial permits were in
force. Most discharges were small;
the 127 largest plants accounted
for 90 percent of total BOD5
discharged. An average of 51,437
kg/day of BOD5 were discharged to
Virginia's waters from all
permitted sources in calendar year
1983, a reduction of about 62
percent from 1976.
Over the last 25 years, $1.402
billion was spent on design and
construction of municipal sewage
treatment facilities in Virginia.
Most of these funds (89 percent)
were spent since the passage of the
Clean Water Act in 1972. To date,
108 new plants and upgrades
(including interceptors) have been
completed. Another 47 projects are
underway.
To combat nonpoint source
pollution in Virginia, the Virginia
State Water Control Board has
established a voluntary Best
Management Practices Program.
Forty-five local governments in the
non-designated State Planning
Area have passed formal
resolutions supporting the
voluntary BMP implementation
program. In addition, detailed
nonpoint source control programs
were prepared by three designated
areawide planning agencies.
Currently, 1,034 No-Discharge
Animal Waste Certificates are m
effect. This program has prevented
a wasteload equivalent to 1.3
million people from reaching the
State's waters.
As part of the Chesapeake Bay
Program cleanup, Virginia
announced a $10.4 million
allocation for the first two years of
a 10-year program. This program
has 19 elements, including $2.5
million to implement agricultural
BMPs, $1.7 million for chlorine
discharge control, and $1.7 million
for research programs.
Oil spills comprised the largest
single category of pollution
complaint investigation. Almost
1,000 oil spills were investigated
by the Virginia State Water
A-31
-------
Control Board and the Coast
Guard during this report period.
Over half a million gallons of
petroleum products were spilled;
about 28 percent of this total
reached State waters. Cleanups
were initiated on 375 spills. Over
$36,000 in investigation costs were
recovered in association with 181
spills.
Total environmental cost
recovery for oil spills, fish kills,
and fines against industrial
dischargers exceeded $214,000
during this two-year report period.
WASHINGTON
For complete copies of the
Washington 305(b) report, contact:
Washington Department of
Ecology
Office of Water Programs
Water Quality Management
Division
Mail Stop PV-11
Olympia, WA 98504
Surface Water Quality
An assessment of existing water
quality has been prepared by
comparing the quality of each of
the State's waterbodies to the
State water quality goal Of 215
river and marine water segments
assessed, 89 meet the water
quality goal; 5 are anticipated to
meet the goal by 1988 with the
application of best practical
treatment (BPT), best management
practices (BMPs), or secondary
treatment, 62 will not meet the
water quality goal due to point or
nonpomt sources, and it is
unknown if the goal will be met
with the application of BPT,
BMPs, or secondary treatment; and
59 will not meet the goal due to
natural or irreversible causes.
Most commonly cited
parameters in those river and
marine segments experiencing
problems include fecal cohform
bacteria, temperature, nutrients,
turbidity, and dissolved oxygen.
The leading cause of water quality
problems in these segments is
nonpomt sources.
Of 140 lakes assessed according
to trophic status (a total of 288,830
acres), 58 lakes (131,500 acres)
were classified oligotrophic; 24
lakes (49,220 acres) were classified
as mesotrophic; 45 lakes (90,870
acres) were classified as eutrophic.
The remaining 13 lakes (17,240
acres) have insufficient data for a
trophic assessment.
Water Pollution Control
Programs
The State's overriding priorities
are to protect public health;
preserve environmental quality,
and ensure full and proper
utilization of natural resources for
the benefit of all citizens. This
document delineates FY85 State
water quality management
program needs, their relative
priorities, and resource allocations.
Highest priority will be assigned
to activities related to permit
issuance, compliance assurance,
enforcement, wastewater facilities
plan review, and water pollution
control grants administration.
Ground-water protection will
continue to receive priority
attention. This will include the
completion of a ground-water
water quality management
strategy and the implementation
of a State underground injection
control program under the Federal
Safe Drinking Water Act. Other
related activities include oil and
hazardous materials spill response,
and ground-water related
"Superfund" activities.
Related to these activities will
be the confining priority attention
devoted to the control of toxic
pollutants. This includes ambient
monitoring, receiving water
surveys, and emergency responses
to hazardous materials spills.
Other related activities include the
modification or reissuance of
industrial NPDES permits to
include BCT/BAT effluent
limitations, and the
implementation of'an industrial
wastewater pretreatment program.
Another high priority activity
will be to continue to work toward
municipal compliance with the
Clean Water Act requirement for
secondary treatment by 1988.
Water quality management
activities will also continue to be
more clearly focused on priority
problem areas with a view to more
efficiently and effectively
addressing water quality problems
in these areas. Priority attention
will continue to be given to
activities in Puget Sound including
Commencement Bay, Duwamish
Waterway and River, Elliott Bay,
Sinclair Inlet, Everett Harbor, and
Bellmgham Bay; lower Yakima
River; Spokane River and aquifer;
Chambers Creek-Clover Creek
(Pierce Co.) aquifer; and Whidbey
and Camano aquifers.
WEST VIRGINIA
For complete copies of the West
Virginia 305(b) report, * contact:
West Virginia Department of
Natural Resources
Division of Water Resources
1201 Greenbner St.
Charleston, WV 25305
Surface Water Quality
Between 1972 and 1982, there was
a noticeable improvement in water
quality in West Virginia. Of the
5,262 stream miles assessed in
1982, 3,116 miles fully supported
their designated uses, 1,843 miles
partially supported their
designated uses, and 303 did not
support their designated uses.
The primary causes of
nonattamment of uses in West
Virginia's rivers and streams are
mining and nonpomt sources.
These two sources are each
responsible for use impairment in
32 percent of the river and stream
miles not fully supporting uses.
Past mining practices have
resulted in a legacy of water
quality problems that continue to
this day. Nonpomt sources need
immediate and aggressive action in
the State. Municipal sources
account for 26 percent of use
impairment in rivers, industrial
sources account for 4 percent of
use impairment. Most industrial
facilities are located on larger
streams which, with their larger
assimilative capacities, are much
less likely to reflect use
impairment than are smaller
streams. Industrial dischargers
have also been traditionally
regulated more heavily and adhere
more closely to applicable water
laws than either mining,
municipal, or nonpomt source
dischargers. Six percent of the use
impairment in the State's streams
is attributed to natural sources.
Of the 16,158 acres of lakes and
reservoirs assessed in 1982, 1,675
acres fully supported their
designated uses; 12,685 acres
partially supported their uses; and
1,798 acres did not support their
uses. Because of an increase in the
number of lake acres assessed in
1982 over 1972, these figures
represent a 10 percent increase
over 1972 in the number of acres
supporting uses, and a 39 percent
increase in the number of acres
partially supporting uses.
Nonpoint sources are the
primary cause of nonsupport of
uses in West Virginia's lakes,
affecting 55 percent of acres not
fully supporting their uses.
Thirty-four percent are affected by
mine drainage, 4 percent are
affected by municipal sources; less
than 1 percent are affected by
industrial sources; and 7 percent
A-32
-------
are affected by other sources.
West Virginia has only 35.5
square miles of wetlands. These
were inventoried in 1975 and are
actively protected by the State.
The State's 619 miles of border
rivers are a management problem
because of the lack of a unified,
integrated oversight approach.
West Virginia is particularly
concerned by this problem because
the Ohio River and its
embayments represent about 50
percent of the total acreage of
surface waters in the State.
'Not included in the National
analysis.
WISCONSIN
For complete copies of the
Wisconsin 305(b) report, contact:
Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources
Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707
Surface Water Quality
Since 1972, great strides have been
made toward the goal of achieving
"fishable and swimmable" waters.
The Wisconsin Pollution
Discharge Elimination System and
construction grants programs have
been highly successful in
improving stream water quality
across the State. Of the 700 stream
miles that were degraded m 1972,
335 have markedly improved,
including 70 miles that improved
from "not supporting" to "fully
supporting" designated uses. By far
the most dramatic improvements
resulted from cleanup of the pulp
and paper mill discharges through
the wasteload allocation process.
Wisconsin's 15,000 lakes are of
vital recreational, economic, and
aesthetic benefit. Overall, the
quality of the State's lakes is fairly
good. Of the total lake acres in
Wisconsin, it is estimated that 82
percent are supporting designated
uses. This translates to over
800,000 acres. The remaining 18
percent experience occasional but
regular fish kills, primarily during
the winter, and are considered to
only partially support their
designated uses. Some lakes are
eutrophic, typified by algae
blooms, excessive weed growth,
and/or fish kills caused by high
inputs of nutrients such as
nitrogen and phosphorus.
Despite the notable
improvements in water quality
over the past decade, remaining
problems need to be addressed.
The problem of nonpoint source
runoff is coming to the forefront as
the State's point source problems
are brought under control. An
increasing number of toxic
substances are being detected in
the aquatic environment, and
efforts are being made to
determine the severity and extent
of the problem. The report
includes twelve recommendations
to address the State's water quality
problems and issues of concern.
Ground-Water Quality
The quality of Wisconsin's ground
water is generally excellent. This
condition is a result of the State's
geology and of the efforts of State
management and protection
programs. However, despite best
efforts, some ground-water
problems have developed. In most
cases, contamination is localized,
but in some instances large areas
are affected.
Since 1981, Wisconsin has been
actively investigating the extent of
contamination caused by the
agricultural pesticide aldicarb.
This compound is used primarily
on potato fields in the central
portion of the State, where soils
are sandy, the water table is close
to the surface, and irrigation is
heavily used. As of February 1984,
62 wells had concentrations of
aldicarb greater than the health
limit established by EPA.
Administrative rules were enacted
in 1982 to reduce the pesticide
loadings to drinking water by
altering the timing, amount, and
frequency of aldicarb use.
Other ground-water problems
are more localized. Since July
1983, the State has been
implementing several Statewide
monitoring surveys to detect
ground-water problems from
volatile organic chemicals and
agricultural pesticides other than
aldicarb. These surveys have
shown that although ground-water
contamination occurs in certain
locations, the quality of the
resource as a whole is very good.
Additional small, site-specific
problems do exist around the
State, and are most often caused
by high nitrate concentrations or
gasoline contamination.
WYOMING
For complete copies of the
Wyoming 305(b) report, contact:
Wyoming Department of
Environmental Quality
Water Quality Division
Herschler Building
Cheyenne, WY 82002
Surface Water Quality
Generally, water quality in
Wyoming remains good.
Significant improvements have
been made in reducing water
quality impacts from municipal
and industrial sources. Additional
progress in dealing with industrial
and municipal wastes will be
evident in the near future. Despite
increased population growth
throughout the State, water
quality in the major river basins is
improving or stable.
Natural erosion from arid areas
is believed to contribute heavily to
sediment loads and high turbidity
levels in lowland streams.
However, good agricultural,
grazing, and industrial (mining, oil
and gas) management practices
would probably do much to
alleviate many of these natural
erosion problems.
Pesticide and herbicide residues
have been identified in many
stream segments. However, these
levels are not high enough to
warrant concern. Elevated levels of
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
have been detected below several
power plants.
Eutrophication of some lakes in
Wyoming remains a problem;
however, the most seriously
impaired lakes are being studied,
and pollution sources and
management options are being
identified.
Water Pollution Control
Programs
Prior to 1972, the North Platte
River system in Wyoming was
significantly affected by municipal,
industrial, and nonpomt source
pollutants. Despite a tremendous
increase in population and
industrial development throughout
the valley, water quality in the
North Platte River has improved
since 1972, with major progress
continuing. By 1988, all
municipalities discharging
wastewater into the North Platte
River will be in compliance with
State and Federal wastewater
discharge standards. Most
improvements to these municipal
wastewater treatment systems are
being funded through the
Construction Management
Assistance Grant program.
Since 1970, the quality of
industrial discharges in the Casper
A-33
-------
area has improved, due largely to
the NPDES program. Petroleum
refineries in the Casper area were
responsible for ground-water and
surface water contamimation from
leaky facilities. To date, all the
refineries in Casper have improved
their operations. A significant
amount of petroleum products
which contaminate ground water
and the North Platte River are
being intercepted and recovered.
Wyoming's Department of
Environmental Quality has
initiated a cooperative program to
develop and implement grazing
systems to improve and maintain
riparian areas. The Section 208
program generated concern for
nonpomt source pollution am]
provided the initial phase ot
developing riparian management
systems for public lands in the
Bates and Sage Creek drainages.
These two streams were identified
as significant contributors of
sediment to the North Platte
River. By 1988, the riparian
programs on Bates and Sage creeks
are expected to be well underway.
The State has adopted a
voluntary approach to nonpomt
source pollution control based on
the availability of technical
assistance and Federal cost sharing
incentives. Because nearly 50
percent of the land in Wyoming is
under Federal stewardship,
intergovernmental agreements are
in effect between the Department
of Environmental Quality, the
Bureau of Land Management, and
the Forest Service. Research and
extension programs have been
undertaken to reduce nonpomt
sources of pollution originating
from agricultural and grazing
activities, urban runoff, and
reserve pit reclamation. Best
management practices (BMPs) are
gradually finding acceptance in the
State. However, the problems
associated with erosion and
sedimentation on private and State
lands must still be handled.
Salinity in the Colorado River
has been recognized as a major
interstate and international
problem. Wyoming is one of seven
States involved in the Colorado
River Salinity Control Forum.
Efforts to address the salinity issue
include establishing water quality
standards and implementing a plan
to meet the standards as individual
States develop their water
appropriations under the Colorado
River Compact. Programs include
NPDES limitations on point
source discharges, construction of
salinity control projects,
implementation of nonpomt
source management practices, and
on-farm irrigation management.
A-34
------- |