U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Region 10 Bulletin - EPA 910/9-92-043
May 2009
Towards Sustainable Water Infrastructure
Over the next twenty years, demands on water and
wastewater systems will grow at unprecedented
rates, while resources are likely to shrink. Water and
wastewater utilities will face big challenges in their
ability to keep pace with infrastructure needs.
In response, the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Region 10 is developing a Sustainable Water
Infrastructure Initiative. The initiative will help water
and wastewater systems with approaches to meet the
gap in infrastructure funding. Given the state of our
economy -- and the current focus on energy, climate
change, and green jobs - Region 10 believes water
and wastewater systems will be looking for sustainable
approaches that are cost effective and protect the
environment.
Utilities and their local communities generally pay
directly for most of their infrastructure needs (both
for capital costs and for costs of operations and
maintenance). More and more of these entities are
having a tough time finding those funds. While federal
and state monies can help, other strategies may be
available to address the challenges in maintaining our
nation's water and wastewater infrastructure.
In 2008, Region 10 conducted the "Innovative Energy
Management" workshop for the water and wastewater
utilities sector. The workshop showed how to reduce
energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. The
Region also held a "Climate Change and Water
Infrastructure Forum," which focused on strategies to
adapt to climate change.
Those efforts laid the groundwork for this new
Sustainable Water Infrastructure Initiative. The
initiative will address not only the pressing drinking
water and wastewater infrastructure funding gap, but
also link sustainable infrastructure to climate change
adaptation strategies. EPA Region 10 is committed
to working with its partners to support innovation in
infrastructure management. Ultimately, the effort will
help ensure the continued availability, affordability, and
delivery of drinking water and wastewater services into
the future.
For information, see www.epa.gov/
waterinfrastructure/ or contact Cyndi Grafe (EPA
Region 10 Sustainable Water Infrastructure Team
Lead) at grafe.cyndi@epa.gov or 208-378-5771.
in This Issue..
SPOTLIGHT
CALENDAR
EPA News to update
you on agency activities.
pages I-3.
Tools to clue you in on
resources, publications.
opportunities, and ser-
vices, pages 4-7.
Waterwords covering
water related issues,
page 8.
Spotlight to showcase
success stories and envi-
ronmental stars, page 9.
Ecosystem to provide
news that goes beyond
water topics, page 10.
Calendar to highlight
environmental events,
page 11.
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7-f"1 r" <'!: *,-i ft: - ,7 ]
tL^'^ ij J I^A i''i L-
Funding for Drinking Water, Wastewater
On February 17, 2009, President Obama
signed the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009. The Act
includes $7.22 billion for projects and
programs administered by EPA. These
programs will protect and promote both
"green" jobs and a healthier environment.
As part of the plan, the Clean Water State
Revolving Fund and Drinking Water State
Revolving Fund have been funded $4
billion nationally to help communities with
water quality and wastewater infrastructure
needs and $2 billion for drinking water
infrastructure needs. Part of the funding is
targeted towards green infrastructure, water
and energy efficiency, and environmentally
innovative projects. Announcements of
grants will be posted on the web to ensure
transparency. State-by-state distributions
are also available on-line. Learn more at www.epa.
gov/recovery/.
In Region 10, three Northwest States, Alaska, and
Tribal governments will receive more than $297 million
from EPA for clean water projects to create jobs and
protect communities and the environment. The federal
funding is the first installment of EPA funding available
to support states and tribes under the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
The individual amounts directed to Alaska, Idaho,
Oregon, Washington and tribal governments will be
delivered via existing programs: the Clean Water State
Revolving Fund, the Drinking Water State Revolving
Fund, and the Tribal Clean Water & Drinking Water Set-
Aside programs. Alaska will receive $43 million, Idaho
will receive $39 million, Oregon will receive $73 million,
and Washington will receive $110 million.
In addition, Alaska Tribal water infrastructure will
receive $27 million. EPA will provide $4.4 million for
Tribal water infrastructure in the Pacific Northwest.
These funds will supplement existing annual EPA
grants to the states. The states use these funds to
issue loans for enhancing, upgrading and rebuilding
public drinking water systems and public wastewatei
systems, as well as funding non-point source project:
The new law provides states with additional flexibility
in loan terms by requiring that at least fifty percent of
the funding be provided in subsidies such as principal
forgiveness or negative interest rates. States and
watershed planning organizations will also benefit from
the new law through the provision of small planning
grants to address specific water quality problems.
Climate Change:
EPA Proposes to Find Greenhouse Gases a Threat
On April 17, EPA's
Administrator signed
a proposed finding
indicating that six
ireenhouse gases pose
a threat to the health
and welfare of current
and future generations
of Americans. This
action represents formal
recognition by the U.S. government of the threats
posed by climate change. This action comes after a
thorough scientific review ordered in 2007 by the U.S.
Supreme Court. A comment period is under way. A
public hearing is set for May 21 in Seattle. Learn more
at: http://epa.gov/climatechange/endangerment.
html
Watertalk Mav 2009
Page 2
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Stream Tool Helps Determine Jurij
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, EPA, and Oregon
Department of State Lands have made available a new
tool to help identify waters that may be subject to those
agencies' regulatory jurisdiction.
The Oregon Streamflow Duration Assessment
Method is a scientific tool for quickly analyzing more
than twenty factors to distinguish between ephemeral,
intermittent, and perennial streams. It provides
technical guidance for identifying waters that may be
subject to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and the
State of Oregon's Removal-Fill statute. Doing work
that impacts such streams, such as placing fill in them
to prepare a site for construction, often requires a
permit from the Corps' Regulatory Branch and DSL's
Removal-Fill Permit Division.
The method provides a scientifically supported, rapid
assessment framework. Use of the method will
result in more timely and predictable jurisdictional
determinations.
The method is the subject of an ongoing two-year
verification study. The method will be tested at more
than 170 sites in western and eastern Oregon in both
the wet and dry seasons. This study will help make the
method transferable to other western states.
Use of the method is recommended but not required.
The agencies have released the method for use as an
interim version. It will be tested for one year before it
is finalized. The agencies encourage practitioners and
the public to provide comments on their experience
using it.
The agencies held training sessions in Portland
and Medford, OR. Another session will be held in
LaGrande on June 15-16. Learn more at http://
yosemite.epa.gov/R10/ecocomm.nsf/wetlands/
oregonstreamflow.
For information on the Corps' Regulatory program or
DSL's Removal-Fill Permit program in Oregon, visit
http://www.nwp.usace.army.mii/op/g/home.asp or
http://www.oregonstatelands.us/dsl/permits/index.
shtml. Contact Tracie Nadeau, EPA, 503-326-3685, or
nadeau.tracie@epa.gov.
Mt. Hood National Forest, Oregon
Save trees and limit mailbox clutter! Sign up now for the Watertalk
List-Serv. You'll get your Watertalk electronically every quarter. It's
quick and easy to sign up. Justgotowww.epa.gov/region10. Click
on A to Z Subject Index, then W for Watertalk. There you will find an
option to get on the Region 10 Water Issues List-Serv. Every quarter,
an e-mail will tell you when the new Watertalk is ready, and link you to
its website. Once in a while, you will get other water-related news from
EPA. Remember to send an e-mail to lindsay.andrea@epa.gov to be
removed from the hard copy mailing list.
Puge 3
Watertalk Mav 2009
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A Window to Your Environment
How do you learn about environmental conditions
in your community? A handy online tool may be of
help. Window to My Environment gives you a wide
range of federal, state, and local information about
environmental conditions and features in an area of
your choice. This EPA tool helps you make a map of
your community. It links to data and information about
water quality, water quantity, air quality, drinking water
safety, and toxic releases in the area. It combines
interactive maps with links to environmental resources,
to answer questions about what is being done to
protect the environment in your community. Visit the
tool at www.epa.gov/enviro/wme/.
New Book Resources Available
Pond/Wetland Management
Guidebook Online
Stormwater Wet Pond and
Wetland Management
Guidebook
EPA just released
a new resource,
Stormwater Wet
Pond and Wetland
Management
Guidebook. The
guide describes
maintenance and
inspection practices for
existing wet ponds and
wetlands. It includes
checklists for use
during construction and
routine maintenance
of ponds/wetlands.
It also includes a
homeowner pond
inspection checklist. Maintenance profile sheets
describe how to address eight common maintenance
issues. Find it online at www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/
pondmgmtguide.pdf
Green Jobs Training Opportunities
Catalog
Managing Wet Weather with
Green Infrastructure
EPA has compiled a
catalog of Green Jobs
Training opportunities.
Most opportunities are
related to wet weather
management and green
infrastructure design,
installation, operation,
and maintenance.
National and state
programs, universities,
apprenticeships, and
grant programs are
included. The catalog
is a work in progress.
To provide input on
comparable programs
in your region or state, contact arazan.nancy@epa.
gov. See the catalog online at www.epa.gov/npdes/
pubs/gi_greenjobs_feb09.pdf.
Green Jobs
Training
A Catalog of Training Opportunities for
Green Infrastructure Technologies
Visit Watertalk online at www.epa.gov/rlOearth/watertalk.htm
Watertalk Mav 2009
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New Watershed Central
Website, Watershed Wiki
Rachel Carson Intergenerational
Sense of Wonder Contest
EPA, Generations United, the
Dance Exchange and the Rachel
Carson Council, Inc., are hosting
a poetry, essay, photo and dance
contest: the Rachel Carson
Intergenerational Sense of
Wonder Contest 2009. The
contest encourages entries "that
best express the sense of wonder
that you feel for the sea, the night sky, forests, birds,
wildlife, and all that is beautiful to your eyes."
855*
Welcome to Watershed Central. This new EPA
website helps watershed organizations and others
find information they need to carry out watershed
approaches. Watershed Central helps users find
environmental data, watershed models, nearby local
organizations, and guidance documents -- and other
information depending on the task at hand. The site
also contains links to technical resources and funding,
and mapping applications to help find information
specific to named watersheds.
One special feature of the site is the Watershed Wiki
that can help users collaborate. The Watershed Wiki
helps users share tools, scientific findings, expertise,
and local approaches to watershed management.
The wiki can be edited by any user, with article
uploads, comments on watersheds tools, resource
information, and so on. Watershed Central not only
links to EPA web resources but also links to other
valuable funding, guidance and tools on websites of
state, tribal, and federal partners, universities, and
nonprofit organizations. Check it out at www.epa.gov/
watershedcentral
E-Newsletter Covers
Climate Change, Water
EPA's National Water Program has created a new
electronic newsletter or "list-serve" covering news and
information related to water programs and climate
change. The e-newsletter provides short articles and
related links weekly. The e-newsletter is part of an
effort to inform clean water and drinking water program
managers about climate change topics, issues, and
opportunities.
To subscribe to the climate change and water
e-newsletter, go to www.epa.gov/ow/climatechange/
Click on "Subscribe to the Climate and Water
E-Newsletter."
Entries will be judged on how the use of intergen-
erational teams made the entry special and how the
project brought teams in touch with the natural world.
Entries are due by June 10, 2009. The winner will be
announced in September. Learn more at www.epa.
gov/aging/resources/thesenseofwonder/index.htm.
Ideas for
Working
with
Watershed
Groups
Working with Watershed
Groups? Take advantage of
the ideas in the booklet titled
Watershed Planning - from
Start to Finish.
The booklet is based on a series of articles published
by the National Environmental Services Center in
"On Tap" magazine. The series covers:
• how to start a watershed group to tackle water
quality problems,
• methods for measuring and assessing watershed
conditions,
• how to turn data into a strategic plan, and
• techniques for putting the plan into action.
To order a copy, call 800-624-8301 and request item
#DWBLCS04. The booklet costs $1.50 plus shipping.
You may also place your order by email at info®
mail.nesc.wvu.edu.
Page 5
Watertalk May 2009
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Bright Ideas 1
To hear Podcasts sharing these green tips
and more, go to: www.epa.gov/earthday/
podcasts. The tips are also available in
Spanish.
Reduce your carbon footprint! Leaving your car
at home twice a week can cut greenhouse gas
emissions by 1,600 pounds per year. Save up
errands and shopping trips so you need to drive
fewer times. If you commute to work, ask if you
can work from home at least some days, and you'll
reduce air pollution and traffic congestion - and
save money, www.epa.gov/climatechange/
wycd/road.html
Make it a full load! Run your
dishwasher only when it's full.
Don't pre-rinse dishes - tests
show pre-rinsing doesn't
improve dishwasher cleaning,
and you'll save as much as 20
gallons of water per load. When
you buy a new dishwasher, look for one that saves
water. Water-efficient models use only about only
about 4 gallons per wash.
www.epa.gov/watersense/tips/index.htm
Be extra aware of
environmental conditions
where older people live! As
we age, our bodies become
more sensitive to chemicals
and environmental conditions.
So you should carefully use
products such as pesticides or
cleaning solvents near areas where older adults
live and sleep. Always follow the directions on the
product package or label.
www.epa.gov/aging/resources/whatyoucando.htm
Be sensible! The Earth might
seem like it has abundant
water, but in fact only one
percent of all water on the
planet is available for humans.
Buy fixtures and products that
are water efficient - you can
use less water to get the same
job done just as well. When you
go shopping, look for the WaterSense label to find
water efficient products.
www.epa.gov/watersense/tips/cons.htm
Shower power! A full bathtub
requires about 70 gallons of
water, but taking a five-minute
shower saves water by using 10
to 25 gallons. Put a little timer or
clock near your shower so you
can see how fast you are. Save
even more water, and money
on your water bill, by installing a
water-efficient showerhead, or
ask your landlord to install one if you rent.
www.epa.gov/watersense/water/simple.htm
Compost it! Compost helps improve soil so it holds
more water and plants grow better. Allow grass
clippings to stay on the lawn, instead of bagging
them. The cut grass will decompose and return to
the soil naturally. Food scraps and kitchen waste
also make good compost, and you save money on
fertilizers or other additives.
www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/rrr/
composting/index.htm
Don't let pet waste run off! You
can help reduce polluted storm
water runoff by just picking up
your pet's poop and disposing
of it properly. Leaving pet waste
on the ground increases public
health risks by allowing harmful
bacteria or organic material to
wash into the storm drain and eventually into local
waterbodies. So remember - scoop the poop!
www.epa.gov/weatherchannel/stormwater.html
Watertalk Mav 2009
Page 6
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Don't be a drip - fix that leak!
Leaky faucets can waste
thousands of gallons of water
each year, like money down the!
drain. Repair or replace old or
damaged fixtures. If you're not
sure you have a leak, check
the water meter before and after a two-hour period
when no water is being used. If the meter does not
read exactly the same, you probably have a leak.
www.epa.gov/watersense/water/simple.htm
During hot weather, don't top
off your gas tank. Refuel
your car or truck in the early
morning or the evening when
it's cooler. A small fuel spill may|
not seem like much, but every
spill evaporates and adds to air|
pollution, and fuel pumps with
vapor recovery systems can
feed a spill back into their tanks - after you paid for
it. So, in hot weather - don't top off!
www.epa.gov/donttopoff/
eCycle it! Take your old computer, DVD player, or
other electronics to an electronics recycling center.
Reusing and recycling materials like copper, gold,
and others saves natural resources and reduces
mining and processing. eCycling also helps avoid
land, air, and water pollution by capturing and
reusing hazardous substances such as lead or
chromium.
www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/materials/
ecycling/donate.htm
Wait for the storm to pass!
Don't fertilize before a rain
storm. Your fertilizer - along
with your money - can just
wash off your lawn and down
the storm drain. Fertilizer
runoff can pollute rivers, lakes,
and bays, and cause problems
in recreational areas or fishing
grounds. Check the weather
forecast before you head out,
and wait for the storm to pass.
www.epa.gov/epawaste/
conserve/rrr/greenscapes/owners.htm
Healthy Watersheds
Initiative Launched
Middle Fork of the Willamette River, Oregon
EPA has launched a new initiative called Healthy
Watersheds to emphasize protection and conservation
of aquatic ecosystems. A new website shares tools
to identify and protect healthy watersheds and their
components. The website provides critical information
for making strategic watershed decisions. State
officials can benefit from the initiative since they often
make strategic conservation decisions and assess and
manage watershed resources. Local governments,
watershed practitioners, and regional agencies may
also find this initiative useful.
The Healthy Watersheds Approach addresses
the watershed as a system of biota and habitats.
The systems are driven by critical processes such
as hydrology, fluvial geomorphology, and natural
disturbance regimes. Ecosystem programs are most
effective when they recognize and integrate these
dynamics and manage watersheds as systems.
While significant progress has been made in protecting
and restoring water quality under the Clean Water
Act, the nation continues to lose healthy aquatic
ecosystems. EPA's new initiative recognizes that it
is more cost-effective to protect the many benefits
provided by healthy watersheds than it is to restore
them once they become impaired. Learn more at www.
epa.gov/healthywatersheds.
Page 7
Watertalk May 2009
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Tribes Get Nearly $2 Million
for Puget Sound Projects
Nineteen Tribes recently received EPA grants totaling
nearly $2 million for on-the-ground projects to
protect water quality and salmon habitat in the Puget
Sound region. The grants support the Puget Sound
Partnership's 2020 Action Agenda.
"Salmon habitat has suffered centuries of abuse,"
said Billy Frank Jr., Chairman of the Northwest Indian
Fisheries Commission. "With the help of these EPA
grants, the tribes are undoing that damage one step
at a time. We all have to work together to get Puget
Sound healthy again."
Puget Sound Chinook and steelhead are listed
as "threatened" under the federal Endangered
Species Act, and Skagit Coho are listed by the state
Department of Fish and Wildlife as a species of
concern.
"We are very pleased to award these grants and
help these tribes continue to do what they have
done for centuries: care for their traditional lands in a
sustainable way/'said Michelle Pirzadeh, EPA's Acting
Regional Administrator in Seattle. "We've heard the
tribes call for action to protect Puget Sound. These
grants will directly support the tribes' 'shovel ready'
projects that will produce very tangible environmental
results."
Using the grants, tribes will take on a variety of projects
including: taking a systematic inventory of fish-blocking
culverts; restoring connectivity to floodplains; returning
tidal flow to estuaries; and building engineered logjams to
create covered deep pools where Chinook salmon hold
before spawning. To learn more, contact Michael Rylko,
EPA, 206-553-4014, or rylko.michael@epa.gov.
May is American Wetlands Month -
Learn! Explore! Take Action!
EPA is celebrating American
Wetlands Month in May
with federal, state, tribal,
local, nonprofit, and
private sector partners.
This annual celebration
is a time to highlight the
many ways wetlands
enrich the environment
and human society.
EPA encourages
' individuals and groups
to plan activities to raise awareness of the critical role
wetlands play in our environment and to build support
for their protection and restoration. Some ideas
include:
• Participate in a wetland walk, canoe trip, bird watch,
or other outdoor activity
• Plan a wetland or stream clean-up
• Recognize a wetland hero
• Sponsor a talk about wetlands
• Start or participate in a volunteer wetland monitoring
or restoration group
• Organize a wetland festival
Individuals or groups that are planning events are
encouraged to share event information at www.epa.
gov/owow/wetlands/awm/contact.html. For general
American Wetlands Month information, visit: http://
www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/awm. To learn more
about EPA's wetlands and aquatic resources programs,
^o to www.epa.gov/owQw/wetlands or call the
Wetlands Helpline at 1-800-832-7828.
National Water Quality Inventory Report Online
The National Water Quality Inventory Report is now online. The report summarizes
water quality assessments submitted by the states to EPA under section 305(b) of the
Clean Water Act. The report finds that the states assessed 16 percent of the nation's 3.5
million river and stream miles, 39 percent of its 41.7 million acres of lakes, ponds, and
Water Quality Report reservoirs, and 29 percent of its 87,791 estuary square miles.
Forty-four percent of assessed river and stream miles, 64 percent of assessed lake acres, and 30 percent of
assessed estuary square miles were found to be impaired for one or more of the uses designated for them by
the states. Leading causes of impairment included pathogens, mercury, nutrients, and organic enrichment/low
dissolved oxygen.
This report is a companion to state water quality information on EPA's ATTAINS website, at www.epa.gov/
waters/ir. In addition to viewing the national summary and information by state, users can find out about
conditions at the individual waterbody level. See the inventory report at www.epa.gov/owow/305b/2004report/.
Watertalk May 2009
Page 8
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GHT
Coal Creek Dam Removal Project Praised
Congratulations to the winners of the 2008 Stream
Project Award. The State Land Board recently
recognized the Coal Creek Dam Removal Project
for its efforts to promote responsible stewardship of
Oregon's natural resources.
Partners in the Coal Creek Dam Removal Project receive the
2008 Stream Project Award from the State Land Board
Coal Creek, in Tillamook County, supports Coho,
Chinook, steelhead and cutthroat, and is one of
the biggest chum producers in the Tillamook Bay
watershed. The Coal Creek Dam dated back to 1949
when the Tillamook Creamery Association built the
30-foot-high structure to supply water to the cheese
factory. In September 2008 the Coal Creek Dam was
successfully removed by powder explosives.
Coal Creek has now been restored to its historic
channel. Already, major improvements to the creek
have been observed, including spawning salmon and
gravel movement.
The many partners who cooperated on the dam
removal were led by the Tillamook Estuary Partnership,
and included the Tillamook County Creamery
Association, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board,
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Tillamook
County, and Green Diamond Resource Company; and
contractors Entrix Environmental, Euchre Mountain
Construction, and Northwest Energetic Services. EPA
maintains a cooperative agreement with the Tillamook
Estuary Partnership, providing partial funding for this
project.
To learn more, contact Rachel Hoffman, Tillamook
Estuaries Partnership, at 503-322-2222.
Or, visit http://oregonstatelands.us/DSL/SLB/
awards2008.shtml.
Portland Active Senior
Programs Earn Recognition
The City of Portland has been
recognized for its efforts to
integrate older adults into
community activities, by
the EPA Building Healthy
Communities for Active Aging
award program.
To encourage older adults to
adopt and maintain a healthy
lifestyle, Portland's Bureaus
of Transportation and Parks
& Recreation developed the
Senior Strolls and Senior
Bike programs. The bike
program trains seniors on the
use of comfortable, stable
recumbent tricycles, providing cycles and helmets for
all participants. The walking program offers several
levels of walking and hiking programs for a wide range
of abilities.
Portland was selected as a community that is
demonstrating the best and most inclusive overall
implementation of smart growth and active aging at
the neighborhood and municipal levels. EPA's award
applicants were evaluated based on the overall
effectiveness of their programs, the level of community
involvement and outreach, the use of innovative
approaches, and the overall environmental health
benefits of the project.
For details, contact Judy Smith, EPA, at
503-326-6994, or smith.judy@epa.gov. Or, visit
www.epa.gov/aging/bhc/about.htm.
Latest Information on Toxic Chemical Releases
EPA recently released the latest Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) data nationally, for reporting year 2007. TRI
releases for Region 10 as a whole decreased in 2007. Alaska, Oregon, and Washington facilities all reported
decreased total on-site and off-site releases. Idaho total on-site and off-site releases increased by 1.7 percent,
while Idaho facility surface water discharges decreased by 6.7 percent. And, although Alaska's Red Dog Mine
reported a decrease in total TRI releases compared to 2006, it remains the largest releaser of TRI reportable
toxics in the country (primarily zinc and lead compounds in on-site tailings impoundments and waste rock). For
details, call Brook Madrone, EPA, at madrone.brook@epa.gov, or 206-553-4016. Or, visit www.epa.gov/tri
orwww.epa.gov/tri/tridata/tri07/index.htm.
Page 9
Watertalk May 2009
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Beneficial Landscaping:
Landscaping with Native Water — A Barrel of
Rain
With climate change upon us, the need to conserve
water and control runoff has never been greater --
both our droughts and our storms/wet seasons are
becoming more extreme. Call it old fashioned or just
plain simple, but one way to adapt to and lessen the
problems associated with these extremes is to install a
rain barrel.
Stored rainwater has many benefits and uses.
Rainwater is naturally "soft." That is, it contains no
minerals, chlorine, fluoride, or other chemicals. So
it is ideal for watering your garden and landscapes.
Plants thrive using this natural "native" water supply.
Akin to installing a rain garden, having a rain barrel is
another way to retain water on the landscape rather
than allowing it to run off impervious surfaces, carrying
pollutants to local water bodies. If properly filtered,
rain water can be used for drinking water and other
household uses. This helps to reduce your municipal
water bill, or to keep your well from running dry. One
of many inconvenient truths is that our groundwater
aquifers are being depleted through overwithdrawal
and by paving over lands important for aquifer
recharge.
In designing a collection system, it is best to plan
adequate capacity for the expected volume of
rainwater, and to determine how you will manage any
excess. To calculate the volume of water you can
expect to receive, consider that for every one inch of
rainfall on a 1,000 square foot roof, you would collect
about 600 gallons of rainwater.
There are many possible ways to design a rain barrel
system - from simple to complex. Costs vary widely
as well. As with most purchases, it is wise to do some
research and devise a set-up that is practical for your
home or workplace. In general, the barrel or cistern
should be covered to eliminate leaves, debris, and
contaminants, and there should be a filter of some
sort to eliminate silt, leaves, etc. Beyond this, visit
your library or try exploring the worldwide web for
information on where to buy or how to build a rainwater
collection system, to find answers to your questions,
and/or to join forces with other rain barrel enthusiasts.
You might even consider starting up a rain barrel
"collective" or initiative in your neighborhood. Then, let
it rain!
For more information on this and other topics in
Beneficial Landscaping, contact Elaine Somers at
206-553-2966, or at somers.elaine@epa.gov. Or,
visit our website at www.epa.gov/r10earth/bl.htm.
Reference:
Watertalk May 2009
ID
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CALENDAR
May
American Wetlands Month,
www.epa.gov/wetlands/awm/
May 19-22:
Creating Thriving Rural and Urban Communities
through Ecological Restoration, Society for
Ecological Restoration Regional Conference,
Lynnwood, WA, www.ser.org/sernw/
conference2009.asp
May 21:
Public Hearing: Endangerment and Cause or
Contribute Findings for Greenhouse Gases
under the Clean Air Act, Seattle, WA, http://epa.
gov/climatechange/endangerment/hearing_
seattle-may21 .html
May 27-28:
The Plight of Ecosystems in a Changing
Climate, EPA, Seattle, WA, Roseanne
Lorenzana, 206-553-8002, www.scgcorp.com/
Ecosystems2009/index.htm
June
American Rivers Month
National Oceans Month
June 4-5:
Washington Water Law Conference 2009,
Seattle, WA, Law Seminars International,
800-854-8009, www.lawseminars.com
June 5:
World Environment Day, www.unep.org/wed/
June 8:
World Oceans Day,
www.theoceanproject.org/wod/
June 10-11:
Action for a Sustainable America, Seattle, WA,
www.asaseries.com/v8-12/Prospectus/lndex.
php?sEventCode=AS0906SEATTLE
June 23:
Wet Weather/Green Infrastructure
Webcast: Funding & Incentives, Brownfield
Redevelopment, www.epa.gov/npdes/training
June 24-25:
Summer Seminar for Educators, Liquid Planet:
Exploring Global Water Issues, UW Seattle, WA,
206-543-4852, http://jsis.washington.edu/
ellison/events.php#June%202009
July
July 22:
Model Toxics Control Act, Law Seminars
International, Seattle, WA, 800-854-8009,
www.lawseminars.com
July 28:
Wet Weather/Green Infrastructure Webcast:
Green Street Retrofits, Operations &
Maintenance, www.epa.gov/npdesAraining
More—Reduce Stormwater Runoff:
TJie online video, "Reduce Runoff: Slow It Down, Spread It Out, Soak It In," highlights green techniques you
can use, such as rain gardens, green roofs and rain barrels. See the video at http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/
;~irf^__. --- ~*/ --- — «... ">0Q9-1-15_Stormwater_Video
Page 11
Watertalk May 2009
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Watertalk
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Watertalk
May 2009
Watertalk is published quarterly by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Region 10. Watertalk seeks to be a useful tool for those who protect
water resources and ecosystems in communities of the Greater Pacific
Northwest, by providing practical resources and relevant agency news.
You are invited to contribute items for publication. Submittal deadline is
the 15th day of the month before publication.
Watertalk articles can be used in other publications.
Please give credit to Watertalk.
For mailing list changes, or to contact the editor, call Andrea Lindsay at
(206) 553-1896 or 1-800-424-4EPA x!896, or e-mail lindsay.andrea@epa.gov:
Mention of trade names, products or services does not convey, and should
not be interpreted as conveying, official EPA approval, endorsement or %
recommendation. i|
'temative formats available upon request. Please call Andrea Undsay to request
reasonable accommodation. TTY: 1-800-877-8339.
Please recycle or share with a friend.
In This Issue..
Sustainable Water
Infrastructure
Stimulus and the
Environment
A Ton of Bright Ideas
Healthy Watersheds and
Wikis
A Barrel of Rain
Much More...
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