Water Quality Challenges Facing Our Community. Water Quality Challenges Facing Our Community

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1 Water Quality Challenges Facing Our Community Cooperative Extension Bringing the University to You Audiovisual S. Donaldson Water Quality Challenges Facing Our Community Susan Donaldson Melody Hefner University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Audiovisual Stephanie Wilson United States Environmental Protection Agency Water Quality Challenges 1

2 Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials NEMO is an educational program for land use decision makers addressing the relationship between land use and water resource protection. NEMO stands for Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials. Water Quality Challenges 2

3 What we ll be covering: Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Clean Water Act (CWA) Water quality standards NPDES permits Section 303(d) and TMDLs Section 208 Section 319 Groundwater issues Water Quality Challenges 3

4 What federal laws regulate water pollution? Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Clean Water Act (CWA) Water quality standards National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Section 303(d) and TMDLs Section 208 Section 319 There are two basic pieces of legislation that govern surface water quality. The first, the Safe Drinking Water Act, applies only to water used for public consumption (public drinking water). The Clean Water Act applies to all water bodies in the United States. Water Quality Challenges 4

5 M. Hefner Safe Drinking Water Act Applies to public drinking water only EPA sets standards for contaminants Standards are called MCLs (Maximum Contaminant Levels) Domestic water wells are not covered by SDWA The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) was originally passed by Congress in 1974 to protect public health by regulating the nation s public drinking water supply. The law was amended in 1986 and 1996 and requires many actions to protect drinking water and its sources - rivers, lakes, reservoirs, springs, and ground water wells - that supply 25 or more people. The SDWA applies only to public water systems, and does not protect individual domestic drinking water wells that supply fewer than 25 people. The SDWA authorizes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set national health-based standards for drinking water to protect against both naturallyoccurring and man-made contaminants that may be found in drinking water. In the Reno/Sparks area, our local water purveyors, Truckee Meadows Water Authority and Washoe County Water Resources, do a good job of complying with the ever more demanding provisions of the SDWA. Water Quality Challenges 5

6 Clean Water Act Requires states to : Establish water quality standards, based on beneficial use. Determine if water bodies are meeting established standards. Set priorities on which water bodies to study further. Define what point and nonpoint source controls are necessary. C. Conway To deal with continuing water quality impairment of the nation s waterways, Congress in 1972 passed the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, commonly referred to as the Clean Water Act. The Clean Water Act (CWA), whose mission was to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation s waters, laid out as its main goals zero discharge of pollutants into fishable and swimable waters by 1983 and zero discharge of pollutants into navigable waters by Water Quality Challenges 6

7 What are Beneficial Uses? Municipal or domestic supply Aquatic life Propagation of wildlife Irrigation Watering of livestock Contact and noncontact recreation Industrial supply NRCS photo gallery C. Conway The CWA also sets specific water quality standards based on the intended use of the water. These are called beneficial uses and include water quality for aquatic life, recreational, agricultural, industrial, and municipal uses. Water Quality Challenges 7

8 We have successfully addressed point source pollution using the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program Center for Watershed Protection Virtually every city in the United States was required to build and operate a wastewater treatment plant, with the newly formed Environmental Protection Agency administering most of the funding and offering technical assistance. States had to adopt water quality standards with federal government oversight. The law set up a permit system to limit industrial and municipal discharges, and to protect wetlands. Point sources are regulated by permits under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permitting Program. The permits are good for 5 years. Individual homes that are connected to a municipal system, use a septic system, or do not have a surface discharge do not need an NPDES permit. However, industrial, municipal, and other facilities must obtain permits if their discharges go to surface waters. In most cases, the NPDES permit program is administered by authorized states. Since its introduction in 1972, the NPDES permit program has been responsible for significant improvements to our nation's water quality. Water Quality Challenges 8

9 NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) Introduced in 1972 to address point sources Industrial, municipal, and other facilities must obtain permits if their discharges go to surface waters NPDES now applies to municipal storm water and some agricultural sources NPDES is a progressive program that continually attempts to identify and control new point sources of pollution. Today, NPDES attempts to identify and control other point sources, such as those from municipal storm drain systems and agricultural sources. In 1990, EPA promulgated rules establishing Phase I of the NPDES storm water management program. Phase I required operators of medium and large municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) those that serve populations of 100,000 or more to implement a storm water management program as a means to control polluted discharges from these MS4s. Phase I also required owners and operators of construction sites that disturb five or more acres to develop Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs) and implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) to control erosion, sediment and wastes. In March 2003, Phase II of the NPDES storm water program became effective. The Phase II Final Rule requires NPDES permit coverage for storm water discharges from small municipal separate storm sewer systems in urbanized areas with a total population of 50,000 or more and an overall population density of at least 1,000 per square mile. Phase II also requires SWPPPs and BMPs for construction sites that disturb between one and five acres. A storm water management program requires six minimum control measures, including public education and outreach; public participation and involvement; illicit discharge detection and elimination; construction site runoff control; post construction runoff control; and pollution prevention/good housekeeping. In Nevada, the NPDES storm water program is managed by Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP). Water Quality Challenges 9

10 Clean Water Act, Section 303(d) Requires states to establish water quality standards for each pollutant. If a water body is not meeting water quality standards, the water body is placed on a state impaired or threatened water list. State then required to establish Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDLs) for that water body. Under section 303(d) of the 1972 Clean Water Act, states, territories, and authorized tribes are required to develop lists of impaired waters. Impaired waters are those waters that do not meet water quality standards set for them by the states, territories, or authorized tribes, even after point sources of pollution have installed the minimum required levels of pollution control technology. The law requires that these jurisdictions establish priority rankings for waters on 303(d) lists and develop total maximum daily loads for these waters. As stated before, the CWA requires states to establish water quality standards based on beneficial uses established for a given water body. It is important to note that even though we may be meeting standards, we are still depositing pollutants in the water on a daily basis. Water Quality Challenges 10

11 What are TMDLs? Total Maximum Daily Loads Point Source + Nonpoint Source + Background (Wasteload Allocation) S. Donaldson Snohomish County Public Works NRCS photo gallery (Load Allocation) A TMDL, or Total Maximum Daily Load, is a calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a water body can receive and still meet water quality standards. The Clean Water Act, section 303(d), establishes the TMDL program. Water quality standards are set by states, territories, and authorized tribes. They identify the uses for each water body, for example, drinking water supply, contact recreation (swimming), and aquatic life support (fishing), and the scientific criteria to support those uses. States cannot set standards that allow higher concentrations of pollutants than EPA standards they can be more restrictive, but not less. A TMDL is the total allowable amount of a single pollutant from all contributing point and nonpoint sources. The calculation must include a margin of safety to ensure that the water body can be used for the purposes the State has designated. The calculation must also account for seasonal variation in water quality. The point source portion of the TMDL is called the Wasteload Allocation. The nonpoint source portion of the TMDL is called the Load Allocation. The Load Allocation also includes background sources of the pollutant. Photo at left: Outfall from Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility (TMWRF). Water Quality Challenges 11

12 UNCE Lockwood The Truckee River begins at Lake Tahoe and flows through Reno and Sparks, receiving tributary flow as it travels to Pyramid Lake. The Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility (TMWRF) returns its treated water to the Truckee River via Steamboat Creek. The Truckee River is designated impaired from the Idlewild sampling station to Pyramid Lake. Because Nevada does not regulate water quality on the Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation, its designation of impaired waters stops at the boundary of the reservation at Wadsworth. Remember - water from the Truckee River does not flow to the ocean, since the Truckee River watershed is a closed basin, so pollution tends to accumulate in Pyramid Lake. TMDLs are measured at Lockwood under the assumption that if the TMDLs are being met at Lockwood, located down stream from the Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility, they are being met on the rest of the impaired river stretch. Water Quality Challenges 12

13 TMDLs at Lockwood Constituent Total nitrogen Total phosphorus Total dissolved solids (TDS) TMDL (lbs/day) ,528 TMDLs are established for pollutants that exceed water quality standards 10 percent or more of the time for the five year listing period for 303(d) listed impaired waters. The three constituents for which TMDLs have been established on the Truckee River, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and total dissolved solids (TDS, or salts dissolved in the water), are by no means the only pollutants in the water at Lockwood. The TMDL for TDS is not a mistake it is 900,528 lbs/day, or about 450 tons per day. Water Quality Challenges 13

14 Wasteload Allocations (pounds per day) Constituent Total nitrogen TMWRF WLA (lb/day) 500 Vista Canyon WLA 16.7 Sparks Marina Park WLA 33.3 Total WLA 550 Total phosphorus Total dissolved solids 120,168 9, ,388 It gets still more complicated. Wasteload allocations are determined for each identified point source of pollution. For example, there are allocations for TMWRF, Vista Canyon, and the Sparks Marina Park, which all discharge to the Truckee River. These entities must comply with the NPDES permit requirements. TMWRF is a tertiary treatment plant that does a good job of treating local wastewater to meet regulatory restrictions. However, as we grow and add more households to the Truckee Meadows, the wastewater treatment burden will grow, while it is highly unlikely that the TMDLs will decrease. Water Quality Challenges 14

15 Constituent Total nitrogen Total phosphorus Total dissolved solids TMDL Allocations (lbs per day) Total Wasteload Allocation WLA ,388 Total Load Allocation LA ,140 Total Maximum Daily Load TMDL ,528 This table shows how the Truckee River TMDLs are allocated between wasteload allocations and load allocations. A sample TMDL: Nitrogen The TMDL for total nitrogen in the Truckee River at Lockwood is 1000 pound per day. The wasteload allocation for nitrogen is 550 pounds. 500 pounds to TMWRF 50 pounds to two other point sources The remaining 450 pounds is the load allocation. It covers all nonpoint sources and background levels. Unfortunately, Steamboat Creek alone sometimes contributes the entire load allocation to the Truckee River, leaving no room for other nonpoint and background sources. When TMWRF exceeds 500 pounds of nitrogen/day regularly, it is in violation. In order for one allocation to increase, another must decrease, or the overall allocation (the TMDL) must increase. The TMDL can not increase if the beneficial use designation for that stretch of the river remains the same. This creates problems for TMWRF, which must process increasing amounts of waste as our community grows, but must remain within the mandated TMDL. Water Quality Challenges 15

16 What is Pollutant Trading? If one source of pollution regularly exceeds its allocation of the TMDL, there are two possible solutions: The source that is exceeding its allocation may be fined and will be required to improve their water treatment, regardless of cost. OR Another source will have to reduce its load to offset or balance an increase by the source exceeding its allocation. S. Donaldson Pollutant trading allows a community to use a market-based approach to maintain its water quality. Trading is based on the idea that different sources face different costs to control the same amount of a given pollutant. Trading allows the sources that are facing higher pollution control costs to meet their required reductions by purchasing equal (or better) reductions from another source. The water quality improvements are equivalent, but costs are lower. (Above paragraph adapted from p. 52, Protecting Water Resources with Smart Growth, US EPA, online at or There are two possible solutions to the need for TMWRF to continue to treat increasing amounts of waste: either they can treat the waste more rigorously, to decrease nitrogen loads ($$$), or another source (PS or NPS) must decrease its wasteload/load allocation to offset the increase in TMWRF s wasteload allocation. In Nevada, the concept of pollutant trading is relatively new. Both Las Vegas Wash and the Truckee River are listed on the NDEP Web site as having the ability to engage in water quality trading among designated point sources. TMWRF has two permits that allow for pollutant trading, but they are not actually trading yet. The program is in its infancy in Nevada and a detailed system is lacking to implement trading, especially between point sources and nonpoint sources. The difficulty lies in quantifying the predicted reduction in pollution by nonpoint sources. Data gathering and monitoring is required before a nonpoint source reduction amount can be determined and subsequent increase for the point source can be approved. Water Quality Challenges 16

17 Local Implications Reductions in nonpoint source pollution provide extra breathing room to the Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility. This postpones the need for more stringent, expensive wastewater treatment. TMWRF Increasing technology and/or capacity at TMWRF is expensive. The cost of the latest increase in treatment capacity at TMWRF (2004) is $42 million. The increased capacity is 6 million gallons per day (MGD). That s a cost of $7 per gallon of increased capacity and covers just infrastructure, not operating costs! This cost is borne by the consumer that s you and me! Many feel that methods for reducing NPS will be less expensive. Water Quality Challenges 17

18 S. Donaldson Local studies on constructed wetlands have shown the potential to decrease nitrogen from nonpoint sources by up to 30% For example, this pilot research project on Steamboat Creek conducted by UNR scientists has been studied for a number of years, and significant reductions in nitrogen have been documented by the artificial wetlands. The bottom line is that it may be less expensive to control NPS than to build a new waste water treatment facility, or add to the existing plant. There is also an added potential benefit. If we can continue to voluntarily reduce NPS, we may protect ourselves from future federal regulations. The U.S. EPA considers NPS pollution to be the primary unregulated contributor to the deterioration of our nation s water quality. If we can keep the NPS levels below the threshold for new regulations, we can avoid them in the future. Water Quality Challenges 18

19 Truckee River (d) Impaired Waters Location Idlewild to East McCarran East McCarran to Lockwood Lockwood to Derby Dam Derby Dam to Pyramid Lake Listed Pollutants of Concern temperature total phosphorus* total phosphorus*, turbidity total phosphorus*, turbidity, temperature *still still not meeting WQ standards yellow new listing, as of 2002 Are nitrogen, phosphorus and total dissolved solids the only pollutants we are putting in the river? NO! This table provides a list of pollutants or stressors of concern. The listed pollutants or stressors of concern in yellow are new, as of These are pollutants that are monitored by analyzing water samples, or taking field measurements. With the exception of total phosphorus, TMDLs have not been established for these pollutants. In the case of phosphorus, you can see we are still not meeting the water quality standards. Voluntary reductions in the levels of these pollutants from both nonpoint and point sources could postpone or reduce the need for additional TMDLs while still allowing for growth. How are new TMDL requirements developed? Remember that TMDLs are established for pollutants that exceed water quality standards for 303(d) listed impaired waters. The pollutant must exceed the water quality standard 10 percent or more of the time for the five year listing period. This triggers the establishment of a TMDL for that pollutant. The NDEP must prioritize the establishment of TMDLs. As of 2004, the priority for the listed pollutants of concern shown above was set at 3. This is the lowest priority, and it could take 3 to 5 years for establishment of a TMDL for each of these pollutants. Water Quality Challenges 19

20 Clean Water Act, Section 208 Requires area-wide waste treatment management plans Must determine areas with impacted water quality, called Designated Areas Washoe County is a Designated Area S. Donaldson Section 208 requires states to develop waste management plans for areas that have water quality control problems. These plans include NPS management and the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs). The Governor must determine areas with impacted water quality. Washoe County is one such designated area. The Regional Planning Agency has been identified as the governing agency for this designated area. The Regional Water Planning Commission (RWPC) has an advisory capacity only. It meets bi-monthly and provides recommendations to the Regional Planning Agency. The RWPC was created in 1995 to provide a forum and method for the planning and coordination of water use, flood control and wastewater management throughout the region. The RWPC is responsible for updating the Washoe County Comprehensive Regional Water Management Plan. Water Quality Challenges 20

21 208 planning Minimum elements include: TMDLs Effluent limitations Anticipated waste treatment works Nonpoint source management control Management agencies Implementation measures Groundwater programs Must not conflict with NPDES Each 208 plan must have an area-wide wastewater treatment plan, including: Applicable TMDLs Stormwater management Future wastewater treatment needs A process to identify NPS from mining, agriculture, silviculture (development and care of forests), and construction activities A process to control the disposal of all residual wastes that could affect water quality A process to control disposal of wastes on land or in subsurface excavations to protect ground and surface water quality The State requires TMDLs as part of plans to address water quality issues. Then, NDEP and EPA must approve the plan. While this is a federal requirement, the actual day-to-day monitoring and oversight falls to the NDEP, under state regulation 540A. Water Quality Challenges 21

22 Clean Water Act, section 319 Requires state to develop a Nonpoint Source Management Plan. Plans are approved by the EPA. NDEP administers plans through the NPS branch of the Bureau of Water Quality Planning. Focuses on a watershed approach Nevada Division of Environmental Protection s Nonpoint Source branch administers the NPS management plan. They have chosen to focus on a watershed approach, and are working to: Reduce NPS Improve water resources Educate the community Coordinate water quality protection activities Water Quality Challenges 22

23 n Reduce NPS This community project to compost horse manure uses the organic matter to enrich soil while keeping nutrients, pathogens, and other pollutants out of local waterways. Water Quality Challenges 23

24 S. Donaldson Improve water resources Other projects focus on improving water resources by stabilizing streambanks and restoring riparian vegetation. The roots of the vegetation being planted will hold the streambank in place, decreasing erosion, and the plants will use some of the nutrients from the water. The project is located at Steamboat Creek in Pleasant Valley. Water Quality Challenges 24

25 Educate the community M. K. Reidl Educating youth about NPS helps make them care about the issue, and often reaches their parents as well. Plus, kids love learning about stream macroinvertebrates ( bugs )! Water Quality Challenges 25

26 Coordinate water protection activities S. Donaldson Local coordination of water quality protection efforts is growing. Currently, there are three interrelated efforts that are active in the Truckee Meadows: 1. The Storm Water Permit Coordinating Committee partners Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County in public education and coordination of polluted runoff reduction and water quality protection. The committee has developed a Storm Water Management Plan and is working to implement programs and policies as required by the NPDES permit. 2. The Tributary Watershed Protection Plan provides information on locations needing restoration and teaches planners and developers about low impact development techniques. 3. The NEMO Nevada program provides water quality education for land use decision makers. Water Quality Challenges 26

27 Federal water laws let s s summarize SDWA Applies to Municipal Drinking Water only EPA sets standards for maximum contaminant level Covers both surface and groundwater, if it is a Municipal Drinking Water source Does not cover individual domestic water wells CWA Applies to all United States surface waters Water Quality Standards based on beneficial use for that portion of water body Covers both point source and nonpoint source pollution Does not cover groundwater Water Quality Challenges 27

28 Surface and ground water interaction UNCE It s important to recognize that surface and groundwater supplies are connected. Because groundwater recharge occurs slowly, it s even more important to safeguard these sources from pollution. Remember, we live in a closed basin, and pollution introduced on the surface may end up in groundwater supplies as well as surface water bodies. Remediation of groundwater pollution is an expensive and lengthy process. Instead, reducing pollution at the source is the most efficient and cost effective way to improve water quality. There are a number of practices that can improve storm water quality by filtration and/or infiltration. These practices will be discussed in the fifth presentation. Since soils are typically very effective at removing the low levels of pollutants found in storm water, these devices typically do not pose a threat to groundwater. However, as noted previously, source control is still considered the most cost effective way to reduce or prevent pollutants from discharging into receiving waters. Water Quality Challenges 28

29 Examples of local groundwater issues Nitrate contamination linked to: Septic tanks Livestock Fertilizers Naturally occurring plant materials, etc. Fluoride Natural levels There are a number of local groundwater issues of concerns. These include, for example, contamination by perchloroethylene (PCE, most likely from dry cleaning solvents) in the downtown area, as well as nitrate contamination in the north and south valleys, and natural contamination by fluoride which occurs in soils. Levels above drinking water standards have been measured in a number of locations, and residents respond by using bottled water or expensive treatment systems. High TDS groundwater impacts the lower Truckee River. Groundwater contamination is costly to the consumer and taxpayer and often impossible to completely remediate. Water Quality Challenges 29

30 NDEP This map shows nitrate levels in individual water wells in Washoe Valley. Water samples from the wells were tested for nitrates. Results are subdivided into three categories: less than (<) 5 parts per million (ppm, green dots), 5 to 8 ppm (yellow dots), and greater than (>) 8 ppm (red dots). The drinking water standard (MCL) for nitrates, as set by the U.S. EPA and the State of Nevada, is 10 ppm. Several of the > 8 ppm wells contain as much as two to four times the drinking water standard! Homeowners with contaminated wells are faced with choices to make about the use of the water, as well as expenses related to water treatment systems or bottled water supplies. Education about manure management, regular septic system maintenance, or alternative septic system designs will help. Water Quality Challenges 30

31 This map shows the public drinking water sources in southern Washoe County. It is important to note that two public water intakes along the Truckee River and over 100 public water wells provide much of our drinking water in the Truckee Meadows. Up to 75 percent of the public drinking water supply is derived from the Truckee River. The thousands of private domestic water wells serving individual sites are not shown on this map. Surface water and groundwater are interconnected and are both important sources of our drinking water, so both must be protected. Water Quality Challenges 31

32 What does polluted drinking water cost? Municipal water treatment costs Fines and fees Costs of remediation Domestic well water treatment costs Impacts to health, etc. that can be difficult to quantify Reductions in property values Drinking water contamination is costly, and many of the impacts, such as reductions in property values, may be somewhat unrecognized. Water Quality Challenges 32

33 Our Bottom Line Protecting local water quality will: Sustain a healthy community Maintain or improve the quality of life Reduce the costs of wastewater and drinking water treatment Postpone the need for a new, expensive, wastewater treatment upgrades Allow us to comply with existing laws and regulations Decrease the chance of further federal regulations S. Donaldson Consequences of continued impairment of local water quality include increasing federal mandates, expensive infrastructure, increasing costs of wastewater and drinking water treatment, and ever-increasing taxpayer burdens. By avoiding or reducing nonpoint source pollution through natural resource-based planning, minimizing impacts through better site design, and mitigating unavoidable impacts using BMPs, we can make the most efficient use of limited funds while continuing to maintain healthy, sustainable communities. Water Quality Challenges 33