utah water quality politics & pollution may 20, 2010 mike allred deq division of water quality

UtahUtahWater QualityWater Quality

Politics & PollutionPolitics & PollutionMay 20, 2010May 20, 2010

Mike AllredMike AllredDEQ Division of Water QualityDEQ Division of Water Quality

Outline for this SessionOutline for this Session

Regulatory Background – Federal & State Statutes

Beneficial Uses, W.Q. Standards,

Monitoring & Assessment

305(b) and 303(d)

Tools for WQ Maintenance & Improvement

(Programs)

Emerging Issues – Endocrine Disruptors, Mercury, etc.

Regulatory BackgroundRegulatory Background

•1948 Water Pollution Control Act

• No goals, objectives, limits or guidelines

• States have the primary responsibility to control water pollution

•1950 First municipal wastewater treatment plant constructed

•1953 Utah Water Pollution Control Act - Water Quality Standards and treatment requirements

Utah’s Early Years


Early Years Cont’d

•1964 Elimination of last community sewer discharge without treatment

•1965 Federal Water Quality Act passed providing grants for municipal wastewater construction

•1965 Major sewered Utah communities achieve secondary treatment


Clean Water Act (1972)Clean Water Act (1972)

Restore and Maintain the Chemical, Restore and Maintain the Chemical,

Physical, and Biological Integrity of the Physical, and Biological Integrity of the

Nation’s WatersNation’s Waters

Focus was on Focus was on Point SourcePoint Source Discharges Discharges

Fishable Swimmable Waters by 1983Fishable Swimmable Waters by 1983

Administered by EPAAdministered by EPA


Clean Water Act cont’d.Clean Water Act cont’d.

Amended in 1987 to add Nonpoint Source Amended in 1987 to add Nonpoint Source ComponentComponent– Nonpoint SourceNonpoint Source - runoff from agriculture, forestry, - runoff from agriculture, forestry,

mining, urban stormwater etc.mining, urban stormwater etc. Delegated to the States for implementation at the Delegated to the States for implementation at the

state levelstate level

Utah Environmental Quality CodeUtah Environmental Quality Code

– Chapter 5 Water Quality Act (UAC 19-5)Chapter 5 Water Quality Act (UAC 19-5)


Utah Water Quality Act (1953)Utah Water Quality Act (1953)

Established the Utah Water Quality Board Surface water and ground water pollution control Classify waters according to beneficial uses Establish WQ standards to protect waters Enforcement and penalty authority Establish plans to improve water quality Approve the construction of pollution control

projects


Beneficial Use DesignationsBeneficial Use Designations(Classifications)(Classifications)

Class 1C - Drinking WaterClass 1C - Drinking Water Class 2A, 2B - Recreation ( e.g. swimming, Class 2A, 2B - Recreation ( e.g. swimming,

boating etc.)boating etc.) Class 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D - Wildlife UsesClass 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D - Wildlife Uses Class 4 - Agricultural UsesClass 4 - Agricultural Uses

ExampleExample: Weber River - : Weber River - 1C, 2B, 3A & 41C, 2B, 3A & 4


Water Quality StandardsWater Quality Standards

Water Quality StandardWater Quality Standard - the - the

maximum amount of pollutant a maximum amount of pollutant a

waterbody can carry and still maintain waterbody can carry and still maintain

its its beneficial usesbeneficial uses..


Narrative StandardsNarrative Standards(R317-2-7)(R317-2-7)

Unlawful to discharge or place waste that:Unlawful to discharge or place waste that:– Offensive, unnatural deposits Offensive, unnatural deposits

– Floating debris, oil, scum Floating debris, oil, scum

– Other nuisances – color, odor, taste, etc.Other nuisances – color, odor, taste, etc.

– Undesirable physiological responses in fish or Undesirable physiological responses in fish or aquatic life, or human health effectsaquatic life, or human health effects


Numeric Criteria for Class 1CNumeric Criteria for Class 1C

List of 24 Numeric Criteria; List of 24 Numeric Criteria; Examples include:Examples include:

– Arsenic .01 mg/lArsenic .01 mg/l– Cadmium .01 mg/lCadmium .01 mg/l– Lead .015 mg/lLead .015 mg/l– Nitrate 10 mg/l (as N)Nitrate 10 mg/l (as N)– Radium 226 & 228 5 pCi/lRadium 226 & 228 5 pCi/l– 2, 4-D 70 ug/l2, 4-D 70 ug/l– E. Coli 206 (#/100ml)E. Coli 206 (#/100ml)

Monitoring & AssessmentMonitoring & Assessment

WQ Monitoring & AssessmentWQ Monitoring & Assessment

305(b) Report305(b) Report– Submitted to EPA / Congress every other yearSubmitted to EPA / Congress every other year– Assessment of water quality in Utah’s streams Assessment of water quality in Utah’s streams

and lakesand lakes

303(d) Impaired Waters303(d) Impaired Waters– Waters that are not meeting WQ standards for Waters that are not meeting WQ standards for

their beneficial use classificationstheir beneficial use classifications


chemical

physical

biological

Ecological Integrity

The Challenge…• Protect the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of ALL Utah’s waters.

• Monitoring to support all programs aimed at meeting these goals.

GSL Desert and

Columbia River

Jordan River and

Utah Lake

Colorado River West

Uinta Basin

Colorado River Southeast

Cedar / Beaver

Weber River

Bear River

Lower Colorado River

Sevier River

Bear RiverWeber RiverUinta BasinJordan River / Utah LakeGSL Desert / ColumbiaSevier RiverCedar / BeaverColorado River WestLower Colorado RiverColorado River Southeast

25 0 25 50 75 Miles

UTAH

N

mgmt_unit.apr

Watershed Management Units


Water chemistry: the traditional backbone of UT-DWQ WQ programs

Data Collected at Each Site:

Stream Discharge

Field parameters: temp., conductance, DO, pH

Chemistry:Nutrients- total and dissolved

Metals- major salts always, heavy metals quarterly

Chemistry- TDS, TSS

Others- Dependent on permit requirements of specific WQ concerns


Moniitoring logistics?

8 full-time staff who collect data year round

Water chemistry samples, typical year:

~299 sites (10 to 12 visits per year)~3,400 site visits~9,775 samples = 6800 liters of water

We also get about 33% more data in cooperation with other state and federal agencies.


Clean (we hope) Lake Monitoring

Priority lakes were identified based on importance and susceptibility to human-caused disturbance.

~60 lakes/reservoirs are sampled each year, with a rotation every other year.

≥1 site per lake, plus all inflows.

Samples are collected during peak growing season (July & August); unless identified as impaired and sampled 4X per year.


Clean Lake Monitoring

Samples are collected at numerous depths and data are used to determine trophic status or violations of standards.

Standard Lake parameters -Lake DO/temperature profiles

-Algae composition

-Secchi Disc

-Water Chemistry: nutrients, TDS, TSS, and metals


Measures of biological condition Measures of biological condition are useful because they:are useful because they:

o directly measure beneficial uses,directly measure beneficial uses,

o can simultaneously measure the can simultaneously measure the effects of multiple pollutants,effects of multiple pollutants,

o provide a continuous record of provide a continuous record of degradation,degradation,

o are cost effective,are cost effective,

o are of direct interest to the are of direct interest to the public,andpublic,and

o measure the effects of both measure the effects of both point- and nonpoint-source point- and nonpoint-source pollutants.pollutants.


UCASE (Utah’s Comprehensive Assessment of Stream Ecosystems): Biological, Chemical, and Physical

Habitat Monitoring- Biological data include diatoms,

macroinvertebrates, and fish.

- Physical habitat data collected following EPA’s EMAP protocols.

- Current budget is for about 75 sites/year.


NS28%

FS72%

Total assessed = 10,442 miles

Stream Water Quality Status2008


FS67%

PS32%

NS1%

Water Quality Status 2008

132 Lakes and Reservoirs


Historical Stream Water Historical Stream Water Quality AssessmentQuality Assessment

0

20

40

60

80

Per

cen

t

1985 1994 1998 2002 2006

FS

PS

NS

Water Quality ToolsWater Quality Tools

CWA ProgramsCWA ProgramsTools to Achieve & Maintain Water Tools to Achieve & Maintain Water

QualityQuality

Construction AssistanceConstruction Assistance Surface and Groundwater Discharge Surface and Groundwater Discharge

PermitsPermits Non-point Source ProgramNon-point Source Program TMDL TMDL


Construction AssistanceConstruction Assistance

SRF – State Revolving FundSRF – State Revolving Fund– Low interest loans to public treatment facilitiesLow interest loans to public treatment facilities

Community Loans & Grants for wastewater Community Loans & Grants for wastewater systemssystems

Non-point source loans & grants for water Non-point source loans & grants for water quality improvement projectsquality improvement projects


UPDES – Utah Pollution Discharge UPDES – Utah Pollution Discharge & Elimination System& Elimination System

Surface Water Discharge ProgramSurface Water Discharge Program– Discharge PermitsDischarge Permits– Bio-solidsBio-solids– Storm WaterStorm Water– CAFO/AFOCAFO/AFO– SSO’sSSO’s– Pre-Treatment & Local LimitsPre-Treatment & Local Limits


UPDES PermitsUPDES Permits

Industry18%

Coal4%

Const. Dewater10%

Fish Hatcheries4%

CAFO17%

GW Dewater2%

Municipality22%

Biosolids10%

Drinking Water13%


Storm Water


Stormwater Permits (3,500+)

Construction86%

Industrial12%

Municipalities2%

Concentrated Animal Feeding OperatonsConcentrated Animal Feeding OperatonsCAFOCAFO

Ritewood Egg Pond FailureRitewood Egg Pond Failure


Total Maximum Daily LoadTotal Maximum Daily Load

The sum of the The sum of the nonpoint sourcesnonpoint sources, (including , (including

natural background concentrations), natural background concentrations), point point

sourcessources, and a , and a margin of safetymargin of safety, so as to , so as to

attain or maintain the attain or maintain the water quality water quality

standardsstandards of a water body. of a water body.


Impaired WatersImpaired Waters

Stream, River, Lake or Reservoir that is not Stream, River, Lake or Reservoir that is not meeting water quality standards.meeting water quality standards.

303(d) List - All waterbodies that are impaired303(d) List - All waterbodies that are impaired

Utah’s 303(d) list on DWQ Website:Utah’s 303(d) list on DWQ Website:

– www.waterquality.utah.govwww.waterquality.utah.gov

Impaired waterbodies Impaired waterbodies requirerequire a TMDL a TMDL


2006 TMDL Water Quality Studies


BEFORE

Non-Point Source ProgramNon-Point Source Program


AFTER

Non-Point Source ProgramNon-Point Source Program

Emerging IssuesEmerging Issues


Persistent ToxicsPersistent Toxics– MercuryMercury– PCBsPCBs

Pharmaceutical & Personal Care ProductsPharmaceutical & Personal Care Products– Endocrine DisruptorsEndocrine Disruptors

In Stream FlowsIn Stream Flows NutrientsNutrients


Salt Lake Tribune

Toxic mercury lurking in Great Salt Lake

A poison wind: Toxic mercury blows into Utah from Nevada

Mercury a worry for duck hunters

Government , industry need to do more to resolve mercury issue

Mer

cury

too

high

in U

tah

test

fish

It's raining mercury

Activists say Utah should test its waters

for mercury


Utah Fish Tissue DataUtah Fish Tissue Data

Total samples (with results) to date – 1,411Total samples (with results) to date – 1,411 Total locations sampled (with results) - 225Total locations sampled (with results) - 225

– 170 Rivers/streams170 Rivers/streams– 55 Lakes/reservoirs55 Lakes/reservoirs

152 Samples above 0.3 mg/kg (11%)152 Samples above 0.3 mg/kg (11%) (DEQ & Wildlife Resources collected approx. 260 fish in (DEQ & Wildlife Resources collected approx. 260 fish in

2007; analysis is ongoing at State Lab)2007; analysis is ongoing at State Lab)


Joe’s Valley Res.

Gunlock Res.Upper Enterprise Res.

Newcastle Res.

Calf Creek

Mill Creek

Weber River

Green River

Jordanelle Res.

Waterfowl - GSL

Utah Mercury Advisories


Endocrine Disrupting ChemicalsEndocrine Disrupting Chemicals(EDCs)(EDCs)

Industrial chemicals (PCB, Dioxin, Industrial chemicals (PCB, Dioxin, Pesticides (DDT, organo-chorines, othersPesticides (DDT, organo-chorines, others

Plastics (phthalates, Bisphenol APlastics (phthalates, Bisphenol A Consumer products (lacquers lining cans, Consumer products (lacquers lining cans,

building products, car products, clothing, building products, car products, clothing, children’s products, some medical products, children’s products, some medical products, cosmetics, personal care productscosmetics, personal care products

EPA estimates there are 80,000 chemicals EPA estimates there are 80,000 chemicals that need examination to determine if EDCthat need examination to determine if EDC


Estrogenicity of Treated Sewage Estrogenicity of Treated Sewage

Over the past 10 years feminization of male fish Over the past 10 years feminization of male fish have been detected in Europe, US, Japan. have been detected in Europe, US, Japan. (1)(1)

Estrogenicity of sewage effluent has been Estrogenicity of sewage effluent has been demonstrated in US, Europe, China, and Korea. demonstrated in US, Europe, China, and Korea. (1)(1)

““The occurrence of feminized fish is associated The occurrence of feminized fish is associated with effluent discharges … the incidence and with effluent discharges … the incidence and severity is positively correlated with the proportion severity is positively correlated with the proportion of treated sewage effluent in receiving waters.” of treated sewage effluent in receiving waters.” (6)(6)

East Canyon Creek August 2003

0

500,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

2,500,000

3,000,000

3,500,000

4,000,000

Ind

ivid

ual

sUtah Population Projections

East Canyon Creek Summer 2001

Walking Utah’s Environmental Tightrope

PoliticiansEnvironmental Advocates

utah water quality politics & pollution may 20, 2010 mike allred deq division of water quality

Documents

federal water quality

water quality act uac

ground water pollution

epa slide

c drinking water class

secondary treatment

wq standards

beneficial uses