Clean Water. . .
We've Got the Point.
Now Let's Get to the Nonpoint. . .
WATER POLLUTION from “nonpoint sources” —
polluted runoff from crops,livestock, roads, timber harvests, abandoned mines and air pollution — is holding the country back from realizing its full clean water potential —
high quality drinking water, teeming fisheries and wildlife habitat and
expanded recreational opportunities.
But according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), after nearly 30 years of the Clean Water Act, 40 percent of U.S. waters remain polluted — largely by nonpoint source pollution. The situation won't improve unless we “get to the nonpoint” with more scientific data, more targeted funding, tougher laws and nonpoint source enforcement. For the environment and the economy, we must act decisively and comprehensively to stem the flow of nonpoint source pollution.
WE'VE GOT THE POINT. . .
Discharges that impact water quality fall into two categories: point and
nonpoint. For almost 30 years, federal law has been focused primarily on
point source pollution. Industrial and municipal “point sources” are easily
identified and highly regulated facilities that are required to treat
wastewater before discharge into receiving waters. Point sources are
strictly controlled by the Clean Water Act, which forbids any discharge to
U.S. waters unless regulated by a permit. Discharges without permits are
punishable by fines or imprisonment, and wastewater quality is continually
monitored and reported to state and federal regulators who ensure that
water quality is protected. A combination of tough laws and regulations
along with federal, state and local dollars has resulted in tremendous
water quality progress. In other words, we've got the point.
NOW LET'S GET TO THE NONPOINT
By contrast, nonpoint source pollution — and the systems to control it —
vary widely. A mixed bag of state and federal regulations, incentive-based,
voluntary programs and funding mechanisms seek to address nonpoint source
pollution. But we need to verify that efforts to control nonpoint source
pollution are reaping genuine water quality benefits.
As runoff from rainwater, irrigation or melting snow makes its way to the nearest stream, river, lake or estuary, it picks up pollutants. For the most part, these pollutants consist of sediments and nutrients, but the runoff can also carry pesticides, bacteria and viruses, salts, oil, grease, toxic chemicals and heavy metals. How we use the land determines what runs into the water. Sources of nonpoint pollution include car and truck exhaust, coal-fired power plants, roads and highways, timber harvests, abandoned mines and — the number-one source of water pollution — crops and livestock. According to EPA, agriculture is responsible for degrading 60 percent of the country's impaired river miles and half of the impaired lake acreage. Nonpoint source pollution closes beaches, contaminates and kills fish, destroys wildlife habitat and pollutes drinking water. Yet there are limited federal controls. It may not be easy, but we must get to the nonpoint.
These sources aren't going anywhere, but there are basic on-the-ground measures that can stem the flow of pollution. A wide range of “best management practices” (BMPs) offers landowners ample opportunity to protect water quality. For instance, “buffer strips” of vegetation along waterways capture nutrients and sediments, and wetlands slow runoff, control flooding, provide habitat and capture some toxic pollutants. These and many other BMPs are encouraged and funded with state and federal dollars. But with little accountability built into the process, there's not much assurance that taxpayers' money is buying actual water quality improvement.
CLEAN WATER EQUITY,
CLEAN WATER PRIORITIES
Getting to the nonpoint becomes all the more critical as local governments
continue to lay out huge amounts of cash to meet tough Clean Water Act
requirements. The Act requires cities, towns and counties to reduce wet
weather flows and to bring impaired waters into compliance with state and federal water quality standards. But many communities across
the country have no response when their citizens ask, “Why spend all this
money when the bulk of the problem lies elsewhere?”
Put in perspective, urban flows are a small part of the country's overall water quality problems. And although local governments will spend billions of dollars to meet the Act's requirements, they are powerless to address the most pervasive problem in most watersheds: nonpoint sources that seriously pollute waters. With gaps in the law, gaps in our economic and scientific data, lack of funding and no consistent, comprehensive mechanisms for monitoring and regulating those responsible for nonpoint source pollution, many communities may be held hostage by someone else's pollution.
When it comes to the nation's water quality, it boils down to two basic issues: equity and priorities. Where equity is concerned, Americans strongly feel that whoever makes a mess should clean it up. And, as for priorities, most would agree that to complete the job the Clean Water Act started, we should target the biggest remaining problem — nonpoint source pollution — with a combination of better scientific data, new laws, tougher regulations and increased funding. The reason is simple. Fair, priority-driven, holistic approaches to control nonpoint source pollution will markedly improve water quality nationwide.
Stronger laws and regulations, increased funding and further research aimed toward controlling nonpoint source pollution are essential. Without a comprehensive national plan that incorporates all of these, further water quality gains will be impossible. High quality water is important to everyone for different reasons. Unchecked, nonpoint source pollution threatens to degrade drinking water sources, fisheries and recreational waters — the chief uses of our waters.
IF THIS COUNTRY VALUES CLEAN WATER, THEN IT'S TIME TO GET TO THE NONPOINT.
TOP 10 NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION SOLUTIONS — WHAT IT WILL TAKE
- Water Quality Progress — The nation's water quality goals can only be achieved by addressing nonpoint source pollution.
- Stronger Laws — Federal requirements are inadequate in controlling nonpoint source pollution — the leading cause of water pollution in the U.S.
- Enhanced Regulation — The most common form of water pollution is the least regulated — nonpoint.
- Increased Funding — Stronger laws and regulations must be accompanied with adequate federal funding to support water quality progress.
- Water Quality Research — Although we know that BMPs work, research and data collection is needed to better quantify and predict pollution reductions from BMPs.
- Further Economic Study — We need firm estimates of what it will cost to control nonpoint source pollution nationwide.
- Watershed-Based Water Quality Initiatives — Flexible, watershed-based, priority-driven approaches will be the most effective and equitable in reducing nonpoint source pollution.
- Education — Americans need to better understand that actions and practices by nonpoint sources are the leading cause of water pollution.
- People Power — More state and federal staff must be devoted to nonpoint source pollution control.
- Political Will — Overnight water quality improvements cannot be realistically expected from stepped-up nonpoint source controls, but over time, with perseverance, the country will experience the same dramatic improvement realized during the first 30 years of the Clean Water Act.
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