Clean Water ActClean Water Act

Mrs. PerrymanMrs. Perryman

Mrs. TrimbleMrs. Trimble

Clean Water ActClean Water Act

“Restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the Nation’s waters”

CWA ComponentsCWA Components

Water Quality Standards (WQS)Water Quality Standards (WQS) Designated Use- How will the water way be Designated Use- How will the water way be

usedused Antidegredation- Can not affect water quality Antidegredation- Can not affect water quality

in a way that impairs water quality or the in a way that impairs water quality or the designated usedesignated use

Water Quality Standard Water Quality Standard (WQS)(WQS)

Water Quality Standards (WQS)Water Quality Standards (WQS)

Must address all surface waters (lakes, rivers Must address all surface waters (lakes, rivers and creeks)and creeks)

Key Elements to WQSKey Elements to WQS Designated UseDesignated Use Water Quality CriteriaWater Quality Criteria Anti-degradationAnti-degradation

To find your States WQS:To find your States WQS:

www.epa.gov/ost/standardswww.epa.gov/ost/standards

Establishing Water Quality Establishing Water Quality StandardsStandards

Established by states and tribesEstablished by states and tribes EPA must review/approve prior to becoming EPA must review/approve prior to becoming

effectiveeffective

Triennial ReviewTriennial Review

Door for citizen action!

Last hearing September 2007

Designated UseDesignated Use

Designated usesDesignated uses Drinking Water (treated/ untreated)Drinking Water (treated/ untreated) Human Contact (Primary/Secondary contact recreation)Human Contact (Primary/Secondary contact recreation) Fishing/EatingFishing/Eating Aquatic life (warm water/cold water species habitat)Aquatic life (warm water/cold water species habitat) Ag Water SupplyAg Water Supply Industrial Water SupplyIndustrial Water Supply Public Water SupplyPublic Water Supply NavigationNavigation Ceremonial UsesCeremonial Uses (River and creek segments can be considered water bodies)(River and creek segments can be considered water bodies)

Designating Water bodiesDesignating Water bodies

Must designate all existing usesMust designate all existing uses Fishable/swimmable is required with rare exceptionsFishable/swimmable is required with rare exceptions Waste transport is not okayWaste transport is not okay Multiple uses are okay, most sensitive use reignsMultiple uses are okay, most sensitive use reigns Can include future usesCan include future uses

Illinois’s Designated uses:Aquatic life and WildlifeRecreation- partial body contact and full body contactNavigationIndustrialAgriculturalPublic Water Supply

You do not want drinkable as your only designated useExample: nitrates

AntidegradationAntidegradation

AntidegradationAntidegradation

Prevent the deterioration of existing levels of Prevent the deterioration of existing levels of good water qualitygood water quality

Antidegredation MeansAntidegredation Means

Cannot allow loss of any existing useCannot allow loss of any existing use Cannot allow water quality to drop below Cannot allow water quality to drop below

levels needed to maintain existing uselevels needed to maintain existing use Applies to all waters, regardless of designationApplies to all waters, regardless of designation Applies to impaired (303d)waters as wellApplies to impaired (303d)waters as well

Clean Water ActClean Water Act

Water Quality StandardsWater Quality Standards

Designated UseDesignated Use

AntidegradationAntidegradation

Citizen ActionsCitizen Actions

Monitoring and Reporting Water QualityMonitoring and Reporting Water Quality Crafting and Implementing Watershed PlansCrafting and Implementing Watershed Plans Work to reduce pollutants entering the surface Work to reduce pollutants entering the surface

waterwater Increase your learning curveIncrease your learning curve Get to know you local conservation Get to know you local conservation

professionalsprofessionals

Percent of Water bodies AssessedPercent of Water bodies Assessedsource Watershed Protection Institutesource Watershed Protection Institute

Waterbody Waterbody TypeType

Total SizeTotal Size Amount Amount AssessedAssessed

(% of total)(% of total)

PollutedPolluted

(% (% assessed)assessed)

River River

(miles)(miles)

3,692,8303,692,830 699,946699,946

(19%)(19%)

269,258269,258

(39%)(39%)

LakesLakes

(acres)(acres)

40,603,89340,603,893 17,339,08017,339,080

(43%)(43%)

7,702,3707,702,370

(45%)(45%)

EstuariesEstuaries

(sq. miles)(sq. miles)

87,36987,369 31,07231,072

(36%)(36%)

15,67615,676

(51%)(51%)

Causes of ImpairmentCauses of Impairmentsource Watershed Protection Institutesource Watershed Protection Institute

Cause of impairmentCause of impairment CountCount

SedimentSediment 6,1336,133

PathogensPathogens 5,2815,281

NutrientsNutrients 4,7734,773

MetalsMetals 3,9843,984

DissolvedDissolved

Oxygen Oxygen

3,7723,772

Other Habitat Other Habitat AlterationsAlterations

2,1122,112

TemperatureTemperature 1,8841,884

pHpH 1,7981,798

Impaired biological Impaired biological CommunityCommunity

1,4401,440

PesticidesPesticides 1,4321,432

Flow AlterationsFlow Alterations 1,0991,099

MercuryMercury 1,0881,088

OrganicsOrganics 1,0691,069

Noxious Aquatic Noxious Aquatic plantsplants

831831

AmmoniaAmmonia 752752

Water MonitoringWater Monitoring

ChemicalChemical Mostly numeric data (nitrates, phosphates, Mostly numeric data (nitrates, phosphates,

dissolved oxygen, etc)dissolved oxygen, etc) PhysicalPhysical

Numeric (flow regime, temperature, habitat Numeric (flow regime, temperature, habitat assessment and Narrative (observations)assessment and Narrative (observations)

BiologicalBiological Numeric data (Macro-invertebrate Biodiversity Numeric data (Macro-invertebrate Biodiversity

Index, fish studies)Index, fish studies)

Freedom of Information Act: FOIAFreedom of Information Act: FOIA

How to get the How to get the information you information you need!need!

What do I do if my What do I do if my request is declined?request is declined?

Silt FencesSilt Fences

When all else failsWhen all else fails

Silt fencesSilt fences

Conservation ProfessionalsConservation Professionals

County Soil and Water Conservation DistrictCounty Soil and Water Conservation District Army Corp of EngineersArmy Corp of Engineers Watershed GroupWatershed Group DEQDEQ Region 5 EPARegion 5 EPA US EPAUS EPA

Super TargetSuper Target

Proper Permits were not filedProper Permits were not filed

Army CorpArmy Corp Jurisdictional Jurisdictional

and Non-and Non-JurisdictionalJurisdictional

Delayed Delayed approval for approval for two weekstwo weeks

Contact DeveloperContact Developer

Contacted the Individual Contractors

Win-Win with DeveloperWin-Win with Developer

ConcessionsConcessions

Be a visionaryBe a visionary

Get on the books Get on the books nownow

Facility Planning Facility Planning AreaArea

It can consume your It can consume your life, but it consumes life, but it consumes developers lives as developers lives as wellwell