Clean Water

EPA Grant Hydrologic Cycle Watershed Pollution Prevention Module Topics Our objective for this session is to review some of the terminology used throughout the training modules

Let’s start at the very beginning… and build a glossary!

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Grant # X

Best Management Practices Stormwater Pollution Prevention Contact with the Industries The purpose of the EPA grant is to work with small to medium-sized aggregate operations, and ready mixed operations in Maryland, using best management practices for ensuring that pollutants are not making their way into Maryland’s watersheds

Best Management Practices (BMPs) BMPs are standard operating procedures that can reduce the threats that activities at homes, businesses, agriculture, and industry can pose to water supplies BMPs can increase the aesthetic beauty and value of residential and commercial properties Some regulated entities may be required to implement BMPs

Hydrologic Cycle

Known as the water cycle 97.4% water is located in oceans 1.9% is located in glaciers 0.5% is located in ground water and in lakes 0.02% is located in rivers

Actions that Harm the Hydrologic System Withdrawing large amounts of water When constructing roads, homes, and industrial buildings Removal of trees and vegetation Filling in ponds Using water resources as a garbage disposal Not managing contaminated surface runoff such as sediment

Watershed

A watershed is an area of land that catches water from precipitation and snowmelt. The water then drains to a common waterway, such as, a stream, lake, aquifer, or wetland A bounded hydrologic system, within which all living things are inextricably linked by their common water course and where, as humans settled, simple logic demanded that they become part of a community John Wesley Powell, Scientist Geographer

Simply Stated…What is a Watershed? An area of land where all of the water that is under it or drains off of it goes into the same place Crosses county, state, and national boundaries In the continental US, there are 2,110 watersheds; including Hawaii Alaska, and Puerto Rico, there are 2,267 watersheds

Maryland’s Watersheds

Drinking water Recreation and respite Sustains life More than $450 billion in food and fiber, and manufactured goods Tourism depends on clean water and healthy watersheds What do Watersheds Provide?

WHY ARE WE HERE TODAY? CLEAN WATER!

From this……

American Fisheries Society Web Site To this….

How? ….through Pollution Prevention

Pollution Prevention Nonpoint Source Pollution Point Source Pollution Types of Pollutants

Water Trivia Quiz Right Click, Open Hyperlink…

What is Nonpoint Source Pollution? Nonpoint source pollution (NPS), unlike pollution from industrial and sewage treatment plants, comes from many diffuse sources This type of pollution is called nonpoint source pollution because it does not come from a single outlet, waste pipe, or "point" source NPS is caused when rainfall or snowmelt, moving over and through the ground, picks up and carries away natural and human-made pollutants, finally depositing them into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters, and even our underground sources of drinking water

What is Nonpoint Source Pollution? These pollutants potentially include: Fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides from agricultural lands and residential areas Oil, grease, and chemicals from urban runoff Sediment from construction sites, crop and forest lands, and eroding streambanks Acid drainage from abandoned mines Bacteria and nutrients from livestock, pet wastes, and septic systems Atmospheric deposition and hydromodification are also sources of nonpoint source pollution

What is Point Source Pollution? “any single identifiable source of pollution from which pollutants are discharged, such as a pipe, ditch, ship or factory smokestack” [ [ point source of industrial pollution along the Calumet River. (Source: EPA, Region V)

Point Source Pollution Active mining operations are considered point sources of pollution.point sources  But drainage or runoff from abandoned mining operations often adds to nonpoint source pollution Abandoned mining operations can leach iron and other chemicals such as copper, lead and mercury into nearby waterbodies. (Source: NOAA)

Point Source Pollution Concrete production plants use fresh or recycled water for a range of operations, including mix water for batching concrete loads, truck and equipment washing (including acid washing of trucks), boiler feed water, filling truck-mounted water tanks, and dust suppression. Discharged water resulting from these activities can contain or carry fine or coarse particles, and/or have elevated alkaline properties (i.e., a high pH) – and have the potential to be detrimental to the environment. Water management tools and practices include site drainage systems, washout pits, pH adjustment mechanisms and reclaim ponds.

POINT source  Discharge from a discrete point into waters of the U.S.  Travels through a conveyance system  Regulated under NPDES permit program  Can be…. Ready mixed concrete batch operations Above ground aggregate mines NONPOINT source  Runoff that is not a point source  Largely a voluntary program at the Federal level A “Point” of Confusion: Point Source vs. Nonpoint Source

Regulated Point Sources

Pollutants What is a “pollutant” ?

“Pollutant” - 40 CFR Dredged spoil Solid waste Incinerator residue Sewage Garbage Agricultural waste Industrial waste Municipal waste Heat Rock Sand Cellar dirt Munitions Sewage sludge Wrecked or discarded equipment

Questions?