Water – Our Most Precious Resource
Water is our most precious resource. It is vitally important that everyone work together to conserve our water supply. And, of course, saving water saves you money. Homeowners can significantly decrease the amount of water used each day by following just a few simple “tips” for water conservation. Follow these tips for conserving water inside:
[Video] BCWSA Sanitary Treatment Process
[Video] BCWSA 100% Recycled
Free WaterWiser Drip Calculator
Measure and Estimate Water Wasted Due to Leaks Drip Calculator
What clean water infrastructure needs has the EPA reported?
EPA’s 1996 Needs Survey reported $139.5 billion in wastewater infrastructure needs based on eligible costs under the CWA. On March 18, 1999, however, EPA released preliminary, revised estimates that indicate $199.6 billion in wastewater needs over 20 years. This revision substituted $81.9 billion in SSOs reported by the EPA Sewer System Overflow Study for $10.3 billion in previously reported sewer infiltration and inflow correction estimated needs. The Agency currently reports on the following needs: $44.0 billion for remaining secondary treatment and advanced sewers; $44.7 billion for CSOs; and 7.4 billion for stormwater. Reproduced courtesy from the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies (AMSA) – www.amsa-cleanwater.org. The Cost of Clean is also available on AMSA’s web site or by contacting AMSA’s National Office at (202) 833-AMSA.
How have federal clean water requirements for local governments changed?
Initially, EPA required local governments with POTWs to construct and implement “secondary treatment,” which is defined as the best available control technology. This step was costly, but with significant levels of federal grant funding, it resulted in a major nationwide improvement in wastewater treatment and water quality. Over the past decade, regulatory requirements expanded from secondary sewage treatment, to compliance with water quality based treatment requirements at sewage treatment plants; control of CSOs and then SSOs; implementation of BMPs and other controls for stormwater systems to comply with NPDES permits established for stormwater facilities under the 1987 CWA amendments. Reproduced courtesy from the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies (AMSA) –www.amsa-cleanwater.org. The Cost of Clean is also available on AMSA’s web site or by contacting AMSA’s National Office at (202) 833-AMSA.
Is clean water infrastructure a good investment?
Clean water infrastructure is a necessary public health and environmental investment, and a sound economic investment. Construction of wastewater facilities is among the highest generators of jobs for all infrastructure categories. Each $1 billion in sewer improvements generates over 57,000 direct and indirect jobs. By comparison, total job creation by highway and road construction is estimated to be approximately 34,000, for each $1 billion. In addition to public health and environmental benefits, wastewater facilities provide major contributions to public and private productivity. Research indicates that public investments in these facilities improve: competitiveness for American industry; private profitability, and wages, which in turn yield higher tax revenues to governments. Reproduced courtesy from the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies (AMSA) –www.amsa-cleanwater.org. The Cost of Clean is also available on AMSA’s web site or by contacting AMSA’s National Office at (202) 833-AMSA.
What are wet weather sources?
Generally, wet weather sources such as CSOS, SSOS, stormwater systems and nonpoint sources are episodic, short-term discharges generated by rainstorm events. CSOS, SSOs and storrnwater can be controlled by transport or treatment facilities, best management practices (BWs) or a combination of both. Nonpoint sources in rural areas can be controlled by the implementation of BWs such as improved, “no-tillage” practices on agriculture land; buffer strips to prevent polluted runoff and erosion; or wetlands construction. Reproduced courtesy from the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies (AMSA) –www.amsa-cleanwater.org. The Cost of Clean is also available on AMSA’s web site or by contacting AMSA’s National Office at (202) 833-AMSA.
Does EPA regulate nonpoint sources?
The Clean Water Act does not authorize EPA to directly regulate nonpoint sources of pollution in rural or urban areas through the use of discharge permits. The regulation of nonpoint source pollution is left to state and local governments under state law. The primary federal approaches to nonpoint sources are cost sharing and technical assistance through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and through EPA-funded state nonpoint programs under section 319 of the CWA. The present Administration’s 1995 CWA reauthorization proposals sought legislation for EPA to have backup authority to regulate nonpoint sources where states fail to act. Reproduced courtesy from the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies (AMSA) –www.amsa-cleanwater.org. The Cost of Clean is also available on AMSA’s web site or by contacting AMSA’s National Office at (202) 833-AMSA.
What are nonpoint sources of water pollution?
Nonpoint sources of water pollution, also called polluted runoff, result from rainfall that runs off the land and into waterbodies. This runoff can carry with it sediments, nutrients, bacteria, chemicals or metals. Nonpoint sources are not conveyed by a pipe and, therefore, are not strictly regulated by CWA discharge permits. Rather, they are diffuse, difficult to control sources of water pollution that run off farmland, pastures, construction sites, parking lots or timberland. Nonpoint source pollution can be diminished by land management practices such as wetlands preservation and construction; careful application of fertilizer and manure to crops; street sweeping; and soil erosion controls. Reproduced courtesy from the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies (AMSA) –www.amsa-cleanwater.org. The Cost of Clean is also available on AMSA’s web site or by contacting AMSA’s National Office at (202) 833-AMSA.