Article | November 1, 2011
Water Online's EPA Update: November 1, 2011
Welcome to Water Online's review of the latest U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations, resources, and activities related to the water, wastewater, and stormwater industries. EPA offices and programs covered in this installment are listed below. Click on an office or program name to go directly to that section of the article. Office of Water (OW) EPA Develops New Planning Approach To Improve Water Quality In U.S. Cities
New EPA Publication On Using Biological Assessment To Support Water Quality Management
Office Of Water's Acting Assistant Administrator Blogs On Clean Water Infrastructure Investment
EPA Announces Schedule To Develop Natural Gas Wastewater Standards
EPA Is Providing Training Webinars For The Water Sector On The Climate Resilience Evaluation And Awareness Tool
Visit EPA's Water Is Worth It Facebook Page And Follow Us On Twitter
WaterSense Partners Of The Year Recognized For Dedication To Water Efficiency
EPA announced a commitment to using an integrated planning process to help local governments dealing with difficult financial conditions identify opportunities to achieve clean water by controlling and managing releases of wastewater and stormwater runoff more efficiently and cost effectively. The integrated planning process, outlined in a guidance memo to EPA's regional offices from EPA's Office of Water and Office of Enforcement and Compliance, will help municipalities prioritize infrastructure investments to address the most serious water quality issues and provide flexibility to use innovative, cost-effective stormwater and wastewater management solutions.
EPA will work with local governments to review the Clean Water Act requirements that each municipality must comply with and look for opportunities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of solutions developed to meet those obligations. This integrated approach will identify efficiencies where more than one water quality issue can be addressed by the same solution and where competing requirements may exist, including how to best make capital investments and meet operation and maintenance requirements.
Integrated planning approaches can also have other benefits, like leading to the identification of innovative, sustainable solutions that improve water quality and enhance community vitality. Green infrastructure, such as green roofs, rain gardens, planter boxes, and permeable pavement, is an example of an integrated solution that can reduce, capture, and treat stormwater runoff at its source before it can reach the sewer system. Green infrastructure provides a cost effective way to reduce overflows and add green space in communities.
Read the EPA memorandum: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/integratedplans.cfm
For more information on green infrastructure: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=298
EPA has published A Primer on Using Biological Assessment to Support Water Quality Management. This technical document serves as a primer on the role of biological assessments in a variety of water quality management program applications including reporting on the condition of aquatic biota, developing biological criteria, and assessing environmental results of management actions. The primer provides information on new technical tools and approaches for developing strong biological assessment programs and examples of application of biological assessment information by states and tribes.
For more information: http://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/standards/criteria/aqlife/biocriteria/index.cfm
Acting Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Water, Nancy Stoner, recently posted a blog on her trip to an upgraded Minneapolis, Minn. drinking water treatment plant funded through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. In the blog, Acting Assistant Administrator Stoner shares her experience visiting the plant and discusses the potential for benefits in cost and energy savings, as well as job growth. To read the blog, visit:
http://blog.epa.gov/blog/2011/10/27/investing-in-clean-water-pays/
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a schedule to develop standards for wastewater discharges produced by natural gas extraction from underground coalbed and shale formations. No comprehensive set of national standards exists at this time for the disposal of wastewater discharged from natural gas extraction activities, and over the coming months, EPA will begin the process of developing a proposed standard with the input of stakeholders — including industry and public health groups. The announcement is in line with the priorities identified in the president's Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future, and is consistent with the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board recommendations on steps to support the safe development of natural gas resources.
For more information: http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/lawsguidance/cwa/304m/
The Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool (CREAT) supports water sector utilities in conducting climate related risk assessments, evaluating adaptation options, and understanding climate threats. EPA is currently delivering a nine-webinar series of training materials for CREAT that will continue through November 15 including: CREAT 101, an introduction to the tool; CREAT 201, an overview of setup steps and climate science information within the tool; and CREAT 202, an overview of the analysis and reporting functions within the tool. These training webinars provide water sector utilities with a detailed understanding of how climate change may impact utility facilities and operations, encouraging wider adoption of climate related risk assessments and adaptation plans.
To register for the webinars online, visit: https://www.thetestportal.com/CREAT. You can also download the tool on the Climate Ready Water Utilities (CRWU) web page at:
http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/watersecurity/climate/
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Water will be sharing news, events and information of interest through Facebook and Twitter. Find out what EPA and partners are doing to protect human health and the environment. Visit EPA's Water Is Worth It Facebook page,
http://www.facebook.com/EPAWaterIsWorthIt, and follow our tweets at
http://twitter.com/epaowow.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized five organizations and one individual as the 2011 WaterSense Partners of the Year. More than 2,200 partners make WaterSense labeled products and new homes more affordable and easy to find, including the six Partners of the Year who have shown outstanding contributions to water-efficiency. WaterSense partners nationwide are manufacturing and selling a range of products, supporting green jobs, and promoting the protection of water resources.
WaterSense recognized partners in each of the following sectors:
For more information on the Partners of the Year and Excellence Award winners, visit
http://www.epa.gov/watersense/partners/watersense_awards.html
For more information on EPA's WaterSense partnership program, visit http://www.epa.gov/watersense/
New EPA Summary Of Fish Advisories Across The U.S. In 2010
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published a fact sheet summarizing the National Listing of Fish Advisories for 2010. As in previous years, states continued to increase their monitoring and assessment activities related to contaminants in noncommercial fish. EPA believes the increase in
monitoring — rather than changes in contaminant levels — is the main reason for the continued upward trend in the amount of U.S. waters placed under advisory.
EPA also encourages states to issue safe eating guidelines when providing advice. Safe eating guidelines are in effect in 21 states and the total number has increased since 2008. The guidelines identify fish that are safe to consume, and promote enjoyment of recreational fishing.
The National Listing of Fish Advisories, which was initiated in 1993, is a compilation of fish advisory information provided to EPA by states, tribes, territories, and local governments. The data are voluntarily submitted to EPA in an effort to provide a central repository of fish consumption advisory information for the United States.
EPA formats the data and makes the information available at: http://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/fishshellfish/fishadvisories/advisories_index.cfm.
National Risk Management Research Laboratory (NRMRL)
Harnessing Water, Waste And Energy Systems For Sustainability
Drinking water, wastewater, and energy are three totally interrelated systems in municipal life. Based on this fact, an interdisciplinary research project, cooperatively sponsored by EPA, is evaluating the three systems and their potential links to sustainable technologies. A key goal of the project is to show how green water strategies of decentralization, recovery, and reuse can be matched with energy conservation strategies to create sustainable green buildings.
Background
Many communities are facing challenges of population growth and rising energy costs in the face of diminishing water resources and aging water delivery systems. Although environmental experts have long recognized that Americans must adopt new water and energy conservation methods to ensure a sustainable future, most communities still treat large volumes of water to the highest potable (drinking) water standards and then use much of that treated water for non-potable needs. These include fire fighting, landscape watering, toilet flushing, street cleaning and similar uses. In addition, the quantity and pressure requirements for fire-fighting typically dictate large pipe diameters and storage tanks, causing long standing times with favorable conditions for biological contamination. Finally, the large volumes of a municipal water supply generate large volumes of wastewater, which require energy-consuming treatment before disposal. These interrelated issues are evident at both the building and the community level.
Research Plan
EPA is evaluating a series of innovative green water/green building strategies that propose changes in the ways in which communities currently use water and energy resources. The project, supported in part by EPA, addresses three main
strategies — water and wastewater, energy, and green buildings — with corresponding tasks for each. The following is a brief sampling.
- Water and Wastewater Strategies — To develop alternatives to conventional water systems, researchers are evaluating a more sustainable approach based on dual water distribution and the recovery and reuse of wastewater. Some of the research tasks involved:
Investigate how dual water distribution systems can be designed, constructed and operated for optimum water quality, fire protection and economy at household and community levels.
Investigate separate wastewater collection and treatment systems. Evaluate collection of gray water (from showers, dishwashers, clothes washers) for use in heat pump systems for energy recovery and (after filtering) for non-potable uses such as irrigation and fire-fighting. Evaluate the collection and treatment of black water (from toilets and sinks) for reuse as support for heat pump systems. Analyze recycling of treated wastewater for fire-fighting, toilet flushing and outdoor irrigation to potentially reduce drinking water demand by 50% and relieve pressure on aging water distribution systems.
- Energy Strategies — Researchers are evaluating technologies to recover and reuse energy at the household level because home water-heating systems represent a large percentage of energy consumption. They are also evaluating technologies for central collection systems (at the community level) to process household wastewater and storm water to achieve economies of scale. Some other tasks:
Evaluate heat pump technologies as substitutes for conventional gas and electric water heating technologies that currently waste about 65% of performance capacity in heating household water. Water heating is also a significant contributor to greenhouse gases.
Investigate the configuration of photovoltaic (solar) systems to maximize their adaptability to different buildings to generate, store and use solar energy in the built environment.
Design real-time elastic power-response models and methods to optimize energy-demand through consumer sensor networks and intelligent algorithms.
- Green Building Strategies — Since U.S. buildings consume about 12% of all potable water, account for 39% of all CO2 gas emissions, and represent 70% of U.S. electricity consumption, a key phase of this study is integrating the water strategies described above into the design of sustainable buildings. Some tasks:
Construct and win a U.S. Green Buildings Council LEED certification for a test house to investigate green design and construction strategies as the basis for analyzing future residential and commercial performance, while minimizing increases in overall building costs. The test home will integrate energy innovations with on-site renewable power solutions to achieve a zero net energy home.
Develop virtual green building and virtual green community software that will enable home buyers, developers and the general public to evaluate new sustainable components such as dual water systems, separate drainage systems, heat pumps, storm water management, and other technologies for their life-cycle costs and benefits.
EPA's support of this green water/green buildings project is part of a collaborative effort among several agencies, including the National Association of Home Builders and the U.S. Green Building Council. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is directing the research activities. The research team comprises a dozen specialists from the academic and professional sectors with expertise in energy testing in architectural engineering, water and waste testing in civil engineering, and computerized construction management.
Current and future outputs of this research include reports, journal articles, designs and decision-support tools. These will be available as educational tools for home buyers, developers, students, and others to raise public the level of knowledge and acceptance of sustainable structures through understanding of their social and environmental effects.
Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Program
ETV Verified Technologies
The ETV Program has verified the performance of 460 innovative environmental
technologies that can be used to monitor, prevent, control, and clean up
pollution. For a full list of ETV verifications, visit
http://www.epa.gov/etv/verifiedtechnologies.html.
Vendor Solicitations
ETV centers issue periodic solicitations for vendors and collaborators
interested in verification. For a list of active ETV vendor solicitations,
please visit www.epa.gov/etv/vendorswanted.html,
or contact the appropriate ETV center (see www.epa.gov/etv/contacts.html).
Upcoming Conferences and Meetings
- November 8-12, 2011 – 2011 Congress of Cities and Exposition in Phoenix, AZ
- November 13-17, 2011 – 2011 Water Quality Technology Conference and Exposition (WQTC) in Phoenix, AZ
- November 29-December 1, 2011 – Partners in Environmental Technology Technical Symposium and Workshop in Washington, D.C.
For more information on the ETV, visit www.epa.gov/etv.
Other EPA News
EPA Releases Air Quality Model To Study Harmful Air Pollution
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a new version of its Community Multi-scale Air Quality model (CMAQ) that uses up-to-the minute meteorology and air chemistry data to determine how weather conditions affect pollution, and how pollution can affect and change weather. Version 5.0 of CMAQ allows scientists to analyze air quality at smaller, finer-resolution settings for individual towns and cities, and model air quality for the entire northern hemisphere. Currently, scientists use CMAQ to estimate air quality levels at the regional and national scales.
"The ability to apply the CMAQ model to larger scales will allow scientists to better understand the ways that air pollution moves around the globe, and provide much-needed information for decision makers in protecting public health," said Dr. Paul Anastas, Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Research and Development. "The model represents collaborative work among scientists in the fields of engineering, chemistry, mathematics, computer science, atmospheric science, and meteorology."
Air quality has a direct impact on people's health. EPA research has shown that air contaminated with common pollutants like ozone, acidic gases, and toxic components of particulate matter can aggravate asthma symptoms and put stress on cardiovascular systems. CMAQ 5.0 allows scientists to study air pollution at the local level and much larger scales. Version 5.0 has the capability to use data from other air quality models. This gives the system more flexibility to address new and increasingly complex air pollution issues, and incorporate input from a worldwide community of CMAQ users.
Earlier versions of CMAQ have been used for more than a decade by EPA and states for air quality management. CMAQ uses meteorology and emissions data to evaluate air pollution trends and distribution. The system models multiple air pollutants, which include ozone, particulate matter, and air toxics to help air quality regulators determine the best air quality management scenarios for their communities, regions, and states. Also, the National Weather Service uses CMAQ to produce daily U.S. forecasts for ozone air quality.
More information on CMAQ: http://www.epa.gov/AMD/CMAQ
EPA Awards $6.6 Million To Universities For Black Carbon Research
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded more than $6.6 million in grants to eight universities in support of black carbon research. Black carbon is the sooty black material emitted from diesel-powered engines and vehicles, industries like brick kilns and coke ovens, traditional cookstoves, and other sources that burn fossil fuels or biomass. Black carbon can affect the climate in the near term, and like other types of fine particles, can cause serious health effects such as cardiovascular and respiratory ailments. Unlike greenhouse gases, which remain in the atmosphere for decades or centuries, black carbon particles only stay in the atmosphere for days or weeks. Therefore, reducing black carbon emissions could have a positive effect on our climate quickly.
"This research on black carbon will provide valuable information about the impact of black carbon on climate change," says William Sanders, director of EPA's National Center for Environmental Research. "An increased understanding of the impact black carbon has on climate change will better protect people and the environment."
EPA's Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program awarded nine grants to support research to study the role and effects of black carbon. The research will analyze the impacts of black carbon on air and water quality, investigate the behavior of black carbon aerosols in the atmosphere, and develop innovative tools such as computer models to look at black carbon deposits on snow. Black carbon deposited on snow and ice hastens melting by directly absorbing sunlight and by darkening the surface, which reduces the amount of light reflected back to space. The research also examines the aging of black carbon in the atmosphere.
Award recipients include the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Carnegie Mellon University; University of California, Irvine; University of California, Riverside; University of Iowa; University of Washington; University of Wisconsin-Madison; and Rutgers University.
More information on the black carbon research projects: www.epa.gov/ncer/blackcarbon
EPA Marks 25th Anniversary Of EPCRA
This year marks 25 years since the passage of the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA). The act was passed in 1986 as a part of the reauthorization for Superfund. EPCRA has played a significant role in protecting people's health and the environment by providing communities and emergency planners with area-specific information on toxic chemical releases.
"This law is important to safeguarding our communities from chemical emergencies," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "Twenty-five years after EPCRA was made into law, EPA continues to improve and advance our community right-to-know programs, so that we can ensure the best possible chemical safety protection for every community across the country."
Public demand for information about chemical releases skyrocketed in the mid-1980s after a deadly cloud of highly toxic pesticide killed thousands of people in Bhopal, India. Shortly thereafter, a serious chemical release at a plant in West Virginia hospitalized 100 people. These events led to the implementation of EPCRA in 1986.
Under EPCRA, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) collects information on toxic releases through the Toxic Release Inventory program (TRI), a public database containing information regarding the industrial releases of over 600 toxic chemicals from more than 20,000 facilities throughout the nation. TRI was the first publicly available database in the world that contained information on pollutant releases. Many other countries have since followed EPA's lead, recognizing the value of making toxic chemical data readily available to the public. TRI information enables every American to make informed decisions on the consequences of toxic releases and empowers communities to take action.
EPCRA has made the lives of every American safer from toxic emergencies by establishing emergency planning groups at the state, tribal, and local levels. EPCRA brings together emergency responders from fire and police departments, medical personnel, emergency planners, elected officials, environmental group representatives and local citizens to develop plans to respond to chemical emergencies.
More information on EPCRA and the 25th anniversary: http://www.epa.gov/emergencies/content/epcra/epcra25.htm
My Right-to-Know mobile application for easily accessible TRI data: http://www.epa.gov/tri/myrtk/
WaterSense Partners Of The Year Recognized For Dedication To Water-Efficiency
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized five organizations and one individual as the 2011 WaterSense Partners of the Year. More than 2,200 partners make WaterSense labeled products and new homes more affordable and easy to find, including the six Partners of the Year who have shown outstanding contributions to water-efficiency. WaterSense partners nationwide are manufacturing and selling a range of products, supporting green jobs, and promoting the protection of water resources.
"WaterSense helps marshal the forces of the consumer marketplace and the innovative capacity of the private sector," said Nancy Stoner, EPA's Acting Assistant Administrator for Water. "Since 2006, WaterSense and our many partners have helped Americans save 125 billion gallons of water and more than $2 billion in water and energy bills."
While nearly 75 percent of the Earth's surface is covered with water, only 1 percent is available for human use. Additionally, the U.S. population has doubled over the past 50 years and withdrawals from public water supplies have tripled. WaterSense partners continue to work towards more efficient water use.
WaterSense recognized partners in each of the following sectors:
- Promotional Partner: Cobb County Water System — This two-time WaterSense Partner of the Year educates Georgia consumers on water-efficiency through events and presentations, leading to an 80 percent familiarity of WaterSense among area consumers.
- Manufacturer Partner: Delta Faucet Company — A significant portion of the company's product line has earned the WaterSense label. They have conducted widespread promotional activities and led a coalition of stakeholders in developing a performance test for showerheads.
- Retailer Partner: The Home Depot — The retail chain sells only WaterSense labeled lavatory faucets in its 2,000 locations across the country and calculates that customers saved roughly 27 billion gallons of water and $174 million on water utility bills in 2010.
- Builder Partner: KB Home — This national home-building company unveiled the first WaterSense labeled homes in November 2010 at its Springwood community in Roseville, Calif.
- Licensed Certification Provider for WaterSense Labeled New Homes: Energy Inspectors Corporation — Working closely with WaterSense partner KB Home, the corporation inspected and certified the first WaterSense labeled new homes and recruited additional builder partners.
- Irrigation Partner: Christopher Curry — The sole individual Partner of the Year practices water-efficient irrigation design and helps the San Diego Parks & Recreation Department save 3 million gallons of water per year.
These awards were presented at the WaterSmart Innovations Conference in Las Vegas, Nev., during the annual WaterSense Awards Banquet. In addition to the Partner of the Year awards, WaterSense also recognized Excellence Award winners, which honor additional partners whose WaterSense support stood out in one or more of the evaluation categories.
More information on EPA's WaterSense partnership program: http://www.epa.gov/watersense/
More information on Partners of the Year and Excellence Award winners: http://www.epa.gov/watersense/partners/watersense_awards.html
Homebuilder Ryland Group Inc., To Pay $625,000 Penalty And Implement Company-Wide Stormwater Controls
The Ryland Group Inc., one of the nation's largest homebuilders, will pay a civil penalty of $625,000 to resolve alleged Clean Water Act violations at its construction sites, including sites located in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, the Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced. Ryland will also invest in compliance programs to improve employee training and increase management oversight at all current and future construction sites. The company is required to inspect its current and future construction sites routinely to minimize stormwater runoff from sites.
"Protecting America's water resources, like the Chesapeake Bay, by keeping contaminated stormwater from flowing unchecked into our waterways is one of EPA's top priorities," said Cynthia Giles, Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance and Assurance. "Today's settlement will improve Ryland's oversight of stormwater runoff at its construction sites nationwide and protect our nation's water resources."
"This settlement will help protect communities in states across the nation from harmful pollutants in stormwater runoff," said Ignacia S. Moreno, Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the Department of Justice. "Polluted stormwater runoff can contaminate rivers, lakes and sources of drinking water, and it can be easily prevented with the system-wide management controls and training that this settlement now requires Ryland to implement."
EPA estimates the settlement will prevent millions of pounds of sediment from entering U.S. waterways every year, including sediment that would otherwise enter the Chesapeake Bay, North America's largest and most biologically diverse estuary. The bay and its tidal tributaries are threatened by pollution from a variety of sources and are overburdened with nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment that can be carried by stormwater.
The government complaint, filed simultaneously with the settlement agreement in the U.S. District Court in Charlotte, N.C., alleges a pattern of violations that was discovered through site inspections and by reviewing documentation submitted by Ryland. The alleged violations include failure to obtain permits until after construction began, failing to obtain permits at all, or failing to comply with permit requirements at sites where Ryland did obtain permits. Alleged permit violations include not developing complete stormwater pollution prevention plans, failure to conduct adequate inspections, and failure to install or implement adequate stormwater controls or practices.
The Clean Water Act requires permits for the discharge of stormwater runoff. In general, Ryland's permits require that construction sites have controls in place to prevent pollution from being discharged with stormwater into nearby waterways. These controls include common-sense safeguards such as silt fences, phased site grading and sediment basins to prevent common construction contaminants from entering the nation's waterways.
The settlement requires Ryland to obtain all required permits; develop site-specific pollution prevention plans for each construction site; conduct additional site inspections beyond those required by stormwater regulations; and document and promptly correct any problems detected. The company must properly train construction managers and contractors on stormwater requirements and designate trained staff for each site. Ryland must also submit national compliance summary reports to EPA based on its quarterly management oversight inspections and reviews.
This settlement is the latest in a series of enforcement actions to address stormwater violations from residential construction sites around the country. Keeping contaminated stormwater out of America's waters is one of EPA's national enforcement initiatives. Construction projects have a high potential for environmental harm because they disturb large areas of land and significantly increase the potential for erosion. Without onsite pollution controls, sediment-laden runoff from construction sites can flow directly to the nearest waterway and degrade water quality. In addition, stormwater can pick up other pollutants, including concrete washout, paint, used oil, solvents and trash. Polluted runoff can harm or kill fish and wildlife, degrade aquatic habitats and affect drinking water quality.
Seven states have joined the settlement. The states of Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Nevada and the commonwealth of Virginia will receive a portion of the $625,000 penalty. The settlement also includes sites in the states of California, Georgia, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas.
The consent decree, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and approval by the federal court.
More information on the settlement: www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/cases/civil/cwa/rylandgroup.html
More information on EPA stormwater enforcement: www.epa.gov/oecaerth/data/planning/priorities/cwastorm.html
SOURCE: EPA