KentuckyGrowth Readinessfor Water Quality
Does your water quality matter?
Acknowledgements
Tennessee Valley Authority
University of Kentucky Extension
Kentucky Environmental Education Council
Kentucky Association of Counties
Kentucky League of Cities
Kentucky Division of Water
University of Louisville
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Kentucky Transportation Center
Kentucky Waterways Alliance
KDOW and TVA adapted work by the Tennessee NEMO program, the University of Connecticut NEMO program and the Center for Watershed Protection.
This work was funded in part by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under §319(h) of the Clean Water Act through the Kentucky Division of Water to University of Louisville
(Grant # C9994861-02).
New water quality requirements and consequences
What are the impact of federal and state water quality regulations
on local communities?
The labyrinth of laws
• Clean Water Act– 305(b) – Stream
assessments– 303(d) – Impaired
streams needing TMDL
• KPDES Phase II
• Safe Drinking Water Act
• Groundwater• Floodplain regulations
Clean Water Act – KPDES Phase II
• We’re now covered
• MS4 requirements
• Permitting requirements
What is an MS4?
• Municipal separate storm sewer system
• Anything used to collect or convey storm water
Minimum MS4 permitting requirements
• Public education and outreach• Public involvement/participation• Illicit connection discharge detection and
elimination• Construction site erosion control• Storm water management in new developments• Pollution prevention/good housekeeping
Clean Water Act – 303(d)
States are required to:• Identify streams not in compliance with
standards – 303(d) list• Set total maximum daily load requirements• Limit development or activities that
contribute to load
What is the TMDL?
• Total Maximum Daily Load• Maximum amount of pollution that a waterbody can
receive and meet water quality standards• Maximum amount includes
– pollution from point and non-point sources– plus a margin of safety
• Considers seasonal variation in flows and loading• Limits new development that adds to load without
reduction from other sources
How long are restrictions in force?
• Survey every five years or less
• Permitting restrictions in place until next survey
• Burden is on community to show earlier compliance
Clean Water Act – 305(b)
• Report every two years
• National Water Quality Inventory report
• Snap shot of quality of nation’s waters
• Generally consistent with 303(d) list
Streams not in compliance
Stream Condition2003 305(b) Data
Prepared by Kentucky Division of Water, October 2003
Not Assessed
Threatened FairPoor
Good
Insert map of streams not in compliance for your county!
Safe Drinking Water Act
• Delineate areas providing water to public systems
• Identify contaminants • Inventory of potential
contaminant sources• Make results public
Groundwater regulations
• Septic fields• Underground storage tanks • Deep injection wells• Landfills• Above ground storage of petroleum products
and hazardous materials• Wellhead and Groundwater Protection Plans
National Flood Insurance Program floodplain regulations
• Community participation voluntary• Local regulations must meet minimum
federal standards• Federal flood insurance and disaster relief
not available in communities which do not participate
• Federal funds not available for floodplain projects
Land use and water quality: the choices are ours