Conference: Monitoring - Key to Understanding Our Waters

The National Water Quality Monitoring Council (NWQMC) presents:
Monitoring: Key to Understanding Our Waters Conference
May 18 - 22, 2008 Exhibition: May 19 - 21, 2008

Registration is now open. Register by April 3rd and save!

Selected Session Topics Include:
• Adding to our Water Quality & Watershed Monitoring Toolkits
• Analysis and Interpretation of Water Quality Data
• Beach Monitoring
• Data Analysis for Climate Change Effects
• Data Management and Exchange
• Development and Evaluation of Bio Assessment Tools
• Effectively Communicating Results
• Emerging Environmental Protection Issues and Modeling Challenges
• Groundwater Sustainability
• Innovative Approaches to Clean Water Act Assessments
• Integrated Monitoring Approaches to Assess Watershed Interactions
• Large Scale Coastal Monitoring Programs
• Measuring the Effects of Urbanization
• Microbial Source Tracking
• Monitoring and Assessment of Lakes to Address Management Needs
• Monitoring for Emerging Contaminants
• Monitoring Strategies to Support Federal & State Objectives
• QA/QC Considerations
• Sensor and Sampler Technology
• State Monitoring Strategies

Convention Center and Hotel Information:
The 2008 National Monitoring Conference will be held at the Atlantic City Convention Center. The conference hotel is the Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Center hotel, a non-gaming facility off of the boardwalk within walking distance of many attractions and restaurants.

A block of sleeping rooms has been reserved at the rate of $114/night plus tax for single or double occupancy. To book your hotel room, please utilize Sheraton's online booking tool or call their reservations department directly. When making your reservation, reference the WEF Monitoring Conference housing block. The cut off date for reserving your room is April 26, 2008. Remember to book early to ensure your place in the hotel.

If you have questions about the conference or would like to be placed on a mailing list, contact the 2008 National Monitoring Conference Manager at Monitoring2008@wef.org
For more information on the NWQMC and previous conferences,
visit: http://acwi.gov/monitoring/.

Water Environment Federation
601 Wythe Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-1994 USA
www.wef.org

Thanks to Anne Weinberg, US EPA

EPA Helps Communities Increase Water System Sustainability

EPA is providing tools and timely information to help communities improve sustainability of their water systems. Two new documents that describe how EPA is carrying out efforts to help are the "National Capacity Development Strategic Plan" and "Analysis on the Use of Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Set-Asides: Promoting Capacity Development." EPA works with a number of partners, including organizations that provide technical assistance to small public water systems, to improve technical, managerial, and financial capacity of systems.

"Our strategic plan and SRF report will help communities increase capacity for maintaining and sustaining their drinking water assets," said Assistant Administrator for Water Benjamin H. Grumbles.

The "National Capacity Development Strategic Plan" describes how EPA, state drinking water programs, drinking water system owners and operators, and technical assistance providers will work together to achieve the objectives and anticipated outcomes of the national capacity development program. The strategy outlines how EPA and its partners will promote proactive communication and outreach to help ensure that water systems have the capacity to demonstrate long-term sustainability. Funding made available through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program can be critical in advancing capacity development programs at the state level.

EPA's report titled "Analysis on the Use of Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Set-Asides: Promoting Capacity Development" provides information on how states have used their funds and will help state drinking water personnel, drinking water system owners and operators, and technical assistance providers to better understand how the DWSRF can support supporting capacity development programs and EPA's sustainable infrastructure initiative. For information about capacity development: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/smallsys/ssinfo.htm

Source: EPA Water Headlines

TMDL Knowledgebase Clearinghouse

Virginia Tech's Center for Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) and Watershed Studies has developed an on-line database to house selected TMDL-related information and documents in one central location. The searchable clearinghouse contains three types of resources: TMDL guidance documents, reviews and summaries of TMDL-related technical and trade literature, and state-by-state summaries of TMDL programs across the nation. State summaries are updated regularly for all 50 states and include the approach and methodology used to develop TMDLs in that state. In total, about 500 documents are available within this database, which was funded, in part, by an EPA grant. The TMDL Knowledgebase Clearinghouse can be accessed via the Center's Web site at: http://www.tmdl.bse.vt.edu/site/knowledgebase/

Source: EPA Water Headlines

EPA Seeks Public Comment on Possible Drinking Water

EPA is asking for public comment on a list of 104 possible drinking water contaminants that may need to be regulated in the future to ensure the continued protection of drinking water. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, EPA includes on the draft Contaminant Candidate List (CCL) currently unregulated contaminants that are known or anticipated to occur in public water systems and which may require regulation. This draft CCL, which is the third such listing, lists 93 chemical contaminants or groups and 11 microbes, and describes the process and basis for selecting these contaminants.

"EPA is casting a broader scientific net for potential regulation of chemicals and microbes in drinking water," said Assistant Administrator for Water Benjamin H. Grumbles. "EPA's proposed list of priority contaminants will advance sound science and public health by targeting research on certain chemicals and microbes and informing regulators on how best to reduce risk."

The CCL process was established by the 1996 Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act as a mechanism to determine if new regulations are needed to protect drinking water. Under this process EPA conducts extensive research into the occurrence and health effects of the listed contaminants before issuing new regulations or standards. In developing the draft CCL 3, the agency implemented a new approach for selecting contaminants which builds upon evaluations used for previous lists and is based on substantial expert input early in the process and recommendations from a larger number of different groups including stakeholders, the National Research Council and the National Drinking Water Advisory Council.

The draft list includes chemicals used in commerce, pesticides, biological toxins, disinfection byproducts, and waterborne pathogens. The agency evaluated approximately 7,500 chemicals and microbes and selected 104 candidates for the final draft list based on their potential to pose health risks through drinking water exposure. The comment period is open for 90 days beginning the day of publication in the Federal Register. Information on the CCL 3: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/ccl/ccl3.html

Source: EPA Water Headlines

National Invasive Weed Awareness Week

It's National Invasive Weed Awareness Week (NIWAW)! NIWAW is celebrated each year during the last week in February, and its purpose is to focus national attention on the severe problems created by invasive plants. Groups from across the country are gathered in Washington D.C. to inform the Federal government and representatives about the threats of invasive plants and the need for action. Find out more information online at http://www.nawma.org/ .

Thanks to Hilary Oles of the Adirondack Park Invasive Plants Program.

Urban BMP Performance Tool

EPA has created a new web-based tool to provide stormwater professionals with easy access to approximately 220 studies which assess the performance of over 275 stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs). The tool provides access to studies covering a variety of traditional and low impact BMP types, including retention and detention ponds, biofilters, grassed filter strips, porous pavement, wetlands, and others. Users will also find a series of essays aimed at improving understanding of BMP performance and the importance of volume reduction/infiltration in these assessments. EPA plans to add more studies over the coming year, focusing on expanding the collection of studies of low impact development or green infrastructure BMPs.
The Urban BMP Performance Tool can be accessed at http://www.epa.gov/npdes/urbanbmptool

Rapid Watershed Assessment Workshop

Rapid Watershed Assessments: What We Know, What We Don't Know, and Where We Want To Go

February 13, 2008
8:30 AM to 3:00 PM
US Fish and Wildlife - Northeast Regional Office
Multi-use Auditorium - Hadley, MA

See www.edc.uri.edu/rwa for more information

EPA Releases Draft Guidance for Drinking Water Regulations

EPA is releasing draft guidance to help public water systems and states understand and implement recent drinking water regulations. The 2006 Stage 2 Disinfection Byproducts (DBP) Rule will help to protect public health by reducing exposure to contaminants that can result from the disinfection process needed to inactivate microbial pathogens. The rule extends protection to consecutive water systems (those that receive water from another public water system) and, under certain conditions, requires public water systems to evaluate their source, treatment, and distribution system operations to understand potential causes of elevated DBP monitoring results. The Consecutive Systems Guidance Manual and Operational Evaluation Guidance Manuals are intended to assist public water systems to comply with these provisions of the regulation.

In 2006, EPA also released the Ground Water Rule (GWR), which extends protection from microbial pathogens to consumers served by systems using ground water as a source of drinking water. States are required to conduct sanitary surveys that look at the critical components of these public water systems to ensure that there are no deficiencies that could result in threats to public health, and take action when problems are identified. The GWR Sanitary Survey Guidance briefly reviews the sanitary survey regulatory provisions, describes the elements that should be evaluated during the course of a sanitary survey, and gives specific examples of what constitutes a significant deficiency.

The draft guidance documents are being made available to allow for public comment before they are finalized. The documents supporting the Stage 2 DBP Rule are available at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/disinfection/stage2/compliance.html and the GWR guidance is available at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/disinfection/gwr/compliancehelp.html.

Source: EPA's Water Headlines

Municipal Wastewater Technology Fact Sheets

EPA has developed four new fact sheets for innovative municipal wastewater technologies. These fact sheets are part of a continuing effort by the Office of Water to provide municipal utilities and state regulators with general technical and cost information on a variety of innovative or cost-effective technologies and best management practices. The new fact sheets are entitled: "Denitrifying Filters" (EPA 832-F-07-014), "Side Stream Nutrient Removal" (EPA 832-F-07-017), "In-Plant Wet Weather Peak Flow Management" (EPA 832-F-07016), and "Membrane Bioreactors" (EPA 832-F-07-015). These fact sheets, along with other previous municipal wastewater technology fact sheets on Combined Sewer Overflow Treatment, Biosolids Management, Wastewater Treatment, Storm Water Management, Decentralized Wastewater Systems, Collection Systems Rehabilitation and Replacement, and Energy Conservation and Green Power Generation can be viewed on the EPA web site at http://www.epa.gov/owm/mtb/mtbfact.htm

Click on Title link to view entire article. Source: EPA's Water Headlines

President's Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Request - EPA's National Water Program

The President's Fiscal Year 2009 budget request including for EPA's National Water Program was announced on February 4, 2008. EPA's request for water programs is over $ 2.5 billion or 35 percent of the agency's overall budget, and will allow EPA, along with our state, tribal and local partners, to make continued progress in ensuring America's waters are clean, safe and secure. This budget will help EPA to:

• restore and maintain waters across the country through state and tribal Clean Water Act programs,
• continue to improve the health of the country?s major coastal ecosystems, and achieve a net increase of wetlands
• increase the populations served by systems providing water that complies with drinking water standards, and
• implement a total of five water security infrastructure pilots.

Click on Title link for more information. Source: EPA's Water Headlines

Special DEC Unit to Tackle Dramatic Rise in Invasive Species - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation

With invasive species proliferating throughout New York's waterways, forests and farmlands, DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis announced recently the formation of a new office within DEC to focus on one of the state's fastest growing environmental threats. The new Office of Invasive Species will bring together biologists and foresters to develop ways to combat the problem and work with universities, other state agencies and non-profit organizations to support research and raise public awareness. From zebra mussels, to Eurasian water milfoil, to sirex wood wasps, hundreds of non-native plants and animals have invaded New York, posing threats to ecosystems. Experts think that the increasing rate of these invasions is linked to the rise in global shipping.

A Dedicated Office Brings New Focus

Commenting on the need for this office, Governor Spitzer said, 'Invasive species have a devastating impact, not only on the environment but also the economy. They have wiped out certain tree species, hurt recreational and commercial fishing, and tainted water supplies. This new office will bring a much needed focus to a problem we cannot ignore.' Commissioner Grannis remarked, 'Invasive species compete with, prey upon, and substantially"

Click on Title link to view entire article. Source: EnvironmentDEC newsletter

Conservation Officers, Rangers to Train with "Green Ammo" - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation

DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis announced recently a new initiative to switch to 'green ammo' from lead-based ammunition for departmental firearms training to reduce the impact of lead at firing ranges.

Leading by Example

Commissioner Grannis said, 'DEC is committed to leading the search for new ways, both large and small, to reduce the amount of contamination released into our environment. Our 464 environmental conservation officers and forest rangers are leading the state by implementing a common-sense change to use non-toxic ammunition in order to protect public health and the environment from the effects of lead.'

DLE recruits in firing practice

The ammunition DEC will be using is considered 'green' in comparison to standard ammunition because it is lead-free and includes non-toxic primers. This combination greatly reduces the impact of firearms training on the environment. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), lead from ammunition can be introduced into the environment in one or more of the following ways: lead oxidizes when exposed to air and dissolves when exposed to acidic water or soil; lead bullets, bullet particles, and dissolved lead can be moved from firing ranges by storm-water runoff; and dissolved lead can migrate through soils to groundwater.

Click on Title link to view entire article. Source: EnvironmentDEC newsletter

Multi-State Plan to Reduce Mercury Impacts in Fish wins EPA Approval - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation

DEC (New York Department of Environmental Conservation) recently announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved a multi-state plan to reduce mercury in the waters of New York and New England. The approval was a necessary step toward implementing a collaboration between New York, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont to reduce mercury pollution and make freshwater fish safer to eat.

Click on Title link to view entire article. Source: EnvironmentDEC newsletter

Tough alien mussels threaten Bay Area waters

The appearance in Northern California of an alien mussel, which multiplies so fast it chokes out natives species, clogs pipes and causes havoc, prompted the East Bay Municipal Utility District Thursday to ban some recreational boating in its reservoirs.

The restrictions, which will begin in February, are the first in what is expected to be a widespread campaign to stop the tiny monster cousins known as the quagga and zebra mussels from ravaging Northern California reservoirs as they have the Great Lakes.

Native to Eastern Europe, the mussels are believed to have spread on the hulls of boats and ships and invaded the Great Lakes as well as Lake Mead on the Colorado River. The feverish mollusks were found recently in San Diego, Riverside and San Benito counties.

Bay Area water district managers got a jolt two weeks ago when zebra mussels were discovered in the San Justo Reservoir, a dam near Hollister that serves growers and residents in San Benito County.

Click on Title link to view entire article. Thanks to Jane Dauufenbach of Aquarius Systems for the submission.

CA Fish & Game Quagga Mussel Website

The California Department of Fish & Game has started a website about Quagga Mussels in California at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/invasives/quaggamussel/
Quagga Mussels are an invasive, non-native species recently discovered in some California waters. The website also lists the state information phone number.

Current Press Releases on the site:

• Zebra Mussels Found in California Reservoir (Jan. 16, 2008)
• Boaters Asked to Help Stop Spread of Quagga Mussel
• Boating recreation is at risk (Aug. 31, 2007)
• Public Asked to Help Halt Spread of Quagga Mussel
• DFG Opens Toll-Free Information Line (866) 440-9530 (Feb. 1, 2007)Invasive Quagga Mussels Identified In California (Jan. 19, 2007)
  

Click on Title link to view entire article. Thanks to Jane Dauffenbach of Aquarius Systems for the submission.