EPA wants well-managed waste, water and wetlands
As the population grows, the nation's clean water supply needs to be managed knowledgeably and carefully.
Withering wetlands, vital to replenishing drinking water, are under constant pressure to maintain not only our need for water but the environment's as well. Now, EPA wants the U.S. to better manage its chemicals, waste, water and wetlands. It's a two-pronged approach:
- keep toxic chemicals and mixtures out of watersheds and wetlands
- keep the supply of water itself at a sustainable level
And who's leading the charge for wetland innovation and invigoration? Believe it or not: Texas. One might think Texas and EPA would make estranged bedfellows; but when it comes to water and wetland conservation, they both want a refill.
Texas Goes Bigger: the East Fork Reuse Project
Environmental Leader, ever-deserving of kudos for its excellent product-stewardship-oriented web site for Green, has an entire section on Water. The section covers the topic from a regulatory aspect to every other angle. Recently, Environmental Leader recently published an overview of U.S. Wetlands and Water Policy. In it, Chris Watts writes about an approach that works: "Another forward-looking initiative worth mentioning as a potential model for regions around the country is the East Fork Reuse Project in Texas," he writes.
"Forecasting an increase of 700,000 people in the North Texas Water District over the next decade," says Watts, "planners are constructing a 1,840-acre wetland that will be fed by the Trinity River, in order to remove the vast majority of sediments and nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) carried in the water. The purified water from the wetland would then be mixed with other raw water sources to provide the necessary supplemental water. While the project is estimated to cost $246 million, it will benefit wetland species, and provide far more water for the growing population than would water conservation measures alone."
The article contains other admirable-effort mentions.
Small Businesses Asked to Participate in Stormwater Rule
In related and interesting news, EPA announced it is seeking small business input on stormwater rulings. Specifically, EPA wants to hear what Small Business has to say about the proposed rule on the subject. EPA believes that small businesses are gravely affected by rules such as this, but SME's often do not have lobbyists. Small businesses and municipalities should nominate representatives to provide input on a proposed rule. Selected participants would provide input to a Small Business Advocacy Review panel. For more information about the rulemaking, go to: http://www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/rulemaking
The proposed stormwater rule would strengthen the national program under the Clean Water Act (CWA) and focus on stormwater discharges from developed sites, e.g., subdivisions, roadways, industrial facilities, and commercial buildings or shopping centers.
Resource: good web site for details on EPA's drinking water strategies: Protecting Drinking Water and Public Health
Cheers. Here at Actio we help companies keep nasty chemicals out of the watershed. And we'll drink to anyone who's interested in doing the same. (It's not just good business; it's only human.)
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