Clean Rivers, Clean Lake VI

Programs, Policies, and Updates

Tinka Hyde Director, Water Division U.S. EPA Region 5 August 31, 2009

Protecting Americas Waters

 Addressing

threats to the Great Lakes;  Addressing our neglected urban rivers;  Strengthening drinking-water safety drinkingprograms; and  Reducing pollution from point and nonnonpoint dischargers.

Overview of Topics
 

Milwaukee Area and Lake Michigan Stormwater



NRC report Flow/Hydrology Watershed-based approaches for permitting Effluent Guidelines for stormwater runoff from construction sites Effluent Guidelines for stormwater runoff from airports

 

Water Infrastructure & Climate Change Watershed Approach

Milwaukee Watersheds
 Restoring

and Protecting Water Quality in the Milwaukee Area is a high priority for U.S. EPA
  

Aquatic communities in the Rivers Recreation Lake Michigan

 High

quality water resources and a waterwaterrelated businesses and research activities can be tremendous assets for the local economy

Milwaukee Watersheds
Key stressors
 Stormwater  Sediments  CSOs  SSOs

Need I/I Control in separate sewer areas

National Research Council Report

Urban Stormwater Management in the United States

EPAs current approach to regulating stormwater is unlikely to produce an accurate or complete picture of the extent of the problem, nor is it likely to adequately control stormwaters contribution to water body impairment.

Recommendations
Flow and related parameters like impervious cover should be considered for use as proxies for stormwater pollutant loading. These analogs . . . have great potential . . . because they provide specific measurable targets, . . . [and] focus on water degradation resulting from increased volume as well as increased pollutant loadings in stormwater runoff.

Recommendations
Convert the current piecemeal system into a watershed-based permitting watershedsystem.


All entities in the watershed are designated for regulation Compliance based on achieving watershedwatershedspecific objectives related to attainment of beneficial uses

Focusing on Flow (stormwater volumes)

Flow and related parameters like impervious cover should be considered as proxies for stormwater pollutant loadings

Approaches for Addressing Stormwater Volumes/Hydrology in Stormwater Permits

Examples


WV: The first one inch of rainfall must be 100% managed with no discharge to surface waters. practices to control and treat the stormwater runoff from all built upon areas of the site from the first 1.5 inches of rain. NJ: stormwater management measures maintain 100 % of the average annual preconstruction groundwater recharge volume for the site

 NC: Install stormwater best management

Green Infrastructure
SCMs that harvest, infiltrate and evapotranspirate stormwater are critical to reducing the volume and pollutant loadings of small storms

Construction & Development Effluent Guidelines

 Technology-based standards for control of wastewater and stormwater discharges from various categories of dischargers  Can be numeric standards (i.e., discharge limitations) and/or Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Proposed Effluent Guidelines



Erosion Controls
 

Soil stabilization Restoring infiltrative capacity Discharge to buffers and vegetated areas Sediment basins w/ skimmers Trash/debris management Chemical and fuel management

Sediment Controls
 

Pollution Prevention Measures

 

Numeric Turbidity Standard

Where would the Turbidity Limit Apply?

Effluent Guidelines for Stormwater Discharges from Construction Sites

     

Proposed rule published in the Federal Register November 28, 2008 90 day public comment period ended February 26, 2009 Response to comments, re-analysis of options, reupdate cost and economic impacts: on-going onPublish final rule by December 1, 2009 Effective 90 days after publication in Federal Register EPA and States must incorporate requirements into permits within 5 years of effective date full implementation expected by early 2015

Effluent Guidelines for Airport DeDe-icing Operations

On August 17, 2009 EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson signed a proposed rule which addresses stormwater runoff associated with de-icing operations at airports  120 day public comment period open now  Airports that conduct aircraft deicing operations, have 1,000 or more annual jet departures, and 10,000 or more total annual departures, would be required to collect spent aircraft deicing fluid and treat the wastewater.  Either treat the wastewater on-site or send it to an offsite treatment contractor or publicly owned treatment works.  Some airports would be required to reduce the amount of ammonia discharged from urea-based airfield pavement deicers or use more environmentally friendly airfield deicers that do not contain urea


Climate Change
 More
 

dry/wet extremes

Some more intense storm events Uncertainty about how to size infrastructure

 Stresses
  

on water bodies

Hydrology Habitat Temperature

 Green

Infrastructure is a climate friendly approach

Sustainable Water Infrastructure

Water Infrastructure Needed to keep a society functioning. Pipes, pumps, valves, treatment units, etc. including buildings, staff and equipment to support the units.

Region 5 SWI Framework

Decrease costs for providing clean water and safe drinking water
EnergyEnergy-efficient operations Asset management Water efficiency Green infrastructure

Improve the balance between wastewater and water system revenue and cost
Develop and support full-cost pricing models fullTake full advantage of SRF-subsidized financing SRF-

Asset Management
Definition of asset management A continuous business process and decision making framework that guides the acquisition, use and disposal of infrastructure assets to optimize service delivery and minimize costs over the assets entire life.
Region 5 activities

Asset management training  Effective Utility Management OW publication  CUPSS training and assistance for small systems  Promote Environmental Management Systems


EnergyEnergy-Efficiency
Water and wastewater energy consumption
   

Energy ~ 25% to 30% of total plant O&M cost $4 billion spent annually for energy, nationally Opportunity to reduce GHG emissions Energy management guidebook (Jan 2008)

Region 5 activities
   

Two energy management workshops so far, reached ~150 operators/managers Energy roundtable in Kansas City, KS with Regions, HQ, operators Energy management pilot EPA Reg. 5 & IDEM Energy efficiency & nutrient control workshop planned for Dec. 2009

Green Infrastructure and Climate Change

Mitigation and Adaptation
 Reduces


Urban Heat Island Effects Water Use construction activities/

Reduces Energy Consumption Reduces Energy Consumption

 Reduces


 Reduces

materials  Carbon Sequestration

Green Infrastructure Opportunities

 Brownfields

redevelopment  New Development  Collaboration Opportunities

 

Park Districts Transportation/Street Departments

30th Street Industrial Corridor

 Street  Green

planters

infrastructure demonstration site  Community garden pilot project

Site of Future Urban Garden

US 41 Project

Partial reuse of former USX site Stormwater infiltration into the median and parkway; underdrain connects to sewers  In-line stormwater treatment devices to separate solids, oil, and grease
 

Saylor Grove, Philadelphia

156 acres drain to the 3 acre Fairmont Park for treatment in the 1 acre Saylor Grove wetland. The goal is to treat 7/10" of runoff from most storms

Chicagos Green Alley Program

Six pilot locations in 2006, and over 80 locations citywide as of 2008. Program includes use of permeable pavements, recycled materials, highalbedo pavements, and dark-sky lighting. Improves stormwater management and energy use through infrastructure improvements

Green Alley Program Permeable Asphalt

Green Alley Program Permeable Concrete

Green Alley Program Permeable Concrete Trench

Pulling It All Together

 Waterhed  TMDLs

Permitting

WatershedWatershed-Based Permitting
 NRC

recommended that EPA adopt a watershedwatershed-based permitting program which addresses cumulative effects of stormwater and other pollution sources


Base stormwater and other wastewater discharge permits on watershed boundaries instead of political boundaries Municipal lead permittee working in partnership with other municipalities in the watershed as co-permittees? co-

Benefits of Watershed Permitting

  

Efficiencies/economies of scale for permittees (e.g., monitoring, education and outreach) Tailor SWMPs and SWPPPs for the needs/ conditions of he watershed Foster implementation of watershed plans

NRC recommended the Agency conduct pilot projects as a stepping stone to gain experience in implementing a watershed permitting program

303(d) Lists and TMDLs

Milwaukee Watersheds
 TMDLs

will need to be developed for the identified impairments in the Rivers and at the mouth of the Milwaukee River  Typically WDNR develops TMDLs, with public participation  EPA is working closely with WDNR on Fox River and others  Opportunities for third party TMDLs  It makes sense to closely coordinate watershed planning work and TMDL work