Chapter 14

Defining Water Quality: The U.S. Clean Water Act

2004 Thomson Learning/South-Western

Understanding Water Resources for Policy Development

Identifying Water Resources and Their Interdependence
Surface water bodies of water open to the earths atmosphere as well as springs, wells, or other collectors directly influenced by surface water Ground water fresh water beneath the earths surface, generally in aquifers Hydrologic cycle the natural movement of water from the atmosphere to the surface, beneath the ground and back into the atmosphere

Understanding Water Resources for Policy Development

Targeting Water Quality Policy
Point Source any single identifiable source of pollution from which pollutants are released, such as a factory smokestack, a pipe, or a ship Nonpoint Source a source of pollution that cannot be identified accurately and degrades the environment in a diffuse, indirect way over a relatively broad area

Understanding Water Resources for Policy Development

Setting the Policy Agenda
Water quality is important not only to protect human health but also to protect the ecology and to ensure that all uses of water are maintained

Water Quality Legislation in the United States: Overview

Early U.S. Water Quality Laws
Rivers and Harbor Act of 1899 Water Pollution Control Act of 1948

Water Quality Legislation in the United States: Overview

Evolving Toward Todays Policy Position
Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA) Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA) Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1977 Water Quality Act of 1987

Policy Objectives Under the Clean Water Act (CWA)

Zero Discharge Goal a U.S. objective calling for the elimination of all polluting effluents into navigable waters Fishable-Swimmable Goal an interim U.S. objective requiring that surface waters be capable of supporting recreational activities and the propagation of fish and wildlife No Toxics in Toxic Amounts a U.S. goal prohibiting the release of toxic substances in toxic amounts into all water resources
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Policy Objectives Under the Clean Water Act (CWA)

Identifying Pollutants Under the Clean Water Act
Toxic pollutant a contaminant which upon exposure, will cause death, disease abnormalities, or physiological malfunctions Conventional pollutant an identified pollutant that is well understood by scientists Nonconventional pollutant a default category for pollutants not identified as toxic or conventional

Defining Water Quality: Standard-Setting Under the Clean Water Act

Receiving water quality standards state-established standards defined by use designation and water quality criteria Use Designation - a component of receiving water quality standards that identifies the intended purposes of a water body

Defining Water Quality: Standard-Setting Under the Clean Water Act

Use-Support Status a classification of a water body based on a states assessment of its present condition relative to what is needed to maintain its designated uses Water Quality Criteria a component of receiving water quality standards that gives the biological and chemical attributes necessary to sustain or achieve designated uses
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Analysis of Receiving Water Quality Standards

Absence of Benefit-Cost Analysis in Setting the Standards
Even in states reports to the EPA on use-support status, benefit-cost assessment is not being done, even though the law calls for such an analysis

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Analysis of Receiving Water Quality Standards

Lack of Consistency with the TechnologyBased Effluent Limitations
The link between the water quality standards and the effluent limitations is blurred because each is motivated differently Standards are motivated by water usage The effluent limits are motivated by technology

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Benefit-Cost Analysis of U.S. Water Quality Control Policy

Benefit-Cost Analysis of the FWPCA of 1972
Estimating the Benefits of the FWPCA of 1972 Estimating the Costs of the FWPCA of 1972 Benefit-Cost Comparison

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Benefit-Cost Analysis of U.S. Water Quality Control Policy

Figure 14.2(a) Benefit-Cost Analysis of the U.S. FWPCA of 1972, as of 1985

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Benefit-Cost Analysis of U.S. Water Quality Control Policy

Figure 14.2(b) Benefit-Cost Analysis of the U.S. FWPCA of 1972, as of 1985

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Benefit-Cost Analysis of U.S. Water Quality Control Policy

Advances in Benefit-Cost Analysis of U.S. Water Quality Policy
Updated Benefit Estimate of U.S. Water Quality Controls Contingent valuation method (CVM) can capture existence value as well as user value of environmental resources Comparable Costs of U.S. Water Quality Controls Updated Benefit-Cost Comparison for U.S. Water Control Policies

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Benefit-Cost Analysis of U.S. Water Quality Control Policy

Figure 14.3 Benefit-Cost Analysis of U.S. Post-1972 Water Quality Policy: Total Social Benefits and Total Social Costs

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Benefit-Cost Analysis of U.S. Water Quality Control Policy

Figure 14.4 Benefit-Cost Analysis of U.S. Water Control Policy for 1985-1990: Marginal Social Cost and Marginal Social Benefit

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