The Healthy Waters Coalition unveiled policy recommendations for addressing agricultural nutrient run-off  and improving water quality at a NACWA-hosted press conference that brought together a diverse group of municipal water and wastewater utilities, the agricultural community, state regulators, and conservation.  At the March 6 press event, the Coalition, spearheaded by NACWA, announced several policy recommendations  that the 112th Congress should include as it reauthorizes the Farm Bill.  If included, the recommendations would significantly improve protection of the Nation’s drinking, recreational, and aquatic water supplies.

The event was attended by a Pennsylvania Farmer who is tackling this issue straight on:  “Our operations could add to the enormity of the challenge of managing the nutrient loadings in the Chesapeake Bay watershed,” Ron Kreider, CEO, Kreider Farms, Manheim, Pennsylvania. “And I feel strongly that I must do my part to preserve and protect the quality of the water that is so important to my community,”  Kreider is working with Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc. to process livestock manure on his farm and reduce his nutrient footprint within the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

“Our Nation cannot achieve its water quality goals unless our working lands also contribute to the solution,” said Ken Kirk, Executive Director, NACWA. “As a representative of municipal wastewater community, I know we must do our part; but so too must the agricultural community.”  Kevin Shafer, Executive Director of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District and a NACWA Board Member, as well as Steve Hershner, Utilities Environmental Manager, City of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, echoed this message from the perspective of the municipal ratepayer. Over a dozen groups provided brief presentations at the press event, including the Clean Water America Alliance, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, American Rivers, and the Water Environment Federation.

That same day, NACWA released a white paper report finding that opportunities in the agricultural sector offer affordable approaches to improve water quality and reduce excessive nutrient pollution. According to the report, Controlling Nutrient Loadings to U.S. Waterways: An Urban Perspective , which NACWA produced with financial support from the Water Environment Federation and the Turner Foundation, agricultural sources of nutrients have not been addressed sufficiently, especially compared to the Nation’s direct regulatory focus on reducing nutrients from municipal point sources.

NACWA’s report makes the case that it is far more economical to control agricultural runoff compared to additional reductions from urban point sources.  The cost to remove a pound of nitrogen or phosphorus from farm runoff and drainage is typically 4 to 5 – and sometimes up to 10 to 20 – times less than the cost to remove the same amount from municipal wastewater or stormwater.  More background about this event was discussed in last week’s Clean Water Current.

NACWA Urges EPA to Continue Work on Water/Pesticide Harmonization Effort

NACWA wrote a letter  to EPA’s pesticide and water offices this week urging the Agency to continue its effort to harmonize how the programs evaluate the aquatic impacts of pesticides.  The Association has followed the initiative for the past two years and previously provided comments  in support of EPA’s efforts.  EPA initiated the harmonization effort in recognition of the gap between the criteria values used by the water office to regulate dischargers and protect receiving waters – and the higher (less restrictive) numbers used by the pesticide office to regulate the use of pesticides.  The process is intended to evaluate a new, balanced approach that establishes an acceptable set of numbers that are protective of water quality, while ensuring that appropriate pesticide use remains feasible.

Toxicity testing requirements and water quality criteria have begun to affect utility compliance due to the presence of pesticides over which they have no control, and resulted in clean water community concerns.  EPA has published three recently reviewed white papers examining various facets of this topic.  The Agency will be evaluating its next steps over the coming months as it assesses the peer review panel’s report.  EPA has received pushback from the pesticide manufacturing community over its efforts, and NACWA’s letter underscored the importance of the issue to the clean water community.

Web Seminar Series Kicks Off with Clean Water Act Review

NACWA held the first installment of a two-part web seminar series on March 8 focused on the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the Clean Air Act (CAA), with over 60 sites and over 120 people participating.  This week’s seminar, Clean Water Act 101: It All Starts Here, provided an overview of the most important federal environmental statute impacting municipal clean water agencies.  It covered a variety of topics, including the regulatory structure of the CWA, how discharge permits are established, the respective roles of the federal and state governments in implementing the Act, and enforcement issues.  Highlighted throughout were specific issues and challenges the CWA presents to publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) and stormwater utilities.  The seminar wrapped up with a brief review of EPA’s recent integrated planning initiative and how it could benefit clean water agencies.

The second installment in this web seminar series, Clean Air Act 101: It All Starts Here, takes place next week on March 15 and will provide an overview of the CAA as it relates to POTWs.  The seminar will cover a variety of topics including new rules for sewage sludge incinerators (SSIs), the Greenhouse Gas Tailoring Rule, new Toxics Release Inventory reporting requirements for hydrogen sulfide, new rules on boilers and engines, and odor nuisance suits.  Singe seminar registration is still available – be sure not to miss this informative event!

See You in D.C. for NACWA’s 2012 National Environmental Policy Forum!

NACWA is gearing up for its 2012 National Environmental Policy Forum, April 22 – 25 at the Washington Marriot in Washington, D.C.  The Policy Forum will feature high level discussions and NACWA committee meetings on the country’s most urgent clean water issues, including integrated planning and affordability, controlling agricultural run-off, opening renewable energy markets, and innovative financing for clean water investments.

20/20 Vision for the Water Resources Utility of the Future Featured on Policy Forum Agenda
One highlight of this year’s Policy Forum includes a member-only strategic dialogue on the Association’s evolving 20/20 Vision for the Water Resources Utility of the Future, which looks at the transformational shift in how clean water agencies are managing their systems in light of their desires to address issues like population growth, climate change, and energy independence.  While this evolution is already helping communities meet long-term sustainability goals, the shift also demands a serious look at the Clean Water Act and whether the Act should be amended to address and embrace the transformational change taking place at these facilities.

Senator Cardin, Key Congressional Staff to Speak
We are also pleased to announce that Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Water & Wildlife, will be delivering a keynote address at the Policy Forum.  The Senator will discuss congressional efforts to advance the national dialogue on the need for smarter investments for water infrastructure, innovation, and technology under the Clean Water Act.  Other invited Congressional speakers include Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mi.), member of the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee and Congressmen Bob Gibbs (R-Ohio) and Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.), Chair and Ranking Member of the House Water Resources & Environment Subcommittee.  Additional information can be found on the Policy Forum agenda .

Make Plans Today to Visit Your Congressional Delegation
NACWA has set aside time in the agenda for Members to meet with their Congressional delegations to raise issues of significance to their utility – and NACWA members as a whole.  Policy Forum attendees are encouraged to make time for these critical meetings.  Additional information on schedul¬ing visits to Capitol Hill will be coming soon.  For any questions in the meantime, please contact Hannah Mellman at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Online registration, an agenda , and additional information are available on NACWA’s website.  Be sure to reserve a room at the Washington Marriott before April 2.