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News Release

For Immediate Release:  April 24, 2012

Contact: Chris Hornback
Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs
202-833-9106
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NACWA Affirms Commitment to Water Quality Monitoring for Nutrients


Washington, D.C.—The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) supports the collection of robust water quality data for nutrients to ensure scientifically based decision-making. The Association’s Board adopted a resolution icon-pdf on April 22 that its public agency members will, as appropriate and feasible, support the collection of nutrient data.

The collection of biological, chemical, and physical nutrient data, including effluent concentrations and ambient conditions, is essential to providing a complete picture of how nutrients are affecting water quality.  NACWA understands that the states, which are tasked with collecting this information, continue to face resource challenges that can limit the scope of their monitoring efforts. The efforts of NACWA members to monitor nutrient data will help to ensure establishment of sound and appropriate water quality goals, a clear understanding of the sources and relative contributions of nutrients, and measure the effectiveness of nutrient management practices.

Ken Kirk, NACWA's Executive Director, stated,  "The clean water community’s members not only meet their requirements under the Clean Water Act, but they are demonstrating their leadership by going above and beyond these requirements by collecting information necessary to ensure that water quality objectives and requirements are based on sound scientific information.”

Nutrient pollution in U.S. surface and ground waters is becoming the Nation’s greatest water quality challenge.  According to state water quality reports, nutrient pollution is the sole cause of impairment in more than 50% of impaired lakes, rivers and streams. NACWA believes that a comprehensive watershed approach that includes water quality monitoring programs is the only viable way to address the growing issue of nutrient pollution in United States.

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NACWA represents the interests of more than 300 public agencies and organizations that have made the pursuit of scientifically based, technically sound and cost effective laws and regulations their objective. NACWA members serve the majority of the sewered population in the United States and collectively treat and reclaim more than 18 billion gallons of wastewater daily.