Water Quality Regulations

Potential impacts to water quality are primarily regulated under several federal statutes and the accompanying state programs. The primary federal statutes governing water quality issues related to shale gas development are the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), and the Oil Pollution Act. These statutes and their relationships to shale gas development are discussed below, but first we present a short history of clean water reform. 

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SI 1983/1182 Control of Pollution (Exemption of Certain Discharges from Control) Order SI 1984/864 The Control of Pollution (Consents for Discharges) (Notices) Regulations SI 1986/1623 Control of Pollution (Exemption of Certain Discharges from Control) (Vanations) Order SI 1987/1782 The Control of Pollution (Exemption of Certain Discharges from Control) (Variation) Order SI 1989/1147 Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations... 

Deposited by countless private citizens, moreover, lawn care toxins have also proven far more difficult to measure and far more resistant to traditional techniques of pollution control. The political momentum for water quality regulation lags far behind this changing land-use reality. The shift in the last few years to decentralized decision-making that allowed for the implementation of the Clean Water Act, for example, has not come to terms with this change. In this case, the Clean Water Act mandates the creation of total maximum daily load (TMDL) criteria, standards for cleaning up nonpoint sources such as farms, suburban developments, and other nonindustrial sites. These standards are drawn up by water quality management committees. 

Maddock, T. A. (2004). Fragmenting regimes how water quality regulation is changing political-economic landscapes. Geoforum 35(2) 217-230. 

TTie performance of each method has to be established so that the precision and hmits of detection can be derived. The Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations... 

Bioterrorism Act of 2003 While not directly related to water quality regulations, the security and vulnerability of community drinking water systems were addressed in the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (Bioterrorism Act). The vulnerability assessments were intended to examine a facility s ability to defend against adversarial actions that might substantially disrupt the ability of a water system to provide a safe and reliable supply of drinking water. 

Statutory Instmment 1147. The water supply (water quality) regulations 1989. London HMSO, 1989. 

The Water Quality Act of 1987 strengthened federal water quality regulations, regulated toxic discharges, expanded treatment to nonpoint sources, and established new stormwater restrictions. 

Prior to 1972, water quality regulations were limited to point sources. A point source is a single source, such as a commercial facility or municipal wastewater treatment, that discharges effluent directly into a waterway. With the CWA, water quality was expanded to encompass nonpoint sources. Nonpoint sources often associated with waste from runoff (agricultural, mine tailings, etc.) are those contaminant sources whose origin cannot be identified. 

Pilot studies of surface water treatment using membranes are reported very frequently in the literature. Many full scale applications also exist. With the increase in water quality regulations such installations are expected to become increasingly abundant (Jacangelo et al. (1997)). Levi et al (1997) described a satellite system, where water was treated locally using UF and NF. This avoided contamination by long distribution systems. 

Cynthia L. Morgan is in the Research and Program Support Division of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Morgan s current research and policy analysis interests are in water quality regulations and economic incentives for pollution control. She received her B.S. in Finance and her M.A. in Economics from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro and her Ph.D. in Applied Economics from the University of Minnesota. 

Incorrect model of state of compliance with water quality regulations and guidelines. 

Because of the tighter water quality regulations coupled with unsatisfactory results from conventional or pretreatment processes, the use of intensive treatment processes is necessary if brewery wastewater is to be reused. Therefore, after the brewery wastewater has been subjected to physical, chemical and biological treatments, the wastewater can then go through advanced treatment. This section will discuss some of the current and future advanced treatment processes needed to improve the overall water quality. 

State agencies are the principal organizations for enforcing water quality regulations. They have inspectors, usually located at regional offices throughout the state, who visit oil and gas well sites to ensure compliance with regulations. 

Downing, RB. (1984). Environmental Economics and Policy. Little, Brown, Boston. DRBC. (2010). Administrative Mantud—Part HI Water Quality Regulations 18 CFR Part 410. Delaware River Basin Commission, West Trenton, NJ. 

Pontius, E W. 1990. Complying with the New Drinking Water Quality Regulations, /o r [Pg.262]

Subhas K. Sikdar (water quality regulations clean and sustainable technologies environmental policy measurement of sustainability chemical engineering water-energy and related nexuses process development separation processes), Associate Director for... 

Alley, E. R. 2007. Water Quality Control Handbook, 2nd ed. New York McGraw-Hill. The second edition of this handbook includes expanded coverage of treatment systems for specific pollutants, the latest water quality regulations, and new content on wastewater treatment operations, membrane treatment processes, and cost-saving treatment design methods. 

The European Parliament and the Council have estabhshed a framework for Community action in the field of water policy, known as the Water Framework Directive. The Drinking Water Directive relates specifically to water intended for human consumption For example, in the United Kingdom the Water Quality Regulations prescribe maximum values for substances that affect wholesomeness and the Drinking Water Inspectorate polices the water companies. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets standards for lap and pubhc water systems under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). 

Matthew Bower, Operations Team, Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland (UK)... 

Drinking Water Inspectorate (2010). Guidance document. Guidance on the implementation of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2000 (as amended) in England. September 2010. 

Environmental Compliance Guidebook Beyond US Water Quality Regulations, by Christine Herndon and Shelly Hemming, provides handling and disposal guidelines, as well as regulatory information, for hazardous chemicals and waste. 

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