UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH Institute of Politics issues Southwestern Pennsylvania’s Water Quality Problems and How to Address Them Regionally

by Conrad Daniel Volz December 2007 Conrad Daniel Volz, DrPH, MPH, has 30 years of experience in water, air, and soil environmental contaminant characterization, human and ecological exposure and risk assessment, fate and transport analysis, environmental remediation projects, and hazard communication. Volz has performed environmental consulting services for private industry, the federal government, foreign governments, and NATO in 24 different countries on five continents. Volz is on the faculty of the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public This text is not an exhaustive study of water Health (GSPH) in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health. He is the scientific director of the Center for Healthy Environments and Communities at GSPH; he is also codirector of the Division of Environmental Assessment, Monitoring, and Control at quality in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Instead, it the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute’s Center for Environmental Oncology. Volz’s research interests are primarily focused on how point- and nonpoint-source water is designed as an integrative reference guide for concerned toxins and carcinogens are taken up in fish and eaten by humans and what risk of disease this poses to the population. He is especially interested in how contaminants move through citizens, community leaders, and public officials to better the environment to surface water and groundwater and how to block this movement. Volz is the principal investigator for projects to measure the amount of heavy metals, including mercury, as well as estrogenicity in fish in the Three Rivers area. He was director understand how water quality directly and indirectly affects of the 2004 Amchitka Expedition in the far western Aleutian Island chain to determine radionuclide concentrations in marine plants and animals and the risk to commercial fish- the region’s health. ing operations from underground nuclear test shots fired on the island during the Cold War. At GSPH he is also a coinvestigator in the new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Environmental Public Health Tracking Academic Center of Excellence.

Acknowledgments The author wishes to express his thanks to Terry Miller, Ty Gourley, and Bruce Barron of The document is divided into eight chapters that discuss the University of Pittsburgh Institute of Politics for providing inspiration, clear direction, and patience throughout the publication process. Ben Schultz, an undergraduate at Southwestern Pennsylvania’s water problems and the West Virginia University, served as research assistant, transcribing interviews and amassing watershed information for the project. The following students and their departments of the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health provided research support: ensuing public health effects, culminating with a series of Charles Christen, Behavioral and Community Health Sciences; Monica Han, Epidemiology; and Yan Liu, Environmental and Occupational Health. The author’s water policy work recommendations to improve the region’s water quality and is also funded by The Heinz Endowments through the Center for Healthy Environments and Communities and by the DSF Charitable Trust through the Center for Environmental Oncology. Devra Davis, PhD, MPH, and Maryann Donovan, PhD, MPH, of the University planning. We hope that this brief will encourage informed of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute’s Center for Environmental Oncology provided kind support and the assistance of staff and graduate student interns for preparation of this manuscript. discussion and enhance the ongoing efforts to remedy our For information regarding reproduction in whole or in part of this publication, please call the Institute of Politics at 412-624-1837. region’s water problems.

The University of Pittsburgh is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution. Published in cooperation with the Department of University Marketing Communications. UMC6579-0108 Chapter 4. Category 2—Water Contamination Problems...... IOP issues page 26 December 2007 Pathogens Nitrates CONTENTS Heavy Metals Chapter 1. The Making of a Water Quality Devotee...... page 1 Arsenic Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Chapter 2. Overview of Water Quality in the Southwestern Contaminants Associated with Mine Drainage Pennsylvania Watershed...... page 2 Water Quality Improvements on the Three Rivers Pesticides and Herbicides Existing Regional Studies and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and Other Organohalogen Comprehensive Watershed References Substances (OHSs) A Lack of Data Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals Water Issues Are Integrated Radon

The Chain of Causation Chapter 5. Category 3—Loss of Ecosystem Services...... page 34

Chapter 3. Category 1—Primary Water-Related Problems...... page 10 Chapter 6. Category 4—Secondary Water Release of Municipal and Household Sanitary Wastes Management Outcomes...... page 36 Directly into Area Water Chapter 7. Category 5—Tertiary Water Abandoned and Active Mines Management Outcomes...... page 38 Issues Related to Nonsustainable Development Chapter 8. How to Break the Chain— Past and Ongoing Industrial Pollution Stakeholder Perspectives...... page 39 A Case Study: The Shenango and Mahoning Rivers Treat Water as a Regional Asset with a Regional Approach Superfund, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Holistic Watershed Social-Ecological-Economic Systems and Brownfield Sites Thinking: Protecting and Rehabilitating Ecosystem Resources Deposition of Contaminants from Power Plants and and Planning for Sustainable Development Other Industrial Sources Grow and Coordinate Our Social Capital— Nonpoint-Source Pollution Nongovernmental Organizations, Watershed Groups Past and Present Agricultural Chemical Use Integrated Water Planning Personal and Societal Attitudes toward Water Resources Educate Public Officials and Citizens on the Direct Relationship between Water Management and Fragmented Local, State, and Federal Regulatory Climate Public Health Issues Spills or Accidental Releases of Toxic and Hazardous Substances Use Local University and Professional Strengths Gravel and Sand Mining in Main Stem Rivers Encourage Stewardship of Both Public and Private Property Educational Programs Enlist Anglers and Other Recreational Groups

Conclusion: Let’s Not Drown Together...... page 52

References ...... page 53

Abbreviations...... page 58

The views expressed in Issues are those of the author and are not necessarily those of the University of Pittsburgh or the Institute of Politics. The Making of face to face with the impact of a Water Qua lit y abandoned mine drainage. My Devotee kayaker friends and I would stop near Cucumber Falls to drain our I grew up on a farm in Cranberry boats and stand under the falls— 1Township, Butler County. My first and notice that the water was an memories were walks with my unsightly copper color and tasted grandmother to a little northern foul besides. jungle of a watercourse, surrounded by deeply sloped hardwood forests After living for a time in water- and secret bird nests. There we starved California, I returned to would listen to the spring peepers, Pittsburgh with my own family look for frogs, make boats in the and we joined the Sylvan Canoe tall grass, cool off in high summer, Club in Verona. Though reluctantly and watch the leaves move toward at first, I began swimming in the the Beaver River in the fall. Allegheny River with my young daughter. We were thus acutely As I grew up my friends and I aware of the many days when enjoyed exploring Brush Creek, wet-weather advisories kept us finding the best swimming and from swimming or even canoeing fishing holes in summer and skating in the Allegheny for fear of for miles in winter. We were waterborne illness. We would constantly surrounded by muskrats, watch sewage overflows move mink, great blue heron, and the past us downriver, wondering what occasional beaver, in a setting they were leaving behind in river now transformed forever by rapid sediments and whose responsibility development. it was to fix the problem. High school came and I discovered Since then, as president of an additional watercourses, like environmental consulting firm, Connoquenessing Creek, where I have personally witnessed the we would meet sweethearts at success of major remediation riverside cottages. Not until later efforts in the United States and did I learn that the large-scale Europe. I have seen the integrated algae blooms that occurred in water planning of the Netherlands, the creek, especially at low flow whose rivers accommodate periods in the summers, were the barge traffic, drinking water, result of severe industrial pollution. and recreation simultaneously and During college my weekend smoothly. Now I have sold the firm recreational base changed from and returned to academia, where the Connoquenessing to the I have been doing research on such Youghiogheny River, where I came topics as how the heavy metals

1 IOP issues and chemicals in our rivers cause Ov erv i ew Fayette, and Washington Counties, Lawrence, Allegheny, and Beaver. male fish to display female of Wat er are often contaminated. Some Many communities obtain their characteristics. I have talked with Qua li t y i n t h e streams in both the Allegheny and drinking water from the Beaver hundreds of recreationists who, Sout h w e st er n Monongahela watersheds remain or its feeder waterways, such despite a dramatic improvement 2Pe n nsy lva n i a so severely compromised by aban- as the Neshannock, Shenango, in water quality during the last Wat er sh ed doned mine drainage (AMD) that Mahoning, Slippery Rock, and 25 years, still deal with problems they cannot support aquatic life. Connoquenessing watersheds. This A watershed is all the land area like those I observed in my younger Oil refineries in both Venango and water system was made infamous that drains into any particular days: raw sewage or surges of Butler Counties impact Allegheny by extreme pollutant levels placed stream, creek, river, or lake. gasoline and oil in the rivers, River water quality. in the Mahoning River by iron The geographical reach of the stream erosion, abandoned mine and steel mills in Youngstown watersheds that flow through The Youghiogheny River, a major drainage, and ongoing release and Warren, Ohio (Youngstown the Southwestern Pennsylvania tributary of the Monongahela, has of toxic chemicals and heavy State University Public Service region extends from south central improving water quality, mainly metals from contaminated sites Institute, 2007). The Mahoning West Virginia and northwestern due to improvements in controlling and sediments. is a low-flow river compared to Maryland to southwestern New AMD, and provides world-class the Monongahela. Toxic and Can these problems be fixed? Yes, York and from eastern Ohio to the white-water boating and other carcinogenic contaminants in the and they must be fixed if we are Appalachian ridges. Most of us, forms of recreation. The main stem Mahoning, combined with those to thrive as a region. But water especially those living in urban of the Monongahela River is from the Sharon/Farrell area problems know no jurisdictional and suburban areas, receive compromised by mine drainage in the Shenango River, have boundaries. We must come our drinking water from surface from tributaries in both West caused contamination of drinking together to solve them regionally, sources like rivers and creeks. Some Virginia and Pennsylvania water sources in downstream just as we build our highways communities and individuals get (Sams and Beer, 2000). As the communities such as Beaver Falls. regionally. If we do not, our natural their drinking water by pumping it Monongahela River flows north advantage as a region blessed from underground aquifers, also toward Pittsburgh, water quality Sections of the Mahoning’s with abundant water will go down called groundwater sources. is further degraded by industrial sediment and riverbank remain the drain. activities, especially those related so severely contaminated with The quality of water provided by to iron and steel production carcinogenic substances that the This Issues essay presents a these sources varies significantly. or their by-products. It is well Ohio Health Department has issued “chain of causation” designed Waters flowing from the Allegheny known that river sediments retain an order banning contact with river to show the relationships among Plateau and Appalachian ridge these pollutants for long periods sediment and all fish consumption. Southwestern Pennsylvania’s regions that are unaffected by (Hemond and Fechner-Levy, 2000). The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers water problems, their causes, and mine drainage or oil extraction The Monongahela River was listed is undertaking a cleanup of riv- their implications. The model will processes are generally of very in 1970 as one of the top 10 erbed sediment and of riverbank then be used to suggest what high quality and support a diversity polluted water bodies in the and floodplain contamination on a public policy interventions could of aquatic species (Anderson et United States (EPA, 1995). 30-mile stretch of the river in Ohio break the chain and improve the al., 2000). Groundwater in these just outside Lawrence County. region’s water management. This areas is also usually very good. The Beaver River, which drains Additionally, two Superfund toxic Issues essay supplements available On the other hand, groundwater into the Ohio, has less noticed waste sites on the Shenango River research with interviews and focus sources in former mining areas, but equally serious problems. in Sharon are undergoing active groups that highlight the deeply such as large portions of Greene, Pennsylvania counties in this assessment and cleanup. These personal impact of water problems. watershed include Mercer, Butler,

IOP issues 2 3 IOP issues efforts should produce significant quality is improving all the time,” the presentation of a unified of this work. Readers who want long-term improvement in water and older members said there has public health approach to water more detailed information are quality and recreational value for been an incredible change from the management. It is designed to referred to the National Research downstream communities. fish kills, soap suds, and industrial serve as a toolbox for policy Council Committee on Watershed releases they remembered seeing makers, regulators, authority Management’s New Strategies Water Quality Improvements in the rivers. Some anglers pointed members, watershed groups, and for America’s Watersheds (NRC, on the Three Rivers out that the area near where individual citizens alike. While this 1999) and Sources, Pathways and Both research data and anecdotal the Allegheny County Sanitary text can certainly be read in its Relative Risks of Contaminants in evidence suggest recent improve- Authority plant discharges its entirety, many readers will find its Surface Water and Groundwater: ments in the water quality of the effluent into the Ohio River is best use as a guiding framework A Perspective Prepared for the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio actually a good place to catch and reference on the region’s Walkerton Inquiry (Ritter et al., 2002). Rivers as well as in the region’s walleye and other species. numerous water challenges. smaller streams (Anderson et al., A Lack of Data Washington County Commissioner Those who want more detailed 2000). Factors in this improvement Despite the above-referenced Bracken Burns, currently chair of technical information on the state include a decrease in pollution studies, complete and up-to-date the Southwestern Pennsylvania of our watersheds, contaminants discharges because of area water quality data for decision- Commission and cochair of the within them, and the total impact manufacturing plant closings, making purposes are not readily Institute of Politics Environment of municipal and household a changing federal regulatory available. We should note with Policy Committee, said the region’s sewage should consult the follow- climate that has encouraged tighter dismay what we don’t know. Due water quality, like its air quality, ing studies: the National Research pollution controls, and federal to the lack of adequate historical “is much better than in the 1940s Council’s 2005 report, Regional and state initiatives to control and real-time water quality and or 1950s, when Pittsburgh was Cooperation for Water Quality mine drainage. The diversity and sediment sampling data for both known as hell with the lid off.” He Improvement in Southwestern abundance of aquatic life are major rivers and feeder streams, added, however, that even with Pennsylvania (Washington, D.C.: primary indicators of water quality we really don’t know how much of these improvements “we still beat National Academies Press); Water in these rivers, and surveys show various pollutants (such as heavy ourselves up, and the EPA comes Quality in the Allegheny and an increase in the number of fish metals, pesticides, hydrocarbons, in and helps us beat ourselves Monongahela River Basins of species in all main stem rivers. oils, or grease) are in our untreated up, and our good friends in other Pennsylvania, West Virginia, In 1900 the Monongahela River water or riverbanks and sediments. states help us beat ourselves up by New York and Maryland, 1996–98, was almost devoid of fish species Many of these pollutants can cause bringing pollution our way.” U.S. Geological Circular 1202 by except during high water periods; a cancer, neurological problems, R. M. Anderson et al. (2000); recent study has shown as many as Existing Regional Studies developmental defects, and other and Investing in Clean Water: A 20 fish species in the Monongahela and Comprehensive chronic health problems; at this Report from the Southwestern River (Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Watershed References time we can only guess as to Pennsylvania Water and Sewer Commission, 2003; Venture There have been several substantial whether they appear in sufficient Infrastructure Project Steering Outdoors, 2005). inquiries into Southwestern concentrations to pose a health Committee (2002). Focus groups of Pittsburgh-area Pennsylvania’s water problems. threat here. Additionally, depicting the full anglers provide similarly encourag- This essay is not intended to As Jared Cohon, president of complexity of interactions of ing reports (Volz and Christen, replicate these studies but Carnegie Mellon University and all possible factors that impact 2005-06). More than half of the makes use of selected technical chair of the Regional Water water quality is beyond the scope anglers agreed that the “water information in them to aid in Management Task Force, has

IOP issues 4 5 IOP issues stated, “It is shocking how little • Untreated sewage resulting from stated, “that no one is enjoying loop from Category 3 to Category we know about our rivers, not only overflows of combined sewers any of the economies of scale 2, in that ecological degradation in Pittsburgh but in other parts of (which receive both stormwater or efficiency they could have.” hinders natural purification of the country.” Cohon says that the and wastewater and thus cannot Moreover, he argued, runoff from water so that Category 2 contami- availability of water quality data handle increased flows in wet strip malls, parking lots, and paved nants can build up; this increasing has declined during the last weather) impairs water quality. streets is an important factor in contamination in turn can further 20 years and that existing data • In rural areas, flooding causes the increased risk of catastrophic erode the ecosystem’s ability are not stored in convenient an increase in the concentration flooding. Burns expects that our to purify and hold water. The repositories that are available to of pesticides in feeder streams. flooding problems will only get problems in Categories 1, 2, and researchers, planners, and policy worse until we begin to plan from 3, alone or in combination, result makers. Knowledge of the actual Although we think of a watershed-based perspective. in Category 4, Secondary Water concentration of river, lake, and Southwestern Pennsylvania as Management Outcomes, such as The Chain of Causation stream contaminants is necessary a region blessed with abundant stormwater surges and flooding. for any realistic assessment of water, our problems with water The illustration on the inside back Finally, these secondary outcomes health risk from exposure to quality can even threaten water cover of this publication shows result in Category 5, Tertiary these agents. quantity. The reason is that existing how water-related issues can lead Environmental Public Health, water treatment plants have limited to significant human suffering Medical, Social, Emotional, and Water Issues Are Integrated capacity to purify available water of numerous types. Category 1, Economic Outcomes. For example, Water issues such as sewage, water so that it meets present drinking Primary Water-Related Problems, flooding has the tangible effects of quality, water quantity, stormwater water standards. If the water gets can either cause or exacerbate property loss, economic and health drainage, flooding, and watershed dirtier, plants’ capacity will be Category 2, Water Contamination problems, psychological distress, protection are closely interrelated stretched even further and the Problems, and Category 3, Loss and fatalities. and should be examined holisti- expense of treating water will of Ecological Services. Categories Major issues that fall into each of cally (National Research Council, increase. 2 and 3 also can combine to these categories are enumerated in 1999; Anderson et al., 2000; WSIP, make Category 1 issues worse. “Water is probably our greatest the box on the next two pages. 2002). For example: regional asset right behind our Additionally, there is a feedback • Unsustainable forms of land use people,” said Commissioner Burns, increase flood risks, negatively and not treating it in an integrated affect stormwater flow patterns, manner will directly affect regional and deplete ecosystems all at the economic development. Burns same time. believes that we are often “throwing good money after bad” • Surface water and groundwater in trying to keep substandard are physically interconnected sewage treatment plants afloat. and should not be treated as “We are dividing ourselves into two separate entities. such small compartments,” he

IOP issues 6 7 IOP issues A Chain of Causation: From Primary Category 3: Loss of Category 5: Tertiary Water-Related Issues to Tertiary Ecological Services Environmental Public Health, Environmental Public Health, Wetland loss Medical, Social, Emotional, and Economic Outcomes Medical, Social, Emotional, a nd Deforestation Economic Outcomes Loss of life and property due to Loss of topsoil and plant cover flood damage Category 1: Primary Past and present agricultural Loss of native plant species Water-Related Problems chemical use Increased environmental asthma Loss of subsoil integrity Release of municipal and household Personal and societal attitudes Increased stormwater sanitary wastes directly into area water toward water usage Loss of natural drainage patterns management costs Aging/inadequate municipal Fragmented local, state, and federal Changes in stream and river flow Increased cost of water purification sewer infrastructure regulatory climate characteristics Decreased recreational and Wildcat sewers and failing Spills or accidental releases of toxic Decrease in groundwater recharge aesthetic value on-lot septic systems and hazardous substances Land and streambed erosion Decreased economic growth Fragmentation of water and sewer Gravel and sand mining in main planning and management Endocrine disruption in aquatic species Loss of aquatic and terrestrial species stem rivers and feeders Abandoned and active mines Increased cost of flood insurance Category 2: Water Uptake of contaminants in nature’s Issues related to nonsustainable Increased risk of cancer, waterborne Contamination Problems food web development pathogen diseases, and other Lack of coordinated water and Pathogens Riparian habitat loss environmental diseases land management plans Nitrates Unavailability of safe drinking water Category 4: Secondary Water Development in headwaters and Heavy metals: mercury, lead, copper, Management Outcomes critical watersheds chromium, and cadmium Human pathogens in surface water Sprawl Arsenic: naturally occurring or from Human pathogens in groundwater Past and ongoing industrial pollution poultry or industrial operations Contamination from the iron and Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) Increased potential for mine blowouts steel industry Contaminants associated with Increased sediments in surface water mine drainage Superfund, waste dump, and Decreased production of clean surface Pesticides and herbicides brownfield sites water and groundwater Deposition of contaminants Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) Increased stormwater/snowmelt runoff from power plants and other and other organohalogen industrial sources substances (OHSs) Increased contaminant loads in surface water and groundwater Nonpoint-source pollution Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) Household hazardous waste Consumption of contaminated fish Radon Application of lawn pesticides Flooding Highly acidic or alkaline water and nutrients Human exposure to carcinogens, Road topping compounds toxic substances, and endocrine- Vehicle exhaust active substances

IOP issues 8 9 IOP issues A Chain of Causation: From Primary Water-Related Issues to Tertiary Environmental Public Health, Medical, Social, Emotional, and Economic Outcomes

egory t a 2 C Water Contamination Problems tegory o o a 5 teg ry teg ry C a 1 a 4 C C Tertiary Environmental Primary Secondary Water Public Health, Medical, Water-Related Management Social, Emotional, Problems Outcomes and Economic Outcomes

egory t a 3 C Loss of Ecological Services

Category 1: Primary Water-Related Problems Nonpoint-source pollution Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) Endocrine disruption in aquatic species Category 5: Tertiary Environmental Release of municipal and household sanitary wastes directly Household hazardous waste Contaminants associated with mine drainage and feeders Public Health, Medical, Social, Emotional, and Economic Outcomes into area water Application of lawn pesticides and nutrients Pesticides and herbicides Uptake of contaminants in nature’s food web Loss of life and property due to flood damage Aging/inadequate municipal sewer infrastructure Road topping compounds Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other Riparian habitat loss Increased environmental asthma Wildcat sewers and failing on-lot septic systems Vehicle exhaust organohalogen substances (OHSs) Category 4: Secondary Water Increased stormwater management costs Fragmentation of water and sewer planning Past and present agricultural chemical use Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) Management Outcomes and management Increased cost of water purification Personal and societal attitudes toward water usage Radon Human pathogens in surface water Abandoned and active mines Decreased recreational and aesthetic value Fragmented local, state, and federal regulatory climate Highly acidic or alkaline water Human pathogens in groundwater Issues related to nonsustainable development Decreased economic growth Spills or accidental releases of toxic and hazardous Category 3: Loss of Ecological Services Increased potential for mine blowouts Lack of coordinated water and land management plans substances Loss of aquatic and terrestrial species Wetland loss Increased sediments in surface water Development in headwaters and critical watersheds Gravel and sand mining in main stem rivers Increased cost of flood insurance Deforestation Decreased production of clean surface water Sprawl and groundwater Increased risk of cancer, waterborne pathogen Category 2: Water Contamination Problems Loss of topsoil and plant cover diseases, and other environmental diseases Past and ongoing industrial pollution Increased stormwater/snowmelt runoff Pathogens Loss of native plant species Unavailability of safe drinking water Contamination from the iron and steel industry Increased contaminant loads in surface water Superfund, waste dump, and brownfield sites Nitrates Loss of subsoil integrity and groundwater Deposition of contaminants from power plants Heavy metals: mercury, lead, copper, chromium, Loss of natural drainage patterns Consumption of contaminated fish and cadmium and other industrial sources Changes in stream and river flow characteristics Flooding Arsenic: naturally occurring or from poultry Decrease in groundwater recharge or industrial operations Human exposure to carcinogens, toxic substances, Land and streambed erosion and endocrine-active substances I have borrowed the classifications and 2000 (Lee et al., 2002), discharged during wet weather the possible presence of disease- of primary, secondary, and tertiary and the number of recreational from combined sewer and sanitary causing bacteria and viruses in from the field of public health to outbreaks in 1998 was the highest sewer overflows (known as CSOs water. FC contamination of the show where interventions can most since the inception of the national and SSOs). These discharges occur Three Rivers has greatly exceeded successfully be applied to break the waterborne disease tracking system in aging and inadequate municipal the national average (National chain of causation. In public health, in 1971. (An outbreak is defined sewer systems, which continue Council on the Environment primary care (e.g., immunization) is as at least two related cases of to proliferate due to the region’s Report, 1996, extracted from WSIP, always ethically and economically persons developing a disease after failure to invest systematically 2002). During the 2000-2001 better than secondary care (e.g., water contact; single cases are in system upgrades. The sheer recreational season, 59 percent of treating the infected), which in not reported. Many public health number of sewage management surface water samples in Pittsburgh turn is better than relying on officials feel that waterborne entities in the region makes it violated the safe contact standard tertiary care (e.g., hospitalizing disease is significantly underre- harder to achieve the economies for FC, compared to just 16 percent very sick individuals for extremely ported.) A massive gastrointestinal of scale necessary to correct this in Cincinnati. More recent studies intrusive and costly treatment). disease outbreak in Milwaukee, problem. found 18 area streams with signifi- produced by a parasite transmitted cant bacteriological contamination We will now address the items Wildcat Sewers and Failing through the public water supply, (Luneberg, 2004; see also Fulton within each category. The issues On-Lot Septic Systems caused approximately 400,000 and Buckwalter, 2004). most frequently emphasized by Raw human waste is also released illnesses and 100 deaths in 1993 stakeholders and focus groups into surface water from thousands Although the region’s waters are (MacKenzie et al., 1994; Hoxie et are presented first, but every issue of “wildcat sewers,” which are highly contaminated by fecal al., 1997; Rose, 1997). is significant. illicit sewer pipes that drain the coliform and pathogens, they are The relationship between sewage sanitary system of a home directly not considered impaired for use C at eg ory 1— overflows and waterborne disease into ditches, culverts, or streams as sources of drinking water Pr i m a ry is hard to measure directly, but without treatment. In addition, because of modern filtration and Wat er-R el at ed there is a strong correlation on-lot septic systems (that is, chlorination techniques, which Problems between wet weather (when systems designed to treat sewage can purify them to meet drinking most sewage overflows occur) in one home or a small group of water standards. However, the 3Release of Municipal and and disease outbreaks (Rose et al., homes without a connection to presence of raw sewage burdens Household Sanitary Wastes 2000; Curriero et al., 2001). public sewers) tend to fail over our treatment processes, limits Directly into Area Water our ability to supply water to new Aging/Inadequate Municipal time and are often not adequately Many national and area policy users, and makes us vulnerable to a Sewer Infrastructure serviced, again resulting in the makers are under the impression release of raw waste into ground- massive epidemic of gastrointestinal Research studies (Fulton and that waterborne infectious diseases water and surface water. disease as seen in Milwaukee. In Buckwalter, 2004; National are now only of historical interest. rural areas, failing or illegally Research Council, 2005; Anderson We have scientific evidence that This attitude must be challenged connected septic systems, leaching et al., 2000; WSIP, 2002), key the release of raw human and because waterborne disease from livestock pastures, and runoff interviewees, and recreationists all pet waste into our region’s water still occurs in the United States from manure storage areas add agree that the release of untreated presents a significant public health (Hedberg and Osterholm, 1993). fecal matter to feeder streams; raw sewage is the greatest threat threat (Young and Thackston, In fact, it may be growing. The these fecal pathogen sources to Southwestern Pennsylvania’s 1999). Fecal coliform bacteria (FC) frequency of such outbreaks present infection risks to rural water resources. Raw sewage is are used as indicators to determine steadily increased between 1989 residents who drink well water.

IOP issues 12 13 IOP issues Stakeholder Perspectives we will have to invest in sewer understanding since the consent which often is not cleaned out for Caren Glotfelty, director of line and interceptor upgrades order [placed on ALCOSAN extended periods of time (Volz and environmental programs for The and new technology, but these communities by the EPA] that Christen, 2005–2006). improvements will not be possible fixing this system must be a Heinz Endowments, gets frustrated Fragmentation of Water when outlying communities without a change in Allegheny regional effort.” Tutsock described and Sewer Planning and discount their contributions to County’s sewer governance remediation work with Ross Management system—and plenty of money. Township, Bellevue, and ALCOSAN the sewage overflow problem, Southwestern Pennsylvania has one to eliminate sewage infiltration saying they are not part of the Myron Arnowitt, Western of the most disjointed systems of of Jacks Run as an example of large Allegheny County Sanitary Pennsylvania director of the sewer and water provision in the the cooperation needed. He Authority (ALCOSAN) system. nonprofit environmental advocacy country. This fragmentation is pointed out that the PWSA was “They have the same problem,” organization Clean Water Action, an outgrowth of political able to eliminate CSOs near she said; “they are just able to lamented a funding mismatch developments in the 19th and 20th the Allegheny River during the send it downstream.” Glotfelty is between “a lack of money for centuries (Tarr, 2003) but cannot construction of Heinz Field, PNC passionate about the significant fixing existing systems” and “an meet 21st-century demands for Park, and the David L. Lawrence rural problems of septic runoff ability to get bonding power for cost-efficient, environmentally Convention Center. and wildcat sewers: “This is what fixing the system if you add acceptable service delivery. you would expect to find in Third capacity for development.” Recreationists provided the most More than 260 authorities and World countries, not in the richest This imbalance favors sprawl and gruesome comments. Anglers in a hundreds of municipalities are country in the world. These inter-community competition. March 2006 focus group reported involved in providing sewer and [smaller] communities have not “Despite having a system that frequent sightings of toilet paper, water services in Southwestern been forced by the state or federal can’t handle the sewerage, feminine hygiene products, Pennsylvania. It does not make government to fix these problems there is no real problem getting chemicals, and other untreated public health, economic, or because they lack the resources new tap-ins,” Arnowitt stated. sewage in the rivers during wet regulatory sense for one political to do so. We have never had the “Development is by and large weather. They explained how, subdivision to have wet-weather political will and the funding to moving forward.” He maintained in some locations, even a small releases upstream of another’s take care of them.” that older infrastructure should be amount of rain causes sewage to intakes and not cooperate with its fixed before additional sewage for belch forth and fish to disappear. John Schombert, executive director neighbor regarding wastewater new developments is added, lest Some anglers have contracted of the 3 Rivers Wet Weather treatment; nevertheless, this we put further stress on an already gastrointestinal diseases that Demonstration Program, said situation prevails in many locations overburdened system. they associate with contact with federal CSO policy will require a throughout the region. steep reduction in the number of Greg Tutsock, former executive contaminated water (Volz and “There needs to be a major overflow events—from 75 or 80 director of the Pittsburgh Water Christen, 2007). One fisherman change in the way we govern a year to four or five. Schombert and Sewer Authority (PWSA), became an active advocate for ourselves,” said Washington added that there are more than said his city has about 225 CSOs, cleaner water after his doctor County Commissioner Bracken 300 overflow points where caused largely by mixed sanitary told him not to fish competitively Burns. “Until we do that, there municipal systems connect and stormwater flows that enter because the contaminated water is no way that we can tackle a to ALCOSAN and many more Pittsburgh from other munici- could exacerbate a prior infection. problem as intractable and as upstream in the municipalities. To palities. However, he was upbeat Problems happen even in dry complex as this one.” Burns sees a correct the problem, he believes, about the future: “There is now an weather because the sewer gates get jammed open by debris, lack of vision on the part of both

IOP issues 14 15 IOP issues authorities and municipalities when otherwise overwhelm the system standards, threatening aquatic consumption advisories, asking it comes to water management. (see also Tarr, 2003). and human health. Sulfate is the consumers of fish caught in Meanwhile, he warned, the most predictable indicator of mine Southwestern Pennsylvania waters Abandoned and Active Mines price tag for fixing the problems is drainage and can cause diarrhea in to limit the number of fish meals growing exponentially. Sulfuric acid discharge from active sensitive populations. they eat. and abandoned coal mines is “the Cohon feels the lack of regional AMD has historically decimated The amount of heavy metal found most pervasive and widespread priority setting is a serious weak- fish and other aquatic organism in river and stream sediments water pollution problem in ness and a threat to water quality: populations in both small streams is dependent on land use, with Southwestern Pennsylvania’s “We can’t set [regional] goals if we and main stem rivers (Casner, the most metals found in areas industrial history” (National have fragmented systems.” 1994). Federal and state regulations influenced by mining or other Research Council, 2005). requiring active mining operations industrial activity. Schombert related the unfor- Abandoned mine drainage (AMD) to treat drainage water and efforts tunate story of how Allegheny significantly impairs the quality of Rural residents of Southwestern to control AMD at abandoned County’s sewage system remained drinking water sources, and its Pennsylvania are at risk of ingesting mine sites have resulted in the fragmented after World War II. corrosive properties have forced sulfate and dangerous metals revival of aquatic life in many Originally, it was proposed that area water authorities to build through well water if they live near streams. Although water quality communities in Allegheny County neutralizing systems to protect reclaimed surface coal mines. is improving, the mixture of large were to give up their systems to water treatment plant and The levels of aluminum, iron, quantities of toxic heavy metals ALCOSAN, which would locate its distribution system infrastructure. magnesium, and manganese as into stream and river sediments in plant at Leetsdale, at the lowest These protective actions increase well as turbidity are usually higher Southwestern Pennsylvania poses elevation in Allegheny County on costs and reduce the quantity of than normal in wells within 2,000 an ongoing threat. the Ohio River. “This was called water that can be delivered. feet of reclaimed surface mines. Plan A,” Schombert recalled. In one study of river and streambed Private wells in areas of under- AMD is produced, through “The best models in the United sediments, zinc and chromium ground mining can be heavily geochemical and bacterial States [were done in this way]. But were found in all 50 sampling sites contaminated with sulfate and reactions, when the iron disulfides many engineers had clients who in the Allegheny-Monongahela ferric iron. This hard water smells pyrite and marcasite, contained in didn’t want to lose their municipal drainage area. Chromium is a like rotten eggs and tastes foul. high quantities in northern West systems.” These parochial attitudes known human carcinogen. Of the We do not have good data on Virginia and Appalachian and toward municipal assets led to 50 sites sampled, 11 contained the extent to which private well Southwestern Pennsylvania coal an agreement under which 65 zinc concentrations that were in water quality has been affected and overburden rock, are exposed different Allegheny County towns the top 10 percent nationally since by surface or subsurface mining in to water and dissolved oxygen. owned and operated their own 1991 (Anderson et al., 2000). In Southwestern Pennsylvania. The resultant reaction produces collection system, with combined such situations, fish highest on the ferrous iron and sulfuric acid. Stakeholder Perspectives sewers at virtually every point food chain can accumulate metal This acidic solution dissolves other Davitt Woodwell, western region of connection to ALCOSAN. concentrations up to 100 times as metals found in rock and soil such vice president for the Pennsylvania ALCOSAN designed mechani- high as those in the sediments; if as aluminum, arsenic, barium, Environmental Council (PEC), sees cal controls that permit diversion consumed, these fish may pose cadmium, cobalt, copper, AMD as a high-priority issue for of sewage directly to the river a threat to human health. As a manganese, and silver. These both environmental and political when the amount of combined result, the Pennsylvania Fish and metals can attain concentrations reasons. Woodwell believes AMD stormwater and wastewater would Boat Commission has issued fish well over drinking water quality is at the heart of the region’s

IOP issues 16 17 IOP issues urban-rural friction concerning opportunity to attract economic which our water derives. For more urban landscapes because water resources because Allegheny development until we solve example, the Croton and Catskill the costs of land clearance and County is focused primarily on this problem.” watersheds, which once produced development are lower. And many combined and sanitary sewage some of the best drinking water farmers feel unable to achieve an Issues Related to overflows while “those in the out- in the United States for New adequate financial return on their Nonsustainable Development lying counties think that Allegheny York City, are now threatened by holdings. The result: despite our County will steal their AMD monies Most of the experts interviewed contamination from development- stagnant population numbers, area for CSO and SSO fixes.” This for this study included some aspect related nutrients, deicing material, farms and associated woodlands friction illustrates the potential of nonsustainable development and hazardous waste (Heisig, and slopes are coming under great value of a collaborative, regional on their list of water management 1999). Similarly, a modeling development pressure. approach to water management. problems. Among the specific exercise based on actual data from practices that fall into this category “When I first arrived in Pittsburgh Jackie Bonomo of the Western New Jersey found a substantial are lack of coordinated water 10 years ago,” said Arnowitt, Pennsylvania Conservancy pointed increase in 14 water pollutants in and land management plans, “there was very little sprawl here out that we may need to expand receiving waters under both an development in headwaters and compared with where I had come our regional thinking to encompass eight-unit-per-acre and a two- critical watersheds, municipal from in Eastern Pennsylvania and a watershed approach, as significant unit-per-acre development scheme infighting about development, and New England. Now the old river portions of the AMD problem (Greenberg et al., 2003). It is also sprawl. Proper land-use planning, communities are pretty much the originate in northern West Virginia well documented that increasing water management, and public same, but areas away from the or as far north in Pennsylvania as urbanization contributes to water health are vitally linked. valleys are being developed very the Clarion River. turbidity associated with land quickly; this pattern is especially Large-scale paving, increase of and stream erosion and water Deb Simko, the Fayette County evident in the I-279 corridor, impervious surfaces, and water sedimentation. These turbidity board member for the Regional which could serve as a case diversion projects—all commonly increases also have been linked to Water Management Task Force, study regarding the connections involved in new residential and increases in gastrointestinal dis- is a watershed consultant and between transportation, commercial development—have eases (Gaffield et al., 2003). Thus, manager of an AMD mitigation development, environmental contributed mightily to our without sensitive land-use plan- project. Simko stated firmly that damage, and water decrements.” problem of stormwater surges ning, our population is at higher AMD is the biggest threat to water and eventual flooding. These risk for both acute and chronic Nonsustainable development also quality in Fayette County and surge events also move massive health problems. results because decision makers the biggest water problem in the amounts of contaminants into do not understand the intercon- commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Southwestern Pennsylvania’s area waterways. nectedness among transportation, “Most people here depend on well deep-seated culture of individual development, and water issues water,” she said. “People aren’t Proper land-use planning is itself a property rights influences how we and thus do not realize how going to care about the sewage matter of public and environmental deal with nonsustainable develop- inappropriate projects can create problem until they get water” health because the protection of ment. Private landowners’ main or exacerbate water manage- free from AMD. the public water supply depends incentive is to maximize profit, ment problems. Few developers on it (Greenberg et al., 2003). not to safeguard the public health Glotfelty lists AMD high on her or municipal staffs are trained Across America nonsustainable benefit that might accrue from list of regional water management in environmental management. development is threatening our leaving their land undeveloped threats, arguing that areas affected Conclusive evidence of the most valuable water assets by (Volz, 2002). Developers prefer by AMD “will never have the disconnect among water, impacting the land areas from to use open space rather than

IOP issues 18 19 IOP issues transportation, and development Bonomo said the Western our water. Brownfield, Superfund, smokestacks were considered signs issues lies in the existence of Pennsylvania Conservancy is and abandoned waste sites of increased wealth and prosperity. separate, uncoordinated plans for attempting to preserve large tracts abound from the upper regions When people think of the each of these components. At the of land, especially in the upper of the Allegheny River to the health threats posed by the local level, zoning ordinances and Allegheny River watershed. She long-industrialized Monongahela steel industry, they usually think planning modules are instituted called for establishment of “water River valley. Rainfall and snowmelt of air pollution—especially the without regard not only to water- sanctuaries” along our rivers and continue to leach toxins from environmental crisis that occurred shed recharge but even to water for taking an extremely long-term contaminated soils into both at Donora, Pa. (28 miles south of and sewage infrastructure planning view regarding preservation surface and groundwater Pittsburgh) in October 1948, when needs (WSIP, 2002). and the viability of economic supplies. Additionally, we still a temperature inversion trapped development projects. Bonomo Schombert expressed frustration have numerous industrial contaminants in the town. Half recommended a comprehensive about the past practice of install- operations that release the residents became ill, and 20 development plan that takes into ing public sewage systems that contaminants in their wastewater. people died (Helfand et al., 2001). account the needs of struggling encouraged sprawling develop- Lastly, emissions from local and However, significant water pollu- river towns and conservation ment, as well as about continuing upwind coal-fired power plants tion is also part of this industry’s reserve programs. She also said poor stormwater management. contain heavy metals, such as legacy. Facilities disposed of waste greater focus on water issues by “We have flooding in Etna, not mercury, that can be deposited by-products in the hollows of our region’s congressional delega- because of anything that’s going in water. the foothills of the Appalachian tion could be helpful, pointing out on in Etna, but because of what’s The Iron and Steel Industry and Mountains and their associated that “we are not as well served occurring upstream,” he said. He Environmental Contamination streambeds, on riverbanks, and [with federal funding] in Western also noted that the area where Due partly to the availability of in the rivers themselves. Overall, Pennsylvania as the Chesapeake he grew up—near the Montour raw materials (including coal) and the iron and steel industry was watershed is in the east.” Run watershed—never flooded the abundance of river water for the largest industrial source of before the sprawling development Past and Ongoing material transport, processing, and toxic environmental contamina- upstream in and around Robinson Industrial Pollution waste elimination, Southwestern tion in the United States (EPA, Town Centre. The history of Pittsburgh and its Pennsylvania became the world’s 1995). The industry disposed of Glotfelty observed that, since surrounding area is associated with largest producer of coke, iron, toxic metals including manganese, we have depended on the large unbridled industrial development and steel for the better part of nickel, cobalt, copper, cadmium, rivers for transportation and com- (Tarr, 2003). This industrial devel- a century. Factories producing chromium, lead, and zinc in its merce, we have spent many years opment brought immigrants to the iron, steel, and needed process wastewater (Vijay and Sihorwala, solving flood problems in these region in large numbers, which in ingredients like metallurgical coke 2003). valleys. At that time, she said, “We turn resulted in overbuilding on and iron sinter sprang up along The decline of this industry after didn’t worry as much about the sensitive slope lands and in vital the Monongahela, Allegheny, 1980 left once-buzzing plants to local uplands because they were watersheds. Although we have Ohio, Shenango, and Mahoning become vacant and deteriorate. As forested or in farm production. made great strides in environmen- Rivers. Eventually plants became they did, water and wind further Now that the farms are gone and tal cleanup, and although heavy integrated processes, one of distributed residual contaminants the forests are being cut, the small industrial activity has declined pre- them stretching for as many as on and beyond the industrial sites, tributaries like Pine Creek [which cipitously in this region, our legacy 15 miles along the Ohio River. while waste ponds, impound- flows into Etna] are a problem.” of industrial pollution still affects Steel was the lifeblood of these ments, sludge pits, and slag piles communities, and belching

IOP issues 20 21 IOP issues were often left unattended with- Arnowitt of Clean Water Action A Case Study: The Shenango and Mahoning Rivers out appropriate engineering and bemoaned that “decision makers The Shenango and Mahoning Rivers both originate outside Southwestern institutional controls. These prob- still consider jobs over environmen- Pennsylvania but send significant environmental problems downstream to lems further threaten our water tal concerns and don’t want to see communities in Lawrence and Beaver Counties. Both rivers illustrate the need for a watershed approach to legacy contamination problems. quality. Many former industrial existing industrial facilities threat- sites in the tri-state area have been ened.” He believes this is a false Soil, surface water, groundwater, and sediments along the Shenango have been impacted primarily by the Sharon Steel Corp.’s Farrell Works Disposal placed on the National Priorities dichotomy and that both economic Area in Hickory Township, Mercer County. The Westinghouse Electric Corp.’s List for cleanup or have been the and environmental goals are com- Sharon Plant, located across the river from the Sharon Steel site, added subject of consent decrees or other patible with proper engineering polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and lead to the mix. The Farrell Works remediation activities. controls and community involve- Disposal Area has been on the National Priorities List since 1998 and is ment. Arnowitt views air and the site of ongoing Superfund investigations; metals including arsenic, lead, Stakeholder Perspectives and chromium have been detected in the site’s groundwater, and the high water pollution from Neville Island Local anglers are extremely pH level of the slag materials and runoff water poses a hazard to wetland facilities as a particular problem for concerned about the impact of ecological systems. surrounding communities and the heavy metals in river sediments. Meanwhile, two Ohio plants, Youngstown Sheet and Tube in Youngstown whole Ohio River valley. and WCI Steel in Warren, have contaminated large sections of the Mahoning Focus group participants said they River’s banks and streambed, as well as soils and groundwater surrounding can often see the water pollution, Superfund, Resource the sites. The major pollutants in the Mahoning River watershed include including petroleum sheens on Conservation and Recovery polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), PCBs, and heavy metals such as the river surface. Anglers have Act, and Brownfield Sites mercury, lead, zinc, copper, cadmium, and silver. In 1977, when the major noted the lack of insect life and steel mills on the river were still in operation, the EPA estimated that each Due to Western Pennsylvania’s day 400,000 pounds of suspended solids (many containing metals), 70,000 crayfish in the Monongahela industrial past, Superfund, pounds of oil and grease, 9,000 pounds of ammonia-nitrogen, 800 pounds River. They blamed the unhealthy Resource Conservation and of zinc, 600 pounds of phenolics, and 500 pounds of cyanide were disposed river conditions for restricting Recovery Act, and brownfield sites of directly into the river (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2006). Today the spawning opportunities for many abound in both urban and rural Ohio Department of Health continues to advise against human contact with Mahoning River sediment or consumption of any fish caught in the river. types of fish, including the ones areas. These sites present unique they most would like to catch hazards to local residents and area The Mahoning and Shenango Rivers meet just below New Castle. Pollution in this watershed so severely affected Beaver County residents’ water supplies and eat—walleyes and saugers. watersheds because they are that the situation helped push federal legislators to create the Environmental Anglers also expressed concern associated most commonly with Protection Agency in 1970 (Youngstown State University Public Service about releases of oil by-products a variety of contaminants, which Institute, 2007). from old oil wells and refineries have different transport routes How much of this legacy contamination remains present in downstream along the upper Allegheny River, through water and cause various surface water and groundwater? Amazingly, we don’t know. Many residents and about the release of chemicals health effects. For example, the within the affected area get their drinking water from wells, and even from Neville Island industrial facili- municipal water authorities do not sample for all possible legacy Osborne Superfund site, near contaminants. Moreover, a passing sample one day is no guarantee that ties into the Ohio River. In contrast, Grove City in Mercer County, has contaminants will not be higher on another day, especially during a the Allegheny County Sanitary threatened municipal groundwater wet-weather event. Dave Dzombak, professor of civil and environmental Authority’s cleanup efforts received wells with high levels of lead, engineering at Carnegie Mellon University and codirector of the new high marks, as only one angler trichloroethene, PCBs, and other Center for Water Quality in Urban Environmental Systems (WaterQUEST), deplores the lack of information: “Without better water quality and sediment believed ALCOSAN’s plant was carcinogens including vinyl chloride contamination data we cannot adequately define the remediation releasing contaminated water into (EPA, 2007). This site is of regional technologies to employ here in Southwestern Pennsylvania.” the Ohio basin (Volz and Christen, hydrological importance because 2005-2006, 2007; Volz, 2006).

IOP issues 22 23 IOP issues its surface waters flow into Wolf of methylmercury greater than truck exhaust products, oils, usage of pesticides, herbicides, Creek and associated wetlands, the EPA’s acceptable standard grease, gasoline, and road salts and fertilizers. One such chemical, which are used for fishing and (Volz et al., 2007a). (deicers); and topping compounds DDT, is a Persistent Organic also for downstream water usage. Other contaminants, such as containing carcinogens that are Contaminant (POC), almost totally Wolf Creek in turn flows into selenium and arsenic, can also used on parking lots and roadways. immune to natural breakdown; Slippery Rock Creek, which then be deposited from industrial All these substances are flushed it has accumulated in fish, bird, runs through Slippery Rock State emissions. Stream and river down our stormwater conveyance animal, and human fats, and Park in Lawrence County, an area sediments retain these con- systems and through our waterways traces of it can still be found in extensively used for recreation by taminants for long periods of time. in vast amounts. Road salts change our aquifers, farming soils, and fishers, kayakers, and canoeists and Long-term water and sediment the salinity and conductivity of the riverbed sediments. Additionally, marked by unique ecological habi- monitoring programs are needed water, while other substances may as we will see further, farming tats. Further downstream, Slippery to quantify the risks these make water more alkaline or acidic; adds considerable manmade and Rock Creek empties into the Beaver contaminant deposits may pose. sometimes these changes can manure-based nitrates to our River and finally the Ohio River; actually pull metals and other surface water and groundwater. numerous communities draw water Nonpoint-Source Pollution toxins into solution, thus facilitating Farmers must be encouraged from these sources. Nonpoint-source pollution means their transfer downstream. Runoff to use alternative forms of soil the introduction into watersheds of from roads, households, and city replenishment and environmentally Deposition of Contaminants any toxin, carcinogen, hazardous streets impairs more than 3,000 safe pest management techniques. from Power Plants and material, or change in water miles of rivers and streams and Other Industrial Sources Personal and Societal chemistry by a generalized process 6,797 lake-acres in Pennsylvania Contaminants released into Attitudes toward rather than from a specific pipe or (National Research Council, 2005). the air by coal-burning power Water Resources facility. Nonpoint sources are thus Some contaminants from plants or other industrial sources Personal attitudes and actions small in scale and widely dispersed. road toppings are themselves eventually find their way into regarding disposal of household carcinogenic, such as streams and rivers and pose Faulty on-site sewage treatment wastes and trash may add just benz-a-pyrene (which is also an a potential health hazard. For and disposal systems (i.e., septic as much to our water quality endocrine-disrupting chemical). example, mercury deposits tanks) are an important type of problems as industrial pollution One study that examined Deer originating from power-plant nonpoint-source pollution (National does, since more than a million Creek (a watershed in northeast emissions are transformed by Research Council, 2005). Although Southwestern Pennsylvania Allegheny County) found that, water-based bacteria into the amount of raw sewage and households are generating waste. following storms, the pesticides methylmercury, which then hazardous material generated by Citizens seem slow to realize that diazinon and carbaryl were present accumulates as it moves up the each individual septic tank is small, the pollutants we pour into soils, at levels exceeding the standard food chain (Kammen et al., 2005). cumulatively these failing systems onto a parking lot surface, down considered safe for aquatic life Methylmercury is highly toxic, release massive amounts of the drain or toilet, or into street (Anderson et al., 2000). especially to the developing fetus contaminants into our surface drains eventually end up in our and to children; it can even cause and ground water. Past and Present Agricultural drinking water sources or those of neurological problems in adults. Other nonpoint sources include Chemical Use downstream communities. One study of the Allegheny River fertilizers, insecticides, and Agriculture remains Pennsylvania’s Similarly, the federal Centers for near Kittanning, Armstrong herbicides applied widely by leading industry. With the advent Disease Control and Prevention County, found that 25 percent of homeowners, municipalities, of modern farming techniques, frequently receive reports of channel catfish had concentrations and utilities; runoff of car and farmers began increasing their

IOP issues 24 25 IOP issues people becoming ill (especially at unit out of the water quality and Spills or Accidental Releases during low-water periods in summer camps) from pathogens quantity folks under one roof. Prior of Toxic and Hazardous search of cobblestones to pave that seep from outhouses or faulty to that time the agency had two Substances area streets. septic systems into drinking water big wings: one for environmental Great amounts of chemicals Today, dredgers on the Allegheny sources. However, the general protection (regulatory issues) travel through Southwestern River customarily use a clamshell public does not understand the and a resource management Pennsylvania’s river valleys on dredge to mine river sand and interconnection between surface section that had all the other barges, railways, and highways (Ali gravel. This hinged, heavy bucket is water and groundwater. Nor do water issues such as dam safety, and Wheitner, 2005). Historically, lowered from a vessel to the river people realize that unnecessary wetlands, erosion, and sediment good records have not been kept bottom, and its two halves are water use affects the recharge of control. We were dealing with two regarding spills that can affect closed to capture the material. In underground aquifers and makes different cultures and also with a water quality directly or, through the process macroinvertebrates are it easier for contaminated water to long history of laws, regulations, deposition and leaching, indirectly. removed from the river bottom, get into wells. Both education and institutions that separated Recently a derailed train industrial the bottom becomes pockmarked, and enforcement may be necessary water quality from quantity, tanker car released between and river turbulence occurs (U.S. to help citizens understand the almost not acknowledging the 15,000 to 20,000 gallons of Army Corps of Engineers, 1980). real impact of their water usage relationship.” Now, ironically, anhydrous hydrogen fluoride into River dredging reduces aquatic decisions. these two units are separated once the Allegheny River. Water intakes habitat for many aquatic species as again, with the breakup of the downstream were closed because Fragmented Local, State, well as fish species. former DER into the Department of anhydrous hydrogen fluoride and Federal Regulatory Both Bonomo and Arnowitt cited Environmental Protection (DEP) and produces hydrofluoric acid (HFA) Climate gravel and sand mining in the the Department of Conservation when mixed with water. HFA is Fragmented regulatory climates Allegheny and Ohio Rivers as and Natural Resources (DCNR). corrosive to the eyes, nose, and discourage meaningful approaches important threats to aquatic life The many-faceted cornucopia larynx; can erode teeth; and can to water-related problems because and overall river health. Arnowitt of county, township, borough, cause fluorosis (a condition caused the many national, state, and local fears that we could remove all the and city planning and zoning by the substitution of fluoride for regulations and regulatory bodies available sand and gravel from the regulations complicates the calcium in bone) if ingested. often have conflicting goals or Ohio and Allegheny Rivers in the situation further. Planning and enforcement strategies. Seldom Gravel and Sand Mining in next 10 to 20 years; according to zoning laws often change at do multiple bureaucracies Main Stem Rivers an environmental impact state- municipal and county borders, but cooperate effectively and speak Because of the breakdown of ment by the Corps of Engineers, water flow does not. If a zoning with one voice. igneous rock formations during the this could represent 40 percent of decision in one township causes Caren Glotfelty was in a Ice Age, the Allegheny and Ohio river bottom material. Arnowitt storm surges, the next jurisdiction particularly good place to observe Rivers have sand deposits, and the also contends that tests performed bears the impact. Proper regional this problem when she became Allegheny also has gravel deposits. downstream from riverbed mining water management is extremely the first deputy secretary for water The construction industry covets have shown elevated levels of lead difficult without a master plan management at Pennsylvania’s these clean sources of sand and other heavy metals (Clean that can inform local zoning and Department of Environmental and gravel, which fueled the Water Action, 2005). He explained, planning modules. Resources (DER). Her assignment, development of the area’s glass “The process of riverbed mining she recalled, was “to forge a new industry. In the 19th century can create bottom holes up to 60 people would come to the rivers feet deep and resuspend sediments

IOP issues 26 27 IOP issues carrying toxic substances and of cancer-causing organic com- silts and sediments on previously Cryptosporidiosis, a disease caused pathogens. These holes can change pounds known as polynuclear uncontaminated land. The PAHs by ingestion of parasite-infected the river flow characteristics.” aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that can then seep into groundwater, water, has become this nation’s are produced as a result of the most important waterborne ill- Bonomo said that many unique potentially causing consumers metallurgical coke-making process. ness during the last 20 years. The aquatic creatures, including of this water to be exposed. This Parking lots are often sealed with cryptosporidium parasite travels endangered freshwater mussels, complex process can continue for coal tar or asphalt-based emulsions through sewage systems, drainage require gravel bottoms to live decades until the PAHs are finally containing PAHs. Runoff from basins, and manure piles and is and breed. Both the Western broken down by a combination these lots carries PAHs into storm- very resistant to environmental Pennsylvania Conservancy and of bacteria (biodegradation), light water drains and retaining ponds, conditions, wastewater treatment, Clean Water Action are advocating (photodegradation), and water causing the presence of these or water purification (Robertson for a ban on further river mining (hydrolysis) (Hemond and Fechner- compounds to increase in receiving et al., 1992). Cryptosporidium in Pool 8 of the Allegheny River Levy, 2000). waters nationwide (U.S. Geological parvum oocysts shed into the (between the towns of Templeton We will now review the main Survey, 2005). PAHs also can be sewer system are released directly and Cosmus in Armstrong County) classes of water contaminants introduced directly into air during into our streams and rivers during and for limits on new mining observed in Southwestern the coke-making process, into soils combined sewer overflows (CSOs), activities. They believe riverbed Pennsylvania. As we do so, we will as part of waste liquids or runoff, sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs), mining could also add to the tech- observe how the primary problems or directly into surface water as an and wastewater treatment plant nical and economic burden detailed in Category 1 of the chain industrial waste product released failures. This is the parasite that of purifying drinking water. of causation result in specific, mea- into rivers. Once PAHs have entered caused the Milwaukee outbreak. surable water contamination. the environment they can move Alarmingly, studies at and Category 2— among the air, soils, surface water, Pathogens Wat er downstream from CSO outfalls in sediments, and groundwater very The most serious water qual- main stem rivers and tributaries Con ta m i nat ion easily by well-known pathways— ity threat to main stem rivers is Problems near Pittsburgh have shown such as air emission deposits, the entry of human pathogens elevated levels of cryptosporidium Contaminants can enter surface runoff, leaching, and flooding. from raw sewage. The bacteria, and even higher levels of the water or groundwater directly, If PAHs get into sediments, they parasites, and viruses contained disease-causing parasite giardia 4or they can move through the air are not broken up quickly as they in sewage can pose a significant (States et al., 1997; Gibson et al., or soils to water. The speed of might be in surface water because threat to public health via ingestion 1998). These infectious parasites movement depends on the con- the lack of oxygen limits the ability or skin contact. In 1999 and 2000, threaten drinking water sources taminants’ physical and chemical of microorganisms to use the PAHs Cryptosporidium parvum, a para- and those coming in contact with characteristics; in some cases it as food. Instead, the PAHs stay site, accounted for 44.4 percent of the water while fishing or during can be very slow. Sediments, for on the bottom and infiltrate the the outbreaks in the United States other recreational activities. Fishers example, are like a sink that holds water very slowly, except when (Gerberding et al., 2002). Other have reported gastrointestinal contaminants for long periods turbulence from boats or floods outbreaks of known etiology were disturbances following water of time, giving them up into churns the water and brings the E. coli O157 (a bacterium that has contact subsequent to seeing CSO water during turbulent periods or PAHs back up. infected and caused the death of gates open during wet-weather changes in water chemistry. Contamination in one area can also children swimming in lakes) and events (Volz and Christen, 2007). As an illustration of how the travel to another area. For instance, Shigella (four species of bacteria). The last major outbreak of water- process works, consider a group flooding can deposit PAH-laden borne disease in Allegheny County

IOP issues 28 29 IOP issues is attributed to giardia; it occurred and aquatic life. Excess nitrate in on regional water problems pub- mercury (discussed above under in McKeesport in 1984, and several surface waters reduces oxygen lished by the Institute of Politics Category 1 in the section on hundred people became ill. levels in the water and kills fish. Environment Policy Committee; power plant emissions), which Nitrates usually enter water Pathogens also enter water see www.iop.pitt.edu/water.) accumulates as it moves up the because of the widespread use food chain and becomes concen- through nonpoint sources (i.e., Limited stream and well sampling of agricultural fertilizers, livestock trated in fish that often become sources other than major outfalls data indicate that 73 percent pasturing, leachate from human table fare. Methylmercury or industrial release points). In of samples taken from streams uncontrolled manure piles, faulty exposure in the womb affects the urban areas the drainage of draining agricultural areas in septic systems, and municipal fetus’s growing brain and nervous domestic pet and wildlife fecal Southwestern Pennsylvania waste (Anderson et al., 2000). system, resulting in problems matter from impervious surfaces exceeded background nitrate associated with memory, adds to the amount of pathogens Ingestion of nitrates in excess of concentrations; 62 percent of all attention, language, and visual in stormwater runoff. It has been the maximum concentration level groundwater samples contained spatial skills. Still worse, shown that fecal bacteria loads in (MCL) of 10 parts per million can detectable nitrate; and one well concentrated exposure in utero can urban streams are a function of the cause methemoglobinemia or contained nitrate in excess of EPA cause severe birth defects density of housing and “blue baby syndrome” in infants standards (Anderson et al., 2000). (EPA, 2007). In birds, population, impervious surface and children. This is a serious and Children and babies living in rural methylmercury can change area, and domestic animal potentially fatal syndrome that areas and receiving drinking water behavior, affect survival rates, population (Young and Thackston, limits the ability of hemoglobin to from private wells thus may be reduce fertility, and retard growth 1999). In rural areas, failing or deliver oxygen to the cells, turning at risk for the development of and development. Methylmercury illicitly connected septic systems, the skin blue and affecting blood nitrate-related disease. Median can also act as an endocrine- leachate from livestock pastures, supply to the brain. There is also nitrate concentrations increased disrupting chemical, altering the and runoff from manure storage evidence to suggest an association by 25 percent in the Monongahela birds’ ability to reproduce and areas add pathogens to feeder between developmental problems River and by 3 percent in the develop normally (EPA, 2007). streams. The EPA has determined in children and the presence of Allegheny River during the period that the primary contributor of nitrate in their mothers’ drinking 1975–2000. Mercury advisories exist for fish in pathogens to surface water and water (Fan and Steinberg, 1996). local water bodies. Methylmercury Heavy Metals groundwater in rural areas is Nitrates can also enter water does not pose a serious risk at confined animal feeding operations through industrial sources. In a Mercury present to drinking water sup- (CAFO). These nonpoint fecal highly publicized incident, nitrates Elemental mercury is emitted in plies, but due to the number of sources present an unknown risk discharged into Connoquenessing vapor form during the combustion conventional power plants in West of infection to rural residents, who Creek by AK Steel caused the EPA of coal at conventional power Virginia and the Ohio Valley regular may develop gastrointestinal, sinus, to issue an endangerment order plants and during the incineration monitoring of methylmercury in ear, and/or skin infections after (EPA, 2000a; EPA, 2000b) that of some wastes. This mercury can water should be performed. There drinking well water or following forced the borough of Zelienople, travel long distances in air, finally is significant evidence that fish recreational or other skin contact. Butler County, to depend on dropping to earth in precipitation caught in local rivers could be or attached to particulate matter. contaminated with mercury in Nitrates bottled water for months (Borough of Zelienople, 2004). When this mercury is deposited excess of the EPA’s limit of .3 parts Nitrates, naturally present in (The Zelienople case has been into water bodies it interacts with of mercury per million parts of surface waters, can affect both documented in a framing paper bacteria and becomes a related edible flesh (Volz et al., 2007a). human drinking water quality substance known as methyl-

IOP issues 30 31 IOP issues Lead, Copper, Cadmium, formations and subsequent mately 2 million pounds of arsenic subsurface soils, along with their Chromium, and Other leaching of this metalloid into per year into the environment from persistence in groundwater, it is Heavy Metals groundwater; it is not a result of U.S. poultry operations (Graham, surprising that monitoring of VOCs Heavy metals such as aluminum, human land uses. As this natural 2005). Poultry operations in has not been widely implemented zinc, lead, arsenic, chromium, process is occurring across an agricultural areas of Southwestern in Southwestern Pennsylvania. nickel, cobalt, copper, and extremely large geographical area, Pennsylvania could pose a threat to VOCs also include industrial by- cadmium are produced during keeping arsenic out of the water downstream residents who depend products such as benzene, toluene, iron, steel, foundry, and other completely would be impossible. on well water. and xylene, as well as compounds manufacturing processes. Lead also But technologies are available to Arsenic is also released in the derived from gasoline, nonlatex can enter surface water directly or keep arsenic concentrations below production of sinter and the direct paints and varnishes, cleaning indirectly, through deterioration levels that would pose a health risk manufacture of both iron and solutions, and dry cleaning. of bridge surfaces covered with in our municipal water systems. steel; data on its distribution in Benzene is known to cause lead-based paint or through faulty The acceptable standard for arsenic river sediments are limited. Arsenic leukemia in humans. Another VOC, removal of lead-based paint. Of in water has recently been lowered is implicated in the development carbon disulfide, is known to these metals, arsenic (discussed to 10 parts per billion because of of cancers of a number of tissues, cause neurological damage further below) and chromium new risk assessments suggesting including the bladder; it can also (ATSDR, 2006). have been associated with the that chronic long-term exposure cause neuropathy and vascular In one U.S. Geological Survey development of various cancers; can lead to vascular problems. disease (U.S. Geological Survey, study, 24 of 25 samples lead is known to cause neurobe- Both the U.S. Geological Survey 2000; ATSDR, 2005). collected in Deer Creek near havioral problems, especially (USGS) and DEP are studying the Dorseyville, Allegheny County, in children; and cadmium is a concentrations and extent of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) contained VOCs, although not metalloestrogen, meaning that it arsenic in surface water and above individual drinking water can turn on the estrogen receptor groundwater in this area and VOCs are commonly found in standards. Groundwater from 92 mimicking hormonal estrogen. A throughout Pennsylvania. Rural point-source effluents entering percent of the wells sampled in the comprehensive, ongoing program residents of Butler, Lawrence, large feeder streams and main Allegheny-Monongahela drainage of water and sediment testing for Armstrong, and Indiana Counties stem rivers from industrial plants area contained at least one VOC, heavy metals does not currently with no municipal water supplies and through municipal sources. 60 percent contained two or more exist in Southwestern Pennsylvania could be at risk due to high arsenic VOCs can also enter the VOCs, and one well contained and would be necessary to concentrations, but individual wells environment through nonpoint seven different VOCs (Anderson et understand the extent to are not routinely monitored in discharges because household al., 2000). Only 95 domestic wells which these metals pose a Pennsylvania. solvents, furniture refinishing throughout the entire region were health risk locally. solutions, pavement cleaners, and Arsenic may enter both ground and sampled. There exist no drinking many other commercially available Arsenic surface water from other sources. water standards for numerous products contain VOCs. They Roxarsone and arsanilic acid are individual VOCs found in this USGS Arsenic is really a metalloid with often find their way into water used in poultry production study or for complex combinations some qualities of a metal. It has through inappropriate usage, to enhance growth and to prevent of VOCs in water. The health risks been found in well water in north- storage, and/or disposal. Given bacterial infection. More than from ingesting some VOCs, let east portions of the Allegheny their ability to run off into surface 70 percent of this arsenic-based alone the combinations of VOCs River drainage system. This source water or leach into groundwater material is excreted by the poultry, found in this study, are not known. of arsenic appears to be related from contaminated surface and to glacial disturbance of rock resulting in the release of approxi-

IOP issues 32 33 IOP issues Contaminants Associated the Deer Creek drainage is 2,4-D, Westinghouse Electric Superfund growth and development, sexual with Mine Drainage commonly referred to as Weed- site in Sharon. differentiation, metabolism, and B-Gone. Prometon, the most fertility. Risk assessments based on Depending on the type of The pesticides DDT and chlordane, detected herbicide in urban surface animal studies or human effects abandoned mine and how long it or compounds resulting from the water and groundwater, was found implicate EDCs in the develop- has been flooded, contaminants breakdown of these pesticides, in 90 percent of all samples taken ment of cancers, male reproductive resulting from mine drainage also have been found in fish at in Deer Creek. The maximum disorders, birth defects, neurobe- include iron, sulfates, manganese, numerous sampling sites in the level of the insecticide diazinon havioral problems (Sanderson and magnesium, aluminum, and Allegheny-Monongahela basin exceeded the aquatic life water van den Berg, 2003), and gender arsenic. Though consumption of (Anderson et al., 2000). Like quality standard, and four out of imbalances. Many studies also AMD-affected water can lead to PCBs, these are organohalogen five stormwater samples of the indicate EDCs’ negative effects on gastrointestinal disturbances, they substances (OHSs), meaning that pesticide carbaryl (commonly called aquatic wildlife (Miyamoto and are not likely to be debilitating. they contain chlorine, bromine, Sevin) exceeded this standard. Burger, 2003). Some ingredients However, AMD also can cause or other halogen elements. These Pesticides and herbicides are contained in personal care products, staining of fixtures and make substances are suspected of long-lived chemicals, and the plastics, building products, glues, the water’s taste unpleasant, causing learning and memory forms into which they decay often dietary supplements, and certain compelling residents to resort impairments, elevated breast remain toxic. pharmaceuticals can be endocrine- to bottled water for drinking. cancer risk in premenopausal The long-term consequences of disrupting and can mimic the Polychlorinated Biphenyls women, and male fertility problems drinking various heavy metals or effects of estrogen (Walters and (PCBs) and Other in people who have consumed arsenic at levels found in AMD Volz, 2007). Organohalogen Great Lakes fish regularly. Many are only now being researched. Substances (OHSs) OHSs are not monitored in public Sewage treatment plants release EDCs into local waterways with Pesticides and Herbicides PCBs can threaten human drinking water supplies, and there are no data on their occurrence in shocking results. Most notably, Pesticides and herbicides enter development, fertility, and immune private well water. male fish exposed to wastewater regional watersheds from systems and can also cause cancer. Western Pennsylvania rivers and treatment plant effluents have agricultural applications and Endocrine-Disrupting water bodies are significantly been found to have female features, increasingly through suburban Chemicals including eggs in their testes. and urban lawn and garden uses contaminated by PCBs, which have Endocrine-disrupting chemicals Reproductive abnormalities (National Research Council, 2005). been used extensively as coolants (EDCs) are a newly defined have been observed in fish in The U.S. Geological Survey study and lubricants in transformers category of environmental con- industrialized countries around the of water quality in Deer Creek and other electrical equipment taminants that interfere with the world (Eggen et al., 2003). The detected pesticides common to (National Research Council, 2005). function of glands that release flesh and fat from channel catfish lawn care. This discovery is not The presence of PCBs has led hormones directly into the caught in areas of Pittsburgh with surprising because of the presence the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat bloodstream (Sumpter, 1998). dense CSO concentrations caused of many residential plans and Commission to urge limiting con- The major glands that constitute twice as much growth in a human golf courses in the watershed, sumption of locally caught fish to the endocrine system include the breast cancer cell line known interspersed with upland no more than one meal per month pituitary, thyroid, parathyroids, and as MCF-7 as did catfish caught agricultural land usages. The in some areas. PCB contamination adrenals, as well as the ovaries upstream in the Allegheny River, herbicide detected in the highest is a particular problem in the and testes. These glands regulate where CSOs are less frequent. amounts (exceeding one micro- Shenango River basin due to many body functions such as This evidence indicates that gram per milliliter of water) in contamination from the

IOP issues 34 35 IOP issues pharmaceuticals and estrogen- there are no requirements to test sedimentation, rapid stormwater patterns and can even change the mimicking chemicals are entering for or remediate high radon levels runoff, depleted water quality, flow pattern of large rivers. our rivers from local sewage in private wells. increased costs for water Some may argue that well-planned systems—particularly from com- purification, and loss of important residential and commercial bined sewer overflows (Volz et al., plant and animal species as well as Category 3— developments can avert these 2007b). It may become necessary recreational possibilities. problems through effective drain to remove EDCs from sewage Loss of In healthy ecosystems, the natural construction and landscaping. treatment plant effluent in order Ecosyst e m processes performed over and over However, this is seldom the case. to protect both aquatic life and Services again by bacteria, fungi, plants, Topsoil used to cover the disturbed human health. There is a direct relationship and animals break down both area is often not as deep as the between an ecosystem’s health Radon 5 natural products and chemical original topsoil. Trees and shrubs and its ability to retain and purify contaminants. These natural generally are of insufficient height Radon, a colorless, odorless, water. Thus, the problems to be processes, carried out in soil, and root structure to offer much radioactive gas emitted during described in Category 3 of the wetlands, and forests, transform help in water retention; soils no the decay of uranium, presents chain of causation can exacerbate toxic chemicals into less toxic longer contain as much biological a problem in Southwestern both water contamination and materials or even into carbon capacity to break down introduced Pennsylvania groundwater due to flooding problems and heighten dioxide, water, and mineral salts. pollutants; and the transport times the region’s underlying soil and the impact of Category 1 problems. Additionally, trees, plants, and of contaminants to streams, lakes, geological characteristics. A 1999 Historically, Southwestern intact soil structures soak up and and main stem rivers are usually National Academy of Sciences Pennsylvania has lost substantial hold rainfall. An undisturbed layer shortened due to stormwater report suggests that the ingestion ecosystem services due to the rapid of topsoil and subsoils assures runoff, inadequate surface of water containing concentrations industrialization and development slow transport and bacterial infiltration, slope changes, and of radon can result in increased required to support industrial cleaning of water heading into loss of riparian habitat. risk of lung cancer (National activity and house families lakes and streams and provides Research Council, 1999b). A local It takes years, if not generations, (Tarr, 2003). We have invested for the reliable recharge of study found that more than half to rebuild the type of biological comparatively very little in groundwater aquifers. of groundwater samples tested activity that the surrounding reestablishing these healthful contained radon levels above In contrast, higher levels of water ecosystem once provided. Further ecological habitats. But loss of the EPA’s proposed permissible contaminants cause toxic materials development in our critical ecosystem services is not only standard, and 19 percent of to become concentrated in nature’s habitats and watersheds, even historical—it continues to occur samples contained at least three food web. Some of these if the developer attempts to be today. For instance, forested lands times the permissible level. Two compounds affect wildlife by environmentally sensitive, will with undisturbed surface soils and samples exceeded the concen- disrupting their endocrine system invariably continue the historical subsurface structures aid in the tration level at which the local and result in declining populations. process of reduced ecological retention and purification of water drinking water authority must And when rainfall does not services in the region. Barring and the recharge of groundwater initiate programs to reduce radon adequately percolate through soil large-scale reinvestment to recover aquifers. Disturbance of these in indoor air and in drinking to the groundwater, the water these lost natural processes, a forests and their soils and other water. Although radon sampling level of underground aquifers profound impact on the movement native plants for purposes of is required for municipal sources, drops. Faster runoff into streams of water—and of the Category 2 commercial or residential causes changes in natural drainage contaminants introduced into the development can result in erosion, water—is unavoidable.

IOP issues 36 37 IOP issues Development in critical watersheds types of aquatic life including game Example: Compounding Problems Resulting from and paving with impervious fish. The addition of sediments to the Interaction of Primary Water Issues, Water surfaces decrease the production water makes it more difficult and Contamination, and Loss of Ecosystem Services of clean surface water and ground- costly to purify drinking water and Now that we have moved through the first three categories of the chain, water. Again, surface water is more likely that contaminants or let’s look at an example of how these categories interact in real life. shunted away as quickly as possible pathogens will be attached to the Suppose that a housing development occurs in a critical watershed area. to receiving waters and does not sediments, making them carriers of Water contamination problems (Category 2) may result from car and truck have a chance to soak into the toxic substances or disease-causing exhaust products; use of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on the ground. Since there is less surface agents. road and parking area surfaces; use of home pesticides, herbicides, and lawn and garden fertilizers containing nitrates; pet fecal matter; household moisture and downward pressure, Human pathogens enter receiving hazardous wastes; and disposal of oil and grease products. Consequences the production of groundwater waters and main stem rivers from within Category 3 may include wetland loss, deforestation, loss of topsoil slows and underground aquifers combined and sanitary sewer and plant cover, loss of natural drainage patterns, stream and land erosion, fall—sometimes so far that users overflows (CSOs and SSOs) as habitat loss, reserve farmland loss, loss of groundwater recharge potential, of well water no longer have increased surface water runoff, and groundwater leaching. well as from pet fecal matter. reliable water quantity. Because Recreationists are exposed to these Alarmingly, new developments are often connected to outdated sewage the ecosystem is less able to break treatment systems that cannot handle the volume of waste generated. pathogens in our surface water. down contaminants that may Since we have degraded our ecosystem services, they can no longer break Groundwater can also become down contaminants or purify or hold water as they once did. As a result, cause cancer, birth defects, or contaminated by pathogens, the groundwater becomes contaminated with a chemical soup. Stormwater other environmental disease, these resulting in exposure for well surges and flooding further increase the likelihood that contaminants and contaminants build up in water, water users. Anglers who like pathogens will degrade our drinking water sources; these contaminants also leading to increased exposure of can be deposited downstream, thus threatening other groundwater sources. to eat the fish they catch—and humans, birds, animals, and fish there are thousands of them in to toxic and hazardous substances. Southwestern Pennsylvania—could Category 4— outcomes, or examples of Category The routes of human and animal be consuming carcinogenic and Secon da ry 4 in the chain of causation. exposure vary according to toxic contaminants, risking the the class of chemicals or metal Wat er Modern stormwater engineering unfavorable health outcomes in the environment. Generally, M a nage m e n t practices are designed to noted in relation to the indi- contaminants in water can enter Outcomes move water away from new vidual contaminants in Category 2. the body via ingestion and skin 6 developments as swiftly as Exposure of anglers to toxic Flooding and contamination of absorption (fish are exposed contaminants can occur because drinking water sources by pathogens possible into receiving streams through their gills), but certain old industrial chemicals like and chemicals are actually the and rivers. While this approach chemicals such as solvents can be PCBs, the pesticide DDT, and result of interaction among the protects the development and its inhaled in the shower if contained methylmercury from power plant primary problems covered in immediate neighbors, it causes in the water supply. emissions can accumulate in the Category 1, the introduction flooding at critical discharge points flesh and fat of fish. For instance, of contaminants described in downstream (French, 2006). The Erosion resulting from increased 25 percent of the fish caught near Category 2, and the ecosystem frequency and severity of floods runoff and stream flows leads to Kittanning have methylmercury service losses noted in Category are increasing in many older urban an increase in water sediments above the EPA standard of 3. Thus they are best viewed as and suburban communities. and dissolved solids. Sediments 3 parts per million. Families secondary water management can especially choke small streams, making them unsuitable for many eating these fish have increased

IOP issues 38 39 IOP issues risk of neurological and to the loss of human life, personal endocrine-disrupting chemicals (ALCOSAN). If we are continually developmental problems in injury, and/or property damage. could increase levels of cancer in violation of Clean Water Act children (Volz et al., 2007a). The high humidity and water levels and other systemic diseases in regulations, we remain in great left in insulation, drywall, and jeopardy of having a solution to Inattention to our flooding our population (MacKenzie et other building materials following our sewage problems imposed underground mines creates al., 1994; National Water Quality flooding encourage the growth on us by regulatory agencies or potentially catastrophic conditions Inventory Report, 2000). The of molds, which can exacerbate by the courts. A federal district that could lead to mine blowouts population groups most vulnerable environmentally induced asthma, to environmental disease are the court ordered the Massachusetts (often from hillsides above especially in children. The social unborn, children, the elderly, and Water Resources Authority to bring populated areas). The challenge of and economic underpinnings of those at the lower end of the 86 CSOs in the Boston area into dewatering these old mines in an communities are disrupted, and socioeconomic spectrum; thus, compliance with the Clean Water environmentally sensitive manner psychological disturbances like water problems are environmental Act. We have more than 700 remains formidable. Finally, our post-traumatic stress disor- justice issues. The possibility of a unresolved CSOs in Southwestern patterns of development, which der (PTSD) are often reported. large-scale waterborne epidemic Pennsylvania. include burying watercourses and Increasingly, public funds are from Cryptosporidium parvum or disturbing our most productive and needed for downstream storm- another form of pathogen always sensitive watersheds, contribute to How to Br e a k water management and flood looms, too. We know we have the loss of various forms of natural the Chain— insurance programs. Increased high levels of cryptosporidium and life. Streams do not have the S ta k e holder sediments in water along with giardia in our water downstream biological diversity to support Perspectives contaminants and pathogens from CSOs and SSOs. An epidemic high-end aquatic predators like add to the cost of water of gastrointestinal disease like the Threats to water management trout, so fishing recreationists 8 purification, again usually paid for one seen in Milwaukee could make create opportunities for new and must depend on costly stocking by the general public. Despite our hundreds of thousands of people innovative programs to counter to ensure the continuance of their region’s surplus of water, these ill and could kill hundreds of immu- these threats. Opportunities for sport. Habitat loss can put other water quality problems can have an nocompromised persons, such as Southwestern Pennsylvania include: species in the food chain at risk of impact on available water quantity those with HIV/AIDS or receiving population loss or even extinction. • Developing a coordinated and ultimately on sustainable chemotherapy. More likely are regional approach to water economic growth. Moreover, outbreaks of disease among management Category 5— destruction or degradation of recreational river users; these out- • Holistic, watershed-based T ert i a ry Wat er natural habitats diminishes their breaks are on the rise in the United social-ecological-economic M a nage m e n t recreation potential and kills native States and have been reported by thinking Outcomes aquatic life and plants. fishing enthusiasts in the Pittsburgh • Growing and coordinating our If left unchecked, secondary Increasing exposure to toxic and area (Volz and Christen, 2007). 7 watershed groups and other water management outcomes, carcinogenic chemicals and metals Costly legal actions are yet another nonprofit organizations individually or in combination, can increases the risk that some in our type of severe water management in turn cause significant tertiary population will develop a disease outcome. The U.S. Environmental • Integrated water planning public health, medical, environ- that is either caused or exacerbated Protection Agency has recently • Educating public officials and mental, social, emotional, and by water contaminants. Persistent finished negotiating terms of a citizens on the link between economic consequences. For exposure via water to organic consent decree with the Allegheny water management and public instance, flooding can lead directly compounds, toxic metals, and County Sanitary Authority health issues

IOP issues 40 41 IOP issues • Using our considerable university Carnegie Mellon’s Jared Cohon Dzombak believes that a source of Deb Simko is more adamant and professional expertise wants to see the region strive for substantial, dedicated funding is about the need to regionalize a water plan that encompasses • Encouraging better stewardship needed to fix our water problems our approach to water problems. the entire 11-county area, though of both public and private and that we can learn from other She said that until we “get our planning may have to occur “in property metropolitan areas that have act together” most of the water pieces” on the way to a regionwide formed multicounty regional water funding in the state will go to the • Broad-based educational plan. Based on his broad experience management planning structures, Chesapeake Bay problem. “We programs in environmental management, such as Atlanta, Minneapolis-St. have been told over and over again • Enlisting anglers and other Cohon strongly urges that we Paul, and Louisville. He also cited by federal and state government,” recreational groups as advocates treat water as a regional asset by the larger-scale water authorities she explained, “that we don’t have establishing a regional organization being formed in Mississippi our legislators and municipalities These opportunities are reviewed that can handle the economic, following Hurricane Katrina: behind us. So if we could form on the following pages. social, ecological, engineering, and “They’re trying to take the some kind of alliance that Treat Water as a Regional political aspects of the problem. devastation of what they suffered encompasses everyone, we will Asset with a Regional Cohon previously chaired the and make some positives out of it.” have a stronger voice and the Approach Southwestern Pennsylvania Dzombak said this process takes money will stop going only to Whether through a regional Water and Sewer Infrastructure considerable political will, the Chesapeake Bay” instead of authority, countywide cooperation, Project Steering Committee; its but warned that if we don’t the Ohio River basin. recommendations in 2002 included consolidation of authorities, or just move soon we may be compelled Commissioner Bracken Burns sees a a regional goal- and priority-setting sharing resources, stakeholders by a court order to take certain window of opportunity for regional organization that would plan and interviewed for this project steps on a mandated timetable, water policy making as a result prioritize water and wastewater consistently called for changing thereby losing the flexibility to of the attention generated by the investments, help communities the fragmented water and sewer tackle these problems with a ALCOSAN-EPA consent decree that solve water and sewer problems, system now present in the region. homegrown approach. is “putting real numbers on the deliver public education programs, Currently the region’s water and Greg Tutsock, former director of problem—in the billions” and the and advocate on regulatory and sewer infrastructure is owned by as the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer interest shown by Southwestern funding issues (WSIP, 2002). many as 1,000 governmental and Authority, called the three-state Pennsylvania Commission private providers and about 1.2 Dave Dzombak of Carnegie Mellon Chesapeake Bay compact, which (SPC) and the Regional Water million homeowners. Coordinating University said the Pennsylvania has brought funding for central Management Task Force. He said, so many entities to solve regional Economy League’s suggestion Pennsylvania communities to “I think that there is an energy water management problems is of using three existing fix long-standing sewage and surrounding this issue right now problematic if not impossible. organizations—3 Rivers Wet agricultural runoff problems, an that I never saw before. And Although no one wishes to force Weather for technical assistance, excellent model for collaboration. we’d better act now, because if a particular solution on any the Southwestern Pennsylvania He believes working collectively this initiative fails, the next time municipality or authority, an Commission for regional planning, is necessary “to leverage federal someone says ‘Let’s do this,’ others effective regional system is and the Greater Pittsburgh funding to facilitate and pay for will say that we already tried back probably not achievable if all Chamber of Commerce for upgrades to infrastructure, and for in 2006–07 and it didn’t work, so of them retain their complete advocacy—is “logical and very the monitoring and assessments there won’t be enough energy to autonomy. practical.” But, he added, a that will be needed over the next get it up and going again.” Burns voluntary system may not work. 15 years.” would like to see one sewer and

IOP issues 42 43 IOP issues water authority for the region with private lines may be the worse abundance of rainfall and is thus first as a prerequisite for a good taxing and management authority, half.” Schombert said the basement able to regenerate some of its economy.” She urged that new so that it can provide services, dewatering business specializes in natural ecosystems and improve development be confined to combine resources, and look at draining water from homeowners’ water quality through dilution of selected regional and urban areas problems more globally. basements, often into the sanitary contaminants. Nevertheless, eco- that need economic renewal, in sewer system; this activity, along Glotfelty doubts that the region nomic expansion is often limited accordance with a comprehensive with the common practice of could agree on having a single because of the additional water plan that strengthens our “under- connecting roof, retaining wall, and entity manage its sewer and water purification and treatment capacity served river towns” and other drainages to sanitary sewer infrastructure, but she feels the needed to protect public health conservation reserve programs. To lines, overwhelms the system and number of separate organizations from existing pollution and prevent mesh restoration and preservation must be eliminated. could be reduced. “I don’t want further water quality degradation. with economic development, This present weakness can be Bonomo recommended a strategy to be negative about an 11-county Holistic Watershed Social- turned into an opportunity if we under which companies can buy regional authority, but it could be Ecological-Economic Systems begin to incorporate regional upstream credits for preservation two counties working together, or Thinking: Protecting and water management, sustainable in order to receive permission for four,” she said—“whatever makes Rehabilitating Ecosystem sense and where the problems can Resources and Planning for development, and transportation economic expansion downstream. interrelate.” On the other hand, Sustainable Development projects in a way that protects New Castle, the largest municipality natural assets. Glotfelty does see a role for a Historically, economic development in Lawrence County, is a place multicounty planning authority planning has been premised on the The decline of our industrial and where people can drop a line similar to what SPC does for use of land, labor, and capital to population base enables us to and catch fish right in the heart transportation. To function produce goods and services. This locate new residential and com- of the city. Lawrence County effectively, this body would have model has overlooked the negative mercial activity in areas with Commissioner Dan Vogler would to be “far enough up from the impacts of the gradual, long-term existing water, sewer, and like to keep it that way. Vogler day-to-day operational stuff to see degradation of natural resources. transportation infrastructure. believes redevelopment of formerly how all the issues fit together,” These negative impacts—on public Placing development in the urban industrialized areas of New Castle and it would need some means of health, wildlife, aquatic life, and core or at “brownfield” and with existing sewer and water generating revenue. recreation—include very real “greyfield” sites allows protection infrastructure is the way to protect Schombert questions whether economic losses. Holistic social- of upstream watersheds and the what he considers the jewels of correcting Allegheny County’s ecological-economic systems replenishing of natural habitats, his county: Slippery Rock Creek CSO and SSO problems is possible thinking that takes these factors even in suburban areas. and the Neshannock River. Both of these watercourses provide without the political will to change into account creates opportunities Jackie Bonomo of the Western fishing and boating opportunities the county’s sewer governance to preserve and repair ecological Pennsylvania Conservancy said and are thus economic assets for system. Plenty of money will be assets, improve water quality, that, because of the region’s the county. “Through more dense needed —perhaps $4 billion. decrease stormwater runoff and industrial history and more development in the old urban core Schombert estimates that the flooding, increase the aesthetic recent commercial and residential of New Castle we can have less ALCOSAN communities own a value of our waterways, and developments, “there is a deficit stress on outlying areas,” he said, total of 4,000 miles of pipes, with plan for sustainable economic now in the balance between “retaining their rural character another 4,000 miles in private development. development and restoration, so while reinvigorating the economy ownership. “And that raises Southwestern Pennsylvania is we have to focus on restoration of our largest city.” Vogler sees the another issue,” he stated—“the extremely fortunate to have an

IOP issues 44 45 IOP issues recreation potential of the county’s council seeks to establish project- Simko, who grew up in the These nongovernmental environmental assets growing as specific strategies and partnerships Allegheny River valley, seconded organizations represent social water quality improves. He said so as to preserve water resources, Arnowitt’s concern, calling capital. They have great experience that wise rural stewardship and the especially in watersheds under Pittsburgh Mills “a disaster for in the protection, mitigation, and creation of more state game lands stress such as the Pine Creek river communities and local water remediation of rivers, streams, and would help Lawrence County to watershed of Allegheny County. quality.” Nearby New Kensington, groundwater supplies. Many are grow a recreational economy and Glotfelty emphasized the she noted, has been identified deeply involved in the practical sustain watersheds for downstream connections among water as a Keystone Opportunity Zone aspects of improving water quality, communities. quality and sustainable economic needing redevelopment. Simko including river and stream ecology, Yarone Zober, chief of staff for development. “We didn’t believes that placing new contaminant sampling and Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, appreciate our rivers as assets until developments in the old down- analysis, and data management. has seen a growing “green” the industries were gone,” she towns can make them the focus for These organizations have great commitment during the past said. “Now millions of dollars of further riverfront activity, saving knowledge of specific watersheds; decade, including recognition that investment are coming in because the inner-core communities and coordinating their efforts and water is one of Pittsburgh’s great- the water quality is improving and helping to rebuild their sewer and knowledge offers a fantastic est assets. But he deplored the being along the river is seen as a water infrastructure. opportunity to benefit the whole region. If a holistic watershed “continued emphasis on placing real amenity.” Grow and Coordinate Our management plan could be agreed new development in green spaces” Social Capital— Arnowitt pointed out, “We have upon, the entity overseeing and agreed with Vogler that Nongovernmental little permitting oversight for implementation of the plan could redevelopment of urban areas will cumulative effects on a total Organizations, put less pressure on undeveloped Watershed Groups enlist the assistance of local watershed.” He cited Slippery organizations to help it accomplish land and help the economy of the Many statewide, regional, and local Rock Creek, with many mining regional or subregional goals. urban core. Zober noted that resi- pollution sources along its length, nongovernmental organizations dential property values rise when as an example. Arnowitt is also are involved in watershed and Organizing and coordinating these there is a convenient connection to concerned about water quality in course preservation, stream and entities is difficult because many greenways and waterways. Deer Creek, which flows into the river rehabilitation, and education. of them rely heavily on volunteer Davitt Woodwell of the Allegheny River at Harmarville. Nongovernmental organizations leadership. Funding for watershed Pennsylvania Environmental Deer Creek, he said, “is a include large watershed groups is available through Council said the council has helped comparatively high-quality stream preservation bodies such as the Pennsylvania’s Growing Greener to complete a unique set of maps in Allegheny County, but is Pennsylvania Environmental program and various local and manuals, known as the Natural threatened by the Pittsburgh Mills Council (PEC) and the Western foundations, but more efforts Infrastructure of Southwestern mall and other developments. Pennsylvania Conservancy, as well should be made to fund the Pennsylvania, which shows existing Holistic watershed approaches, as local watershed groups such formation of watershed groups natural resources and assesses their taking into account all pollution as the Shenango River Watchers and their ongoing viability. quality. This tool, he suggested, sources and the potential effects and the Deer Creek Watershed Deb Simko knows the experience could be used extensively to of development on the watershed, Organization; also represented are of watershed groups well through identify areas for future sustainable need to be kept in mind during activist groups like Clean Water her work for the Western development and areas where no municipal planning.” Action and foundations like The Pennsylvania Coalition for development should occur. The Heinz Endowments, which support Abandoned Mine Reclamation many of these entities financially.

IOP issues 46 47 IOP issues (WPCAMR), a coalition of 24 organization, as Buffalo Creek support and financial assistance Jared Cohon, who describes county conservation districts originates in Pennsylvania but from them. ACHD and ALCOSAN himself as an environmental sys- and more than 90 watershed flows into the Monongahela River share the responsibility of appoint- tems analyst, has been a pioneer organizations. The coalition has in West Virginia. PA CleanWays ing 3 Rivers Wet Weather’s five- in the research specialty known as helped the state Department of Allegheny County received a member board, which must include multiple criteria program planning, of Environmental Protection grant from the American Water one state representative and two or the development of mathemati- (DEP) complete an EPA-required Environmental Grant Program to municipal officials (3 Rivers Wet cal models that address multiple assessment of all streams in the perform tire and debris cleanup Weather, 2005). This approach conflicting objectives related to state. “The state knew it didn’t along the Monongahela River, follows the model of “privatizing” environmental questions. have enough manpower to take assisted by the Three Rivers Rowing public responsibilities to He proposed using this approach samples in all the streams,” Simko Club, Venture Outdoors, Friends nongovernmental or to engage Southwestern explained, “so it came up with a of the Riverfront, and the Student quasigovernmental organizations Pennsylvania’s more rural Growing Greener initiative that Conservation Association. that can devote consistent focus counties as part of a regional water empowered local citizen groups to Along French Creek, a tributary to their area of expertise with management organization and take water samples and do their of the upper Allegheny River, minimal bureaucratic interference to resolve resource-allocation own assessments. Now there are the Pennsylvania Environmental (Volz, 2002). Such an arrangement tensions between urban, suburban, roughly 400 watershed groups Council (PEC) is moving out of its has great potential for promoting and rural areas. In most of Greene across the state, and many of them usual realms of science and public improved regional water County, for example, it is not have become empowered through policy. Here the PEC is doing management. economical to install municipal doing their own assessments.” sewer infrastructure; an alternative public education about the creek, Integrated Water Planning Only a handful of Southwestern its resources, and its history. In might be “forward thinking Once we have brought together Pennsylvania’s watershed 2006 it started managing a nearby about multi-lot systems.” Cohon a critical mass of organizations organizations have paid staff, market house in Meadville as a way called for an iterative process by and people using holistic social- however; many of them are to link local agriculture with local which the plan, as it takes shape, ecological-economic watershed dependent on a few dedicated market opportunities. The PEC has is brought back to stakeholder thinking, then we need to develop volunteers, so if those people move used its expanding local role to call groups for review. This, he said, is an integrated water management away or retire, the organization for better agricultural practices, the path to developing consensus. could go out of existence unless plan that takes into account the such as taking nitrates out of the For Arnowitt, balancing the needs new leaders emerge. often-conflicting objectives of watershed. of all Southwestern Pennsylvania our subregions. This plan should In the Beaver River watershed, residents is both a moral problem In Allegheny County, 3 Rivers Wet encompass all facets of water the Mahoning River Consortium and a problem of equity. Having Weather aims to improve water management: quality and quantity, (Mahoning River Consortium, observed some distrust between quality in Allegheny County by stormwater management, flooding, 2006) and the Shenango River the city of Pittsburgh and the advocating community coop- sewage, and water provision. Watchers (Shenango River remainder of Allegheny County, eration regarding CSOs, SSOs, Preparing the plan will not be Watchers, 2005) are active in Arnowitt said it is important untreated sewage, and stormwater easy because we have hard choices promoting river remediation that “one side is not seen as overflows. This organization was to make—not least because we activities so that both human and paying more than its share.” Any created through collaboration have neglected many problems aquatic river uses are enhanced. regional structure, similarly, would between the Allegheny County for so long. The Buffalo Creek Watershed Health Department (ACHD) and need appropriate regionwide Alliance is an interstate ALCOSAN and receives in-kind

IOP issues 48 49 IOP issues representation that would ensure comments of two prominent of the situation and the political center at the University of that “the environmental concerns environmental advocates, Ron will to change systems or pay for Pittsburgh (www.upace-epht. of people can be incorporated— Rohall and Simko. Rohall is a needed upgrades. publichealth.pitt.edu). not just economic concerns.” consulting forester, practicing in Simko said other areas of Use Local University and the Laurel Highlands region, and Schombert stressed the lack of Pennsylvania have made efforts Professional Strengths chairs the Ohio Basin Regional comprehensive regional land-use to link water quality information Water Resources Committee. Water-related academic programs planning in Pennsylvania, an with public health outcomes. She When asked about the main exist in at least nine postsecondary omission that seriously hampers said local councils of governments threats to water quality in his area, institutions within Western water management. As one and the Hershey Medical Center he described three of them— Pennsylvania. In addition, several example of the result, he said, have partnered in such an initiative abandoned mine drainage; of these schools focus on the during the 1980s Allegheny County in north central Pennsylvania, a driveways, farm lanes, and old translation of technical information municipalities used federal funds region where abandoned mine logging roads that add to sediment into policy solutions. These skills to place public sewer lines in areas drainage threatens tourism poten- release; and sewage from are central to addressing our water where they would not otherwise tial as well as human health. malfunctioning on-lot and problems. Moreover—partly due have been financially feasible. As a community systems. Rohall The University of Pittsburgh’s to the extent of environmental result, development proliferated in advocates attacking all three Graduate School of Public Health degradation this region has these areas, creating new water- problems simultaneously: has an academic center of experienced—we have many local related issues such as stormwater “Remediate the abandoned excellence for environmental individuals with advanced training drainage and flooding problems. mine drainage, get the sediment public health tracking. This center, in environmental engineering Citing a Brookings Institution pollution under control, and get supported by the federal Centers and health. report, Schombert observed that, the poop out of our streams.” for Disease Control and Prevention, when one counts the infrastruc- Cohon pointed, like many others, On the other hand, Simko said, is working with county and state ture, right-of-way, and road to John Schombert and Allegheny “People in rural areas aren’t going health departments and academic extensions, the average amount County Health Department to care about the sewage problem institutions around the country to of land used to build a new home Director Bruce Dixon as people until they get drinking water” free develop environmental indicators is greater in Pennsylvania than with high-level expertise. He from AMD, so she would prefer to that can be associated with health anywhere else in the nation. The also spoke of a Carnegie Mellon see source quality and abandoned problems geographically so as Brookings Institution reported University spin-off company mine drainage issues tackled first. to identify and combat patterns in 2003 that Pennsylvania is called Red Zone Robotics, which of environmental disease. Water undergoing “one of the nation’s is developing a robot that could Educate Public Officials issues are part of the environmental most radical patterns of sprawl crawl through sewers to inspect and Citizens on the Direct public health program, and groups and abandonment” (McMahon them and even fix damaged pipes. Relationship between Water of scientists are studying the and Mastran, 2005). Schombert Efforts to commercialize such Management and Public impact of arsenic, lead, copper, believes that integrated, regional Health Issues research could contribute chlorination by-products, and water and land-use planning can to improvements in water The connection between water pathogens in water. All groups address such inefficiencies. management and add to the quality problems and human interested in promoting improved growing high-technology sector An integrated plan will require the disease—or even death—should water management in our area of our economy. harmonizing of many different be more broadly highlighted so as should be aware of this academic perspectives, as illustrated by the to build awareness of the urgency

IOP issues 50 51 IOP issues Encourage Stewardship of techniques that allow for economic 2001). They function best when Citizens, local officials, and even Both Public and Private gain and also allow the ecosystem the concerns of watershed groups state and federal legislators do Property to function by holding water and and other stakeholders are not always understand the In many parts of the country letting it recharge the groundwater integrated, combining explanations connections between what we both government and watershed aquifers. of the natural ecosystem with put on our lawns, on icy roads, organizations are teaching small Policy makers, once a watershed discussion of related issues such as or down our drains or toilets landholders how to care for water- plan is devised, could determine, rural and community development, and our water quality. 3 Rivers courses that meander through their in conjunction with groups like public health promotion, and Wet Weather, the Pennsylvania property. This instruction includes the Pennsylvania Environmental natural resource management. Environmental Council, and setting aside some strip of their watershed groups are making Council and Western Pennsylvania Watershed education should property next to the watercourse some inroads, but more systematic, Conservancy, which areas should become a central feature of and allowing native plants and large-scale educational efforts be set aside from development K–12 education in the region trees to grow there; refraining from are needed. The New Jersey for watershed protection, water because our surface water is so channelizing the stream and from Department of Environmental recharge, water purification, plant central to our sense of identity and building in areas that naturally Protection, Division of Watershed and animal sanctuaries, and aes- economy—and because people flood; discontinuing herbicide, Management, has devised one thetic and recreational purposes. need to know how CSOs and pesticide, and fertilizer applications; possible model. This program Landowners could get some return legacy pollutants are affecting and allowing for the introduction offers training and materials for on their investment for keeping our water. The Pennsylvania of fish, amphibians, and insects. teachers, classroom presentations their land as a natural ecosystem Department of Conservation and by AmeriCorps volunteers, a In addition to instruction on serving the public good. Natural Resources has a watershed volunteer watch and monitoring environmental stewardship, education program for students Educational Programs program, a program for young landholders can be offered and teachers in grades 6–12. This anglers about the dangers of incentives to maintain land in an Decades ago, a famous television program promotes classroom eating fish from contaminated undeveloped state. This action ad showing a Native American and field research, hands-on areas, many specific technical would be especially helpful in looking at litter along the roadway ecological investigations, network- publications, and a large teacher maintaining the tops of our most and shedding a tear, moved ing, partnerships, stewardship, conference promoting networking productive watersheds like the children to stop their parents from and community service (www. (www.state.nj.us/dep/water- Allegheny Ridges. Said Rohall: throwing trash out the window. watersheded.dcnr.state.pa.us). The shedmgt/outreach_education. “People who own land in the Today, the savings we should gain U.S. Geological Survey provides htm#urbanfish). headwaters and many other land- from implementing better coordi- much information on its education nation in water management could owners need to get an economic Web site that can be included in Enlist Anglers and Other be invested partly in funding return from the land. Without elementary and secondary school Recreational Groups allowing for this return, we put the educational programs on watershed education programs As frequent observers of area forests they own, which protect watersheds and their value. (http://water.usgs.gov/education. waterways, anglers are excellent the integrity of the watershed, html). The Pennsylvania Fish and So-called “community-based river inspectors; they could thus under increased threat of being Boat Commission also has useful participatory” approaches to assist regulators and regional policy converted to uses that increase educational modules on water education on issues of public makers in efforts to comply with runoff and pollution.” He said pollution, wetlands, aquatic habitat, concern have paid considerable the Clean Water Act and in making timber harvesters and landowners and other issues (http://sites.state. dividends across the country and policy decisions. All Bassmaster could be taught to use harvesting the world (Parkes and Panelli, pa.us/PA_Exec/Fish_Boat/education/ catalog/cat0index.htm). IOP issues 52 53 IOP issues groups that were present at the detaching stormwater drains References Curriero, F., J. Patz, J. Rose, and S. Southwestern Pennsylvania focus and eliminating combined sewer ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances Lele. 2001. The association between extreme precipitation and water group meeting in May 2007 overflow points. Boaters, water and Disease Registry). 2005. borne disease outbreaks in the wished that they could be part of skiers, and Jet Ski users have been Toxicological profile for arsenic. www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/ United States, 1948–1994. a solution to the problem of water enjoying their recreational activities tp2.html. American Journal of Public Health contamination and stormwater on our rivers. Anglers are out on 91, no. 8: 1194–1199. ATSDR. 2006. Carbon disulfide health surges. They said that they could rivers, streams, and lakes through- effects. www.atsdr.cdc. Eggen, R. I. L., B.-E. Bengtsson, help in identifying consistent sewer out the region, and many of them gov/MHMI/ mmg82 C. T. Bowmer, A. A. M. Gerritson, overflow problems, CSOs that are keeping their catch for dinner. html#bookmark02. M. Gibert, K. Hylland, A. C. Johnson, remain jammed open even after Existing marinas are expanding, P. Leonards, T. Nakari, L. Norrgren, Ali, R., and D. Wheitner. 2005. J. P. Sumpter, M. J.-F. Suter, wet-weather events, and industrial and new riverside developments Environmental health in the A. Svensen, and A. D. Pickering. discharges (Volz, 2006). Anglers are occurring. Pittsburgh region: Toward an 2003. Search for the evidence of assessment of the current state have a deep desire to protect their Yes, our water quality has gotten endocrine disruption in the aquatic recreational habitat; so do hunting of information. Unpublished environment: Lessons to be learned much better. Yes, we still have manuscript. The Center for organizations. Both groups can from joint biological and chemical substantial challenges. And yes, Healthy Environments and exert considerable political influence monitoring in the European project our water problems can be fixed, Communities, University of COMPREHEND. Pure Applied on behalf of the importance of and our region’s people must work Pittsburgh, Graduate Chemistry 75, no. 11–12: School of Public Health. clean water. together to fix them if we are to 2445–2450. thrive. Moving to the upstream Anderson, R. M., K. M. Beer, T. F. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). Buckwalter, M. E. Clark, Conc lusion: suburbs does not exempt us from 1995. Source Sector Notebook— S. D. McAuley, J. I. Sams III, and Le t’s No t the impact of Clean Water Act Iron and Steel Industry. D. R. Williams. 2000. Washington, D.C.: EPA. Drow n regulations, or from being required Water Quality in the Allegheny Together to work with downstream and Monongahela River Basins EPA. 2000. EPA Orders AK Steel to communities in achieving cost- of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Reduce Nitrate Discharges, Provide Twenty years ago my friends at the Safe Drinking Water for Zelienople. effective and environmentally New York and Maryland, 1996–98. Sylvan Canoe Club looked at the US Geological Circular 1202. http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/ sound solutions. We must address depressing mess floating down the admpress.nsf/89745a330d4ef8b985 our regional water management Borough of Zelienople (Pennsylvania). 2572a000651fe1/47fa9262390cad Allegheny River and wondered, 2004. Water events—a chronology. issues jointly, and in conjunction 5852570d60070fb44! “Can our water quality problems boro.zelienople.pa.us/water2_ with our economic and OpenDocument. be fixed?” Since then we have events.htm. transportation initiatives, so EPA. 2000a. The National Nitrate seen many encouraging improve- Casner, N. 1994. Acid water: that our substantial water Compliance Initiative. www.epa.gov/ ments. Sewage authorities A history of coal mine pollution in compliance/resources/publications/ quality challenges do not drown are upgrading their systems by western Pennsylvania, 1880–1950. civil/programs/nitrate.pdf. our region’s future. Ph.D. diss., Carnegie Mellon University. EPA. 2000b. Endangerment 1431. www.epa.gov/reg3wapd/drinking Clean Water Action. 2005. River water/ endanger.htm. Mining. www.cleanwateraction.org/ pa/rivermining.html. EPA. 2007. Mid-Atlantic Superfund. Osborne landfill. www.epa.gov/ reg3hwmd/npl/PAD980712673.htm. EPA. 2007. Mercury. www.epa.gov/ mercury.

IOP issues 54 55 IOP issues Fan, A. M., and V. E. Steinberg. 1996. Graham, J. P. 2005. Waste not want Hoxie, N. J., J. P. Davis, J. M. Vergerint, Mahler, B. J., P. C. Van Metre, Health implications of nitrate and not: Industrial animal production R. D. Nashold, and K. A. Blair. 1997. T. J. Bashara, J. T. Wilson, and nitrite in drinking water: An update waste and water quality. Paper Cryptosporidiosis-associated D. A. Johns. 2005. Parking-lot on methemoglobinemia occurrence presented at the Sixth Annual mortality following a massive sealcoat: An unrecognized source of and reproductive and developmental Environmental and Occupational waterborne outbreak in Milwaukee, urban PAHs. Environmental toxicity. Regulatory Toxicology and Health Conference of the Wisconsin. American Journal of Science and Technology 39, no. 15: Pharmacology 23, no. 1: 35–43. Association of Schools of Public Public Health 87 (12):2032–5. 5560–5566. Health, June 12–14, in Oklahoma French, D. R.. 2006. The rising floods: Kammen, N., N. Burgess, C. Driscoll, Mahoning River Consortium. 2006. City, OK. Why Southwestern Pennsylvania’s H. Simonin, W. Goodale, J. Linehan, www.mahoningriver.com. flood problems are worsening. In Greenberg, M., F. Popper, B. West, and R. Estabrook, M. Hutcheson, McMahon, E. T., and S. S. Mastran. University of Pittsburgh, Institute of D. Krueckeburg. 1994. Linking city A. Major, A. Scheuhammer, and 2005. Better models for development Politics Environment Policy planning and public health in the D. Scruton. 2005. Mercury in in Pennsylvania: Ideas for creating Committee Framing Paper for the United States. Journal of Planning freshwater fish of Northeast more livable and prosperous Regional Water Management Task Literature 8, no. 3: 235–239. North America—A geographic communities. The Conservation Fund Force, ed. T. Miller: 17-21. www.iop. perspective based on fish tissue Greenberg, M., H. Mayer, T. Miller, and Pennsylvania Department of pitt.edu/water/ IOP%20Framing%20 monitoring databases. Ecotoxicology R. Hordon, and D. Knee. 2003. Conservation and Natural Resources. Paper.pdf. 14, nos. 1–2: 163–180. Reestablishing public health and land www.dcnr.state.pa.us/brc/ Fulton, J. W. and T. F. Buckwalter. 2004. use planning to protect public water Lee, S. H., D. A. Levy, G. F. Craun, grants/2005/BetterModels.pdf. Fecal Indicator Bacteria in the supplies. American Journal of Public M. J. Beach, and R. L. Calderon. Miyamoto, J., and J. Burger. 2003. Allegheny, Monongahela, and Health 93, no. 9: 1522–1526. 2002. Surveillance for waterborne- Implications of endocrine active Ohio Rivers, Near Pittsburgh, disease outbreaks—United States, Hedberg, C. W., and M. T. Osterholm. substances for humans and wildlife: Pennsylvania, July–September 1999–2000. Centers for Disease 1993. Outbreaks of food-borne and Executive summary. Pure and 2001. United States Geological Control and Prevention Surveillance waterborne viral gastroenteritis. Applied Chemistry 75, nos. 11–12: Survey Scientific Investigations Summaries. MMWR 2002:51 Clinical Microbiology Reviews 6, xv–xxiii. Report 2004–5009. Reston, VA: (no. SS-8). no. 3: 199–210. USGS. National Research Council. 1999a. Luneberg, W. V. 2004. Where the Three Heisig, P. 1999. Effects of residential New Strategies for America’s Gaffield, S. J., R. L. Goo, L. A. Richards, Rivers converge, unassessed waters and agricultural land uses on the Watersheds. Washington, D.C.: and R. J. Jackson. 2003. Public and the future of EPA’s TMDL chemical quality of baseflow of small National Academies Press. health effects of inadequately program: A case study. Unpublished streams in the Croton watershed, managed stormwater runoff. data, Three Rivers Second Nature, National Research Council. 1999b. Risk Southeastern New York. United American Journal of Public Health Carnegie Mellon University. Assessment of Exposure to Radon in States Geological Survey. WRIR 93, no. 9: 1527–1533. Drinking Water. Washington, D.C.: 99–7413. MacKenzie, W. R., N. J. Hoxie, National Academies Press. Gerberding J. L., Fleming D. W., Snider M. E. Procter, M. S. Gradus, Helfand, W. H., J. Lazarus, and D. E., Thacker SB et al. Surveillance K. A. Blair, D. E. Peterson, National Research Council. 2005. P. Theerman. 2001. Donora, for Waterborne-Disease Outbreaks— J. J. Kazmierczak, D. G. Addis, Regional Cooperation for Water Pennsylvania: An environmental United States, 1999–2000. 2002 K. R. Fox, J. R. Rose, and J. P. Davis. Quality Improvement in disaster of the 20th century. Centers for Disease Control and 1994. A massive outbreak in Southwestern Pennsylvania. American Journal of Public Prevention. Surveillance Summaries. Milwaukee of cryptosporidium Washington, D.C.: National Health 91, no. 4: 553. MMWR 2002:51(No. SS-8). infection transmitted through the Academies Press. Hemond, H. and E. Fechner-Levy. 2000. public water supply. New England Gibson, C., K. Stadterman, S. States, National Water Quality Inventory Report. Chemical Fate and Transport in the Journal of Medicine 331, and J. Sykora. 1998. Combined 2000. EPA Report 841-R-02-001. Environment. 2nd ed. San Diego: no. 3:161–167. sewer overflows: A source of Washington, D.C.: EPA. Academic Press. cryptosporidium and giardia? Water Science and Technology 38, no. 12: 67–72.

IOP issues 56 57 IOP issues New Jersey Department of Rose, J. B. 1997. Environmental ecology 3 Rivers Wet Weather. 2005. Vijay, R., and T. A. Sihorwala. 2003. Environmental Protection. Urban of Cryptosporidium and public health Partnerships: ALCOSAN and the Identification and leaching watershed education program. implications. Annual Review of Allegheny County Health characteristics of sludge generated www.state.nj.us/dep/ Public Health 18: 135–61. Department. from metal pickling and electroplating watershedmgt/outreach_education. www.3riverswetweather. industries by Toxicity Characteristics Rose, J., S. Daeschner, D. Easterling, htm#urbanfish. org/a_about/a_partner.stm. Leaching Procedure (TCLP). F. Curriero, S. Lele, and J. A. Patz. Environmental Monitoring & Parkes, M., and R. Panelli. 2001. 2000. Climate and waterborne U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Assessment 84, no. 3: 193–202. Integrating catchment ecosystems disease outbreaks. Journal of the Pittsburgh District. 1980. Final and community health: The value of American Water Works Association Environmental Statement on Volz, C. D. 2002. Privatization of public participatory action research. 92, no. 9: 77–87. Allegheny River Pennsylvania and environmental health services: Ecosystem Health 7, no. 2: (Mile 0 to Mile 62.2), Commercial Analysis of contract language from Sams, J., and K. Beer. 2000. Effects of 85–106. Sand and Dredging Operations. privatization contracts. PhD. diss., coal-mine drainage on stream water Pittsburgh: U.S. Army Corps University of Pittsburgh, Graduate Pennsylvania Department of quality in the Allegheny and of Engineers. School of Public Health. Conservation and Natural Resources. Monongahela River basins—Sulfate Watershed Education. transport and trends. Water Resources U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh Volz, C. D. 2006. Unpublished interviews www.watersheded.dcnr.state.pa.us. Investigations Report 99-4208. District. 2006. Mahoning River, Ohio, with area residents and recreational Lemoyne, PA: USGS, National Environmental Dredging Project. users. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Water-Quality Assessment Program. www.lrp.usace.army.mil/pm/ 2003. Monongahela River Lock Volz, C. D., and C. Christen. 2005–2006. mahonoh.htm. Chamber. www.fish.state.pa.us/ Sanderson, T., and M. van den Berg. Unpublished focus group results, images/fisheries/afm/2003/ 2003. Interactions of Xenobiotics U.S. Geological Survey. 2000. Arsenic Pittsburgh fish contaminant study, 8_09-29mon.htm. with the Steroid Hormone in Ground-Water Resources of the September 2005–May 2006. Biosynthesis Pathway. Pure and United States. USGS Fact Sheet Center for Healthy Environments and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Applied Chemistry 75, nos. 11–12: FS–063–00. http://water.usgs.gov/ Communities, University of Education Resources Catalog. 1957–1971. nawqa/trace/pubs/fs-063-00/ Pittsburgh, Graduate School http://sites. state.pa.us/PA_Exec/ fs-063-00.pdf. of Public Health and University of Fish_Boat/education/catalog/ Shenango River Watchers. 2005. Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Center cat0index.htm. www.shenangoriverwatchers.org. U.S. Geological Survey, August 1, 2005, for Environmental Oncology. Environmental Science and Ritter, L., K. Solomon, P. Sibley, K. Hall, States, S., K. Stadterman, L. Ammon, Technology. http://water.usgs.gov/ Volz, C. D., and C. Christen. 2007. P. Keen, G. Mattu, and B. Linton. P. Vogel, J. Baldizar, D. Wright, nawqa/asphalt_sealers.html. Why are water recreationalists most 2002. Sources, pathways and relative L. Conley, and J. Sykora. 1997. at risk from waterborne diseases? risks of contaminants in surface Protozoa in river water: Sources, U.S. Geological Survey. 2007. Water Journal of Occupational and and groundwater: A perspective occurrence, and treatment. Journal Resources Information for Students Environmental Medicine 49, prepared for the Walkerton inquiry. of the American Water Works and Teachers. http://water.usgs.gov/ no. 1: 104–105. Journal of Toxicology and Association 89, no. 9: 74–83. education.html. Environmental Health Part A 65, Volz, C. D., Y. Liu, N. Sussman, S. Brady, Sumpter, J. P. 1998. Xenoendocrine Venture Outdoors. 2005. Unpublished no. 1: 1–142. P. Caruso, M. Arnowitt, P. Eagon, disruptors—environmental impacts. data on type and number of fish M. Donovan, D. Davis, J. Peterson, Robertson, L. J., A. T. Campbell, and Toxicology Letters 102: 337–342. caught during regularly scheduled and R. Sharma. 2007a. The use of H. V. Smith. 1992. Survival of Wednesday in Summer Fishing Event. Tarr, J., ed. 2003. Devastation and channel catfish to monitor for Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts renewal: An environmental history mercury in the Pittsburgh area, under various environmental of Pittsburgh and its region. implications for source assessment. pressures. Applied Environmental Pittsburgh: University of Abstract accepted for oral Microbiology 58, Pittsburgh Press. presentation at the American Public no. 11: 3494–3500. Health Association Conference, November 9–11, in Washington, D.C.

IOP issues 58 59 IOP issues Volz, C. D., D. Davis, M. Donovan, Youngstown State University EPA – U.S. Environmental Protection WPCAMR – Western Pennsylvania F. Houghton, N. Sussman, D. Lenzner, Public Service Institute. 2007. Agency, represented in Southwestern Coalition for Abandoned Mine T. El Hefnawy, and P. Eagon. 2007b. Mahoning River Watershed. The Pennsylvania by Region III, which has Reclamation Estrogenicity index of channel catfish Mahoning River education project: headquarters in Philadelphia WSIP – Southwestern Pennsylvania (Ictalarus punctatus) associated with history of ecological abuse. FC – Fecal coliform bacteria Water and Sewer Infrastructure Project combined sewer overflows in www.ysu. edu/mahoning_river/ GSPH – University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA: Implications for Research%20Reports/ Key Informants Interviewed Graduate School of Public Health drinking water in the Greater river_abuse.htm. and Their Organizations Pittsburgh metropolitan area. HFA – Hydrofluoric acid Mr. Myron Arnowitt, Western Paper presented at the University of Abbreviations MCF-7 – A human breast cancer cell Pennsylvania Director, Clean Pittsburgh Cancer Institute’s 2,4-D – Weed-B-Gone Water Action Scientific Retreat, June 21, at the line used to identify the presence of 3RWW – 3 Rivers Wet Weather estrogen-mimicking chemicals University of Pittsburgh Greensburg Ms. Jackie Bonomo, Vice President, Demonstration Project campus. Accepted for publication, MCL – Maximum Concentration Level Conservation Programs, The Western Third Annual Conference on ACHD – Allegheny County Health Pennsylvania Conservancy NAS – National Academies of Science Environmental Science and Department The Honorable Bracken Burns, Technology, North Carolina A&T, NGO – Nongovernmental Organization ALCOSAN – Allegheny County Sanitary Chair, Washington County Board Batelle Press Publications. Authority NRC – National Research Council of Commissioners and Chair, Walters, M. and Volz, C. D. 2007. AMD – Abandoned mine drainage OHS – Organohalogen Substance Southwestern Pennsylvania Municipal wastewater concentrations Commission of pharmaceutical and ATSDR – Agency for Toxic Substances PA – Pennsylvania Dr. Jared Cohon, President, Carnegie xeno-estrogens: Wildlife and human and Disease Registry PAH – Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon Mellon University and Chair, Regional health implications. Accepted for CAFO – Confined animal feeding PCB – Polychlorinated biphenyl Water Management Task Force publication, Third Annual operations Conference on Environmental PEC – Pennsylvania Environmental Dr. David Dzombak, Professor, Civil and CBP – Community-based participatory Science and Technology, Council Environmental Engineering, Carnegie approaches Mellon University North Carolina A&T, Batelle PFBC – Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Press Publications. CDC – Centers for Disease Control and Commission Ms. Caren Glotfelty, Director of Prevention Environmental Programs, The Heinz WSIP (Southwestern Pennsylvania POC – Persistent organic contaminant Water and Sewer Infrastructure CMU – Carnegie Mellon University Endowments Project Steering Committee). 2002. PPM – Parts per million CSO – Combined sewer overflow Mr. Ronald Rohall, Chair, Ohio Basin Investing in Clean Water: A Report PWSA – Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Regional Water Resources Committee from the Southwestern Pennsylvania CSTE – Council of State and Territorial Authority Water and Sewer Infrastructure Epidemiologists Mr. John Schombert, Executive SPC – Southwestern Pennsylvania Project Steering Committee. Director, 3 Rivers Wet Weather CWA – Clean Water Action Commission Pittsburgh: Campaign for Demonstration Project DCNR – Pennsylvania Department of Clean Water. SSO – Sanitary sewer overflow Ms. Deb Simko, Private Watershed Conservation and Natural Resources Young, K. D., and E. L. Thackston. 1999. USGS – U.S. Geological Survey Consultant and Member, Regional DEP – Pennsylvania Department of Housing density and bacterial loading Water Management Task Force Environmental Protection VOC – Volatile organic compound in urban streams. Journal of Dr. Kenneth Smith, President, Geneva Environmental Engineering 125, DER – Pennsylvania Department of WaterQUEST – Center for Water College and Member, Regional Water no. 12: 1177-1180. Environmental Resources Quality in Urban Environmental Management Task Force Systems, Carnegie Mellon University EDC – Endocrine-disrupting chemical Mr. Gregory Tutsock, Executive WPC – Western Pennsylvania Director, Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Conservancy Authority

IOP issues 60 61 IOP issues The Honorable Daniel Vogler, ISSUES EDITOR Chair, Lawrence County Board of Terry Miller Commissioners MANAGING EDITOR Mr. Davitt Woodwell, Vice President, Ty Gourley Western Division, Pennsylvania Environmental Council TECHNICAL EDITOR Mr. Yarone Zober, Chief of Staff, Bruce Barron Mayor’s Office, City of Pittsburgh CONTRIBUTOR Angler Focus Group Conrad Daniel Volz Participants INSTITUTE OF POLITICS Rick Baraigh DIRECTOR Daniel Lou Black Terry Miller Harry L. Blackwell Sr. DEPUTY DIRECTOR, FINANCE M. Brent Marie Hamblett Paul R. Caruso POLICY STRATEGISTS Karen Gainey Bruce Barron Mike Gainey Ty Gourley James L. Hughes ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS Eric Hulsey Susan Heiss Lillian King LaShawn Youngblood Thomas King INTERN Dave Kreutzer Steve Hawley Georgia C. Levendos VICE CHANCELLOR Edye Lloyd G. Reynolds Clark David Marko DIRECTOR EMERITUS Bill O’Hella Moe Coleman Nina O’Hella UNIVERSITY MARKETING Phil Pappa COMMUNICATIONS Daphne Parker COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Floyd M. Patterson Shawn Ahearn Deborah Prady GRAPHIC DESIGNER David Raraigh Mike Andrulonis Ken Saville PROOFREADER Aviva Selekman Lubowsky Robert E. Sette Pamela Smith Gene Vereb IOP issues 62