ANR-790 Water Quality And Pollution Control Handbook Compiled by James E. Hairston, Extension Water Quality Scientist Assisted by Leigh Stribling, Technical Writer Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Alabama A&M and Auburn Universities ARCHIVE Contents Preface Acknowledgments —Part One— Chapter 1 Water As A Resource Section 1.1 Getting To Know Water 1.1.1 Understanding Water As A Resource 1.1.2 How Nature Recycles And Purifies Water: The Hydrologic Cycle 1.1.3 Where Water Supplies Are Stored: Surface Water And Groundwater 1.1.4 How Water Supplies Become Contaminated: Water Purity And Pollution Section 1.2 Protecting Water Quality 1.2.1 Recycling Household Wastes 1.2.2 Composting Yard Wastes 1.2.3 Disposing Of Household Chemical Wastes 1.2.4 Using Pesticides Safely Around Your Home 1.2.5 Understanding Your Septic System And Water Quality 1.2.6 Controlling Runoff From Your Yard Section 1.3 Conserving Water 1.3.1 Why Conserve Water? 1.3.2 Installing Water-Saving Devices 1.3.3 Developing Water-Conserving Habits: A Checklist 1.3.4 Xeriscaping: Landscape Design For Water Conservation Chapter 2 Managing Drinking Water Quality Section 2.1 Drinking Water Standards 2.1.1 Safe Drinking Water—Who’s In Charge? 2.1.2 Drinking Water Standards: How Are They Set? 2.1.3 Protecting Your Health: Primary Standards 2.1.4 Regulating Nuisance Contaminants: Secondary Standards 2.1.5 What Happens At A Water Treatment Plant? Section 2.2 Water Testing 2.2.1 Should You Have Your Water Tested? 2.2.2 Where Can You Have Your Water Tested? 2.2.3 How Should You Collect Water Samples? 2.2.4ARCHIVE Which Tests Should You Request? 2.2.5 Interpreting Water Tests: What Do The Numbers Mean? Section 2.3 Typical Contaminants And Problems 2.3.1 Bacterial Contaminants 2.3.2 Water Hardness 2.3.3 Iron And Manganese 2.3.4 Turbidity (Cloudy Water) iii 2.3.5 Color, Odor, And Taste Problems 2.3.6 Corrosion 2.3.7 Metal Contaminants 2.3.8 Lead 2.3.9 Nitrate 2.3.10 Sodium Chloride 2.3.11 Fluoride 2.3.12 Pesticides And Organic Contaminants 2.3.13 Radionuclides (Radon) Section 2.4 Possible Treatments 2.4.1 Buying Water Treatment Equipment 2.4.2 Questions To Ask When Shopping For Water Treatment Equipment 2.4.3 Filters 2.4.4 Reverse Osmosis 2.4.5 Distillers 2.4.6 Ion Exchange Units: Cation Exchange (Softeners) And Anion Exchange 2.4.7 Chemical Feed Pumps 2.4.8 Ultraviolet Radiation, Ozone Treatment, And Aeration 2.4.9 Bottled Water: Is It Really Better? Section 2.5 Water Supply Wells 2.5.1 Constructing A Well 2.5.2 Protecting The Well Site 2.5.3 How To Seal An Abandoned Well 2.5.4 Testing Well Water 2.5.5 Disinfecting Well Water By Chlorination 2.5.6 Maintaining Well Records Section 2.6 Drinking Water For Livestock And Poultry Chapter 3 Managing Wastewater Section 3.1 Municipal Wastewater Treatment 3.1.1 Wastewater Collection And Treatment Processes 3.1.2 Land Application Of Municipal Wastewater 3.1.3 Constructed Wetlands: A New Concept In Treating Wastewater Section 3.2 On-site Sewage Treatment (Septic Tank Systems) 3.2.1 Planning For A Septic System 3.2.2 Understanding Septic System Design And Construction 3.2.3ARCHIVE Maintaining A Septic System iv —Part Two— Chapter 4 Controlling Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution Section 4.1 Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution Of Alabama Waters Section 4.2 The Rural Environment And NPS Pollution 4.2.1 Understanding Agricultural Erosion, Sedimentation, And NPS Pollution 4.2.2 Regulating Agricultural NPS Pollution 4.2.3 Controlling Agricultural NPS Pollution Through Best Management Practices Section 4.3 Soil Management To Protect Water Quality 4.3.1 Understanding Soils And How They Affect Water Quality 4.3.2 Estimating Soil Erosion Losses And Sediment Delivery Ratios 4.3.3 Cropping And Nonstructural Agronomic Practices For Soil Management 4.3.4 Reduced Tillage Practices For Soil Management 4.3.5 Structural Measures For Soil Management 4.3.6 Irrigation Systems And Soil Management Section 4.4 Fertilizer Management To Protect Water Quality 4.4.1 Understanding Nutrients And How They Affect Water Quality 4.4.2 Soil Testing And Plant Analysis For Fertilizer Management 4.4.3 Fertilizer Application Techniques 4.4.4 Cropping And Tillage Practices For Fertilizer Management 4.4.5 Nitrogen Management Practices For Fertilizer Management 4.4.6 Nutrient Management Of Land Applied Sludge 4.4.7 Irrigation Systems And Fertilizer Management Section 4.5 Pesticide Management To Protect Water Quality 4.5.1 Understanding Pesticides And How They Affect Water Quality 4.5.2 Regulating Pesticide Registration And Tolerances 4.5.3 Integrated Pest Management 4.5.4 Using Pesticides On The Farm: From Selection To Disposal 4.5.5 Structural Controls And Land Management Strategies For Minimizing Pesticide Losses 4.5.6 Chemigation Safety 4.5.7 Common Sense Tips For Safe Aerial Spraying Section 4.6 Animal Waste Management To Protect Water Quality 4.6.1 Animal Waste And How It Affects Water Quality 4.6.2 Regulating Animal Wastes 4.6.3 Animal Waste Management Systems 4.6.4 Land Application Of Animal Wastes 4.6.5 Analyzing Nutrient Value Of Animal Wastes 4.6.6ARCHIVE Calculating Rates Of Application Based On Nitrogen Needs 4.6.7 Calibrating Manure Spreaders 4.6.8 Managing Open Lots And Pasture Systems To Minimize NPS Pollution Section 4.7 The Urban Environment And NPS Pollution 4.7.1 Urbanization And How It Affects Water Quality 4.7.2 Understanding Urban Stormwater Runoff 4.7.3 Regulating Urban Stormwater Runoff v 4.7.4 Best Management Practices To Control Urban NPS Pollution 4.7.5 Best Management Practices For Construction Activities 4.7.6 Best Management Practices For Individuals Section 4.8 Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) And NPS Pollution 4.8.1 USTs And How They Affect Water Quality 4.8.2 Regulating USTs 4.8.3 Managing Commercial And Municipal USTs: Installing And Upgrading Tanks 4.8.4 Managing Commercial And Municipal USTs: Preventing Spills And Leaks 4.8.5 Managing Privately Owned USTs: Guidelines For Private Property Owners Appendixes Appendix A. Water Quality Contacts, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Appendix B. Water Quality Contacts, Alabama Department Of Environmental Management (ADEM) Appendix C. Water Quality Contacts, Alabama Cooperative Extension System Appendix D. Water Quality Contacts, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Appendix E. Other Organizations Involved With Water Quality Appendix F. Organizations Involved With Solid Waste Management And Recycling Appendix G. Laboratories Certified For Biological Testing Of Drinking Water (Compiled by Alabama Department of Public Health, November 1993) Appendix H. State Of Alabama Licensed Water Well Drillers Appendix I. Laboratories That Test Water And Wastewater (Compiled by ADEM, November 1993) Appendix J. Tank Tightness Testing Companies (Compiled by ADEM, October 1993) Appendix K. Cathodic Protection (Tank and Pipe Corrosion) Consultants (Compiled by ADEM, February 1992) Appendix L. Approved Response Action Contractors For Alabama Tank Trust Fund (Compiled by ADEM, October 1993) Appendix M. Water Quality Videos Available From The ACES Media Library Glossary Of Water Quality, Water Resources, And Conservation Terms ARCHIVE vi Preface ost people take water for granted. They are satisfied velop and deliver programs for public education on Mas long as a supply of good quality water is avail- water quality. Providing the public with in-depth in- able; they view water as an inexpensive and unlimited formation on important environmental issues and resource. delivering water quality programs falls mainly to However, water supplies in this country are no CES field staff. Consequently, CES must provide longer unlimited. In many parts of the country, water field staff with current knowledge on water quality supplies are threatened by contamination, and future issues. water supplies are uncertain. Purpose Of The Handbook Defining The Problem The primary purpose of this handbook is to The Clean Water Act of 1972 established regula- provide CES field staff with multi-disciplinary in- tions and permits to control commercial, industrial, formation on protecting water quality and pre- and municipal point sources of pollution; however, venting nonpoint source pollution. these regulations do not apply to most nonpoint sources. The handbook presents a comprehensive picture Recent water quality information has shown that a ma- of water as a vital natural resource: how water jority of the remaining water quality problems in rivers moves; how it becomes contaminated in nature and lakes are caused by nonpoint sources of pollution. and by the activities of people; how it is purified in Every individual or business is potentially a non- nature and by people; and how to recognize, test, point source polluter because everyone uses water. correct, or prevent water pollution problems. Everyone also uses products that have the potential to become water pollutants, and everyone generates waste How To Use The Handbook by-products that may find their way into the natural water cycle. The handbook includes four chapters: Activities that disturb land such as agriculture, • Water As A Resource. forestry, mining, excavation, and construction can cause • Managing Drinking Water Quality. nonpoint source water pollution over relatively large • Managing Wastewater. areas. Forestry and crop production agriculture inten- • Controlling Nonpoint Source Pollution. tionally release a variety of chemicals into the envi- ronment that may find their way into water supplies if It also includes appendixes: not managed and handled properly. Concentrated animal • Contacts for further information. production agriculture also generates large volumes of • Services related to water quality. waste by-products capable of damaging adjacent water • A list of water quality videos available from the sources.