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Overview of Local Government Water Management Issues

Overview of Local Government Water Management Issues. Photo courtesy of Georgia DITT. Local Governments and Water Management. By necessity, local governments are involved in water management. They provide:. drinking water, . wastewater,. storm water services, and .

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Overview of Local Government Water Management Issues

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  1. Overview of Local Government Water Management Issues Photo courtesy of Georgia DITT

  2. Local Governments andWater Management • By necessity, local governments are involved in water management. They provide: • drinking water, • wastewater, • storm water services, and • control land use and development • This presentation provides an overview of many of the water-related issues and programs that local governments must address on a daily basis

  3. Setting the Stage • Growth and quality of life issues are linked to water quality and water availability

  4. Setting the Stage • Recurring drought across the state has strained already limited water resources

  5. Setting the Stage • Local governments must comply with numerous existing federal and state regulatory requirements, and • Prepare to meet new regulations being proposed

  6. Setting the Stage • There is growing public concern over water quality and watershed protection

  7. Watershed Protection A watershed approach is widely recognized as the most effective way to manage and protect water resources. www.teamalcovy.com

  8. Water Resources - protecting source water, then treating and distributing it for drinking, industry, agriculture and other consumption purposes Balancing Two Closely Related Water Management Issues • Water Protection - maintaining the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the waters for protection of aquatic life, recreation, aesthetic value and other uses Photo Courtesy of Georgia DITT

  9. Where Is The Water? • Surface Water • Rivers and Streams • Lakes and Reservoirs • Wetlands • Estuaries and oceans • Ground Water • Aquifers • Wells and springs Photos courtesy of Georgia DITT

  10. Water Resources IssuesSurface Water • Withdrawal permits • Monitoring at drinking water intakes • Reservoir planning and construction Photo Courtesy of Georgia DITT • Source Water Assessment Program (SWAP) to reduce or eliminate pollutants • Environmental Planning Criteria for Water Supply Watersheds, Wetlands and Protected River Corridors

  11. Water Resources IssuesGroundwater • Withdrawal permits • Protecting aquifers from salt water intrusion and other contamination • Wellhead protection programs • DNR Environmental Planning Criteria for Groundwater Recharge Areas Photo Courtesy of Georgia DITT

  12. Water Resources IssuesDrinking Water • Monitoring for possible contaminants Photo Courtesy of Georgia DITT • Community right-to-know programs • Annual Consumer Confidence Reports • Public notification of violations • Outdoor watering restrictions during drought periods • Water conservation programs

  13. Water Protection IssuesState Permits • Watershed assessments and protection plans are now required as part of many NPDES municipal wastewater discharge permits, to address nonpoint source pollution. • NPDES wastewater discharge and land application permits for: • Municipal wastewater treatment facilities • Industrial wastewater treatment facilities • Privately owned wastewater treatment facilities Photo Courtesy of Georgia DITT

  14. Phase I NPDES storm water permits for: • Large and Medium Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s) • Certain industrial facilities, including facilities owned or operated by municipalities • Construction activities (greater than 5 acres) Water Protection IssuesState & Local Permits • Local Land Disturbance Activity permits under the Georgia Erosion and Sediment Control Act of 1975 Photo Courtesy of Georgia DITT

  15. Water Protection IssuesState & Local Permits • Phase II NPDES storm water permit was issued by EPD in December 2002 for small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s) • Certain industrial facilities owned or operated by small municipalities are also covered under Phase II regulations • Construction activities threshold will be lowered from 5 to 1 acre • Nonpoint source pollution control • Agriculture and forestry operations Photo Courtesy of Georgia DITT

  16. Water Protection IssuesTotal Maximum Daily Load TMDL • TMDL: • Sets the maximum amount of a particular pollutant allowed in a river, stream or other water body • Is developed and calculated by EPD or EPA • Provides a pollutant loading and the percent reduction required to meet that loading • Addresses both point and nonpoint sources of pollution in a watershed

  17. Water Protection IssuesTotal Maximum Daily Load TMDL • TMDLs are required for impaired waters on EPD’s 303(d) list. • Plans must be developed to allocate pollutant loads by source to meet the TMDL loading and percent reduction required to ensure water quality standards are being met and the water body meets its designated use (drinking water, fishing, recreation, etc)

  18. Linking The Programs • Linking State Water Programs to Watershed Management, published by the UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government in June 2001, provides current guidance on how to integrate and coordinate various state water programs and requirements into the watershed approach. • The following is a highlight of the water stewardship responsibilities for various state agencies.

  19. State Departments • The Environmental Protection Division (EPD) of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) takes the lead role in the state’s water management and protection programs • The Department of Community Affairs (DCA) and the Department of Human Resources (DHR) also administer water-related programs.

  20. EPD Water Resources Branch • Ensures Georgia’s compliance with the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act • Regulates the use of Georgia's surface and ground water resources for drinking water, impoundments, agricultural irrigation, and other non-agricultural uses • Administers the Floodplain Management Program managing development in flood-prone areas

  21. EPD Water Protection Branch • Ensures Georgia’s compliance with the Federal Clean Water Act • Responsible for protecting surface waters • Regulates municipal and industrial wastewater and storm water discharges, Nonpoint source pollution, erosion and sedimentation control programs, and some on-site sewage systems • Conducts monitoring and modeling of Georgia's waterways and develops TMDLs

  22. Other EPD Branches • These EPD Branches also play an important role in water resources management and protection: • Geologic Survey Branch • Hazardous Waste Management Branch • Land Protection Branch • Program Coordination Branch (includes EPD District Offices, Emergency Response Program, Laboratory Services and other programs)

  23. Other DNR Divisions • These DNR Divisions work closely with EPD and address water-related issues in their particular program areas: • Coastal Resources Division (CRD) • Pollution Prevention Assistance Division (P2AD) • Wildlife Resources Division (WRD)

  24. Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) • Assists state agencies, regional development centers and communities with growth, development and quality of life issues • Assists local governments with water resources management through coordinated planning, spatial analysis and environmental management programs

  25. DCAOffice of Coordinated Planning • Reviews and approves local government comprehensive plans and local protection ordinances • Administers DNR’s Environmental Planning Criteria which must be part of each comprehensive plan, including local implementation ordinances required to meet minimum state standards

  26. Georgia Department of Human Resources DHR • The Environmental Health Section of DHR is responsible for adopting and administering statewide regulations for the design and installation of on-site sewage systems (septic tanks) of a certain size. • Permitting and inspection is handled through each county board of health.

  27. Phone or Surf the Web • The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) Customer Assistance line: 404-657-5947 or 1-888-EPD-5947 • The Georgia EPD Web site: http://www.georgianet.org/dnr/environ/ • The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): http://www.epa.gov/ EPA Region 4: http://www.epa.gov/Region 4

  28. Surf the Web • Georgia Department of Community Affairs: http://www.dca.state.ga.us • Georgia Department of Human Resources, Environmental Health Section: http://www.ph.dhr.state.ga.us/programs/envservices/ • Georgia Water Management Campaign: http://www.gah2o.com

  29. Surf the Web • Association County Commissioners of Georgia: http://www.accg.org • Georgia Municipal Association: • http://www.gmanet.com • Carl Vinson Institute of Government: http://www.cviog.uga.edu • Local Government Environmental Assistance Program: http://www.lgean.org

  30. Acknowledgements This presentation was prepared by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, using information available from the US Environmental Protection Agency, Georgia Environmental Protection Division, Association County Commissioners of Georgia and the Georgia Water Management Campaign. Photo Courtesy of Georgia DITT

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