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?

2.2.4 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)

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

3.2.3 Maintaining A Septic System

--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

4.6.6 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

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 (This list will soon be updated)
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

Preface

Most people take water for granted. They are satisfied as long as a supply of good quality water is available; they view water as an inexpensive and unlimited resource.

However, water supplies in this country are no longer unlimited. In many parts of the country, water supplies are threatened by contamination, and future water supplies are uncertain.

Defining The Problem

The Clean Water Act of 1972 established regulations and permits to control commercial, industrial, and municipal point sources of pollution; however, these regulations do not apply to most nonpoint sources. Recent water quality information has shown that a majority of the remaining water quality problems in rivers and lakes are caused by nonpoint sources of pollution.

Every individual or business is potentially a nonpoint source polluter because everyone uses water. Everyone also uses products that have the potential to become water pollutants, and everyone generates waste by-products that may find their way into the natural water cycle.

Activities that disturb land such as agriculture, forestry, mining, excavation, and construction can cause nonpoint source water pollution over relatively large areas. Forestry and crop production agriculture intentionally release a variety of chemicals into the environment that may find their way into water supplies if not managed and handled properly. Concentrated animal production agriculture also generates large volumes of waste by-products capable of damaging adjacent water sources. Stormwater runoff and leaching to groundwater in urban areas are also major sources of water pollution.

Thus, the major water quality issue for the 1990s and beyond will be finding ways to protect surface water and groundwater from nonpoint source pollutants.

Extension's Role In Water Quality Education

The Cooperative Extension System (CES) is a unique partnership of federal, state, and local organizations: Extension is the educational arm of USDA, a part of the land-grant university system, and a part of local government. In teaming with the land-grant system, Extension brings scientific knowledge and principles for solving problems to people in every county in the nation.

USDA has identified water quality as a national initiative and has a mandated responsibility to develop and deliver programs for public education on water quality. Providing the public with in-depth information on important environmental issues and delivering water quality programs falls mainly to CES field staff. Consequently, CES must provide field staff with current knowledge on water quality issues.

Purpose Of The Handbook

The primary purpose of this handbook is to provide CES field staff with multi-disciplinary information on protecting water quality and preventing nonpoint source pollution.

The handbook presents a comprehensive picture of water as a vital natural resource: how water moves; how it becomes contaminated in nature and by the activities of people; how it is purified in nature and by people; and how to recognize, test, correct, or prevent water pollution problems.

How To Use The Handbook

The handbook includes four chapters:

* Water As A Resource.

* Managing Drinking Water Quality.

* Managing Wastewater.

* Controlling Nonpoint Source Pollution.

It also includes appendixes:

* Contacts for further information.

* Services related to water quality.

* A list of water quality videos available from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System Media Library at Auburn University.

* A glossary of terms related to resource conservation and water quality.

Chapters 1-3 present information for the general public: both urban and rural families, teachers, and students. Chapter 4 presents information for farmers, city planners, urban residents, and others interested in controlling pollutants from agribusinesses and municipalities. The appendixes and the glossary are provided primarily as resources for CES field staff.

* Chapter 1, Water As A Resource, presents background information on water supplies, the water cycle, and pollution. It also gives specific recommendations about what concerned citizens can do at home to prevent pollution, protect water quality, and conserve water.

* Chapter 2, Managing Drinking Water Quality, discusses treatment of both public water sources (community water systems) and private sources (wells). It includes information on drinking water standards, water testing, water pollutants and problems, and water treatment equipment. Drinking water for livestock is also discussed.

* Chapter 3, Managing Wastewater, covers public and private wastewater treatment. Both treatment at municipal facilities and on-site sewage treatment (septic systems) are discussed.

* Chapter 4, Controlling Nonpoint Source Pollution, addresses specific problems in agribusinesses and urban areas. Soils, fertilizers, pesticides, animal wastes, urban stormwater runoff, and underground storage tanks are covered. Discussion includes principles, problems, and management practices.

The appendixes provide names, addresses, and phone numbers for federal, state, local government and organizational contacts as well as private businesses.

Most information is presented as short articles ranging from 2 to 6 pages, which may be used as reference materials directly or as basic information to prepare other water quality educational materials for a wide range of audiences.

Additional copies of the articles will be available from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System or may be photocopied directly from the handbook.

Acknowledgments

This handbook was financed in part by a Section 319 grant from the U.S. EPA through the Alabama Department of Environmental Management and by funds from the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Appreciation is extended to the staff of the Department of Agronomy and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System for their contribution of time and expertise. County Extension agents across Alabama ranked topics and identified audiences for this handbook. We appreciate their enthusiastic support.

The mention of trade names or commercial products by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System does not constitute the endorsement of or use of these products or services at the exclusion of other products and services which may be equally suitable.

For more information, contact your county Extension office. Look in your telephone directory under your county's name to find the number.