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WaterNews for December 22, 2005Benjamin Grumbles WaterNews is a weekly on-line publication that announces publications, policies, and activities of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Water. In This Week’s WaterNews:
Proposed New Policy for Peak Wet Weather Discharges from Municipal Sewage Treatment FacilitiesEPA proposed a new policy for addressing peak wet weather discharges at wastewater treatment plants on Monday, Dec. 19. Across the country, many municipal wastewater treatment systems experience problems during heavy rain downpours (peak wet weather), when flows to the wastewater treatment plants exceed the plant's biological treatment capacity. During peak wet weather, limited diversions around biological treatment units can help prevent raw sewage from being discharged into our nation's waters, backing up into homes and other buildings, or damaging biological treatment units. EPA’s goal in proposing this new policy is to ensure that all feasible solutions are used by local governments when addressing problems related to peak wet weather and to improve treatment of wastewater to protect human health and the environment. "Our peak flow policy puts a premium on stopping leaks and spills, improving treatment, and increasing public oversight," said Benjamin Grumbles, EPA's assistant administrator for the Office of Water. "I commend environmentalists and utilities for working to find common ground on a clean water solution that doesn’t rely on dilution." The policy reflects the joint recommendations of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA). The policy encourages public participation via the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit process, and provides for public notification in the event that a diversion does take place. EPA will accept written comment for 30 days after the policy is published in the Federal Register. To learn more, visit: http://www.epa.gov/npdes/wetweather. EPA’s Watershed Academy Sponsors Webcast on Trading for Water Quality ProtectionEPA’s Watershed Academy sponsors monthly Webcasts to offer free training and information for watershed practitioners around the globe. The next Webcast is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2006, and will cover a new draft Watershed Planning Guidance. This guidance, due to be released soon, will be a very useful resource for practitioners developing and implementing comprehensive watershed plans to meet water quality standards and protect water resources. Registration is available on a first-come/first-served basis and will open approximately one week. Each Webcast includes a Web-based slide presentation with a companion audio portion that can be accessed either by phone or by streaming audio broadcast. For more information, please visit http://www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts. The Academy hosted a Webcast on Introduction to Trading for Water Quality Protection on Dec. 14. The Webcast attracted more than 270 participants from 32 states and Canada. Audio versions of this and past Webcasts are available at: http://www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts. "Drinking Water Security for Small Systems Serving 3,300 or Fewer Persons – One of the Simple Tools for Effective Performance (STEP) Guide Series"Owners and operators of very small community water systems now have a new guide to help them in improving drinking water system security through vulnerability assessments and emergency response plans. EPA developed the guide to promote an increase in the level of security and emergency preparedness among community water systems serving 3,300 (or fewer) persons. These types of community water systems typically include small town systems, rural water districts, tribal systems, manufactured home communities, homeowners associations, small private systems, and Public Service Districts. This straightforward, easy-to-read workbook can also be used as training material for basic courses on drinking water security. You can contact the Water Resource Center (telephone number 1-800-832-7828) or the National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP at telephone number 1-800-490-9198) who will take requests for hard copies. The Safe Drinking Water Hotline (telephone number 1-800-426-4791) will also be available to take and forward requests for the document. Reference document number EPA 817-R-05-001 when requesting copies. A PDF version of the guide is posted on EPA’s Water Security website at http://cfpub.epa.gov/safewater/watersecurity/smallsystems.cfm. You can also contact Tara Johnson, EPA, Water Security Division, at 202-564-6186 for more information. New Document on Rapid Response to Invasive Species - Now AvailableThe Office of Water has released a publication entitled "Overview of Authorities for Natural Resource Managers Developing Aquatic Invasive Species Rapid Response and Management Plans." This publication provides an overview of EPA authorities that may apply to aquatic invasive species rapid response or control actions. This is a tool designed for natural resource managers developing aquatic invasive species rapid response and management plans. The document can be accessed online at www.epa.gov/owow/invasive_species. To obtain a free copy of this document call the Water Resource Center at 202-566-1729 and ask for document number EPA842-B-05-002. Subscribe to WaterNewsPlease forward this message to your friends and colleagues who share an interest in water-related issues and would like to hear from EPA's Office of Water. To subscribe to the WaterNews listserve: Send an email message, leave the subject line blank, and address it to: In the body of the message write: Subscribe WaterNews firstname lastname (Please leave one blank space between each word, do not include any other message, and use your actual name- i.e. Subscribe WaterNews Robert Jones) A welcome message will appear in your email box once you are officially subscribed.
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