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Water Headlines for May 5, 2008Benjamin H. Grumbles Water Headlines 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 Water Headlines:
What's in Your Bottle?During this week of May 4-10 we are celebrating National Drinking Water Week. It's easy to take for granted the fact that we have easy access to safe water in our homes - something that more than 1 billion people in the world can't rely on. Every day, committed professionals who work for more than 52,000 community water systems provide water to 286 million consumers throughout the country. And during this time of escalating prices of everything from milk to gasoline, we should remember that tap water is a great value. The U.S. Conference of Mayors just released a study showing that, on a cost per ounce basis, municipal water is 1,000 to 4,000 times more affordable than bottled water. So, this week, fill your own bottle with safe, affordable water from your tap. Also, learn more about your water system, including how you can help to protect your drinking water source from contamination. Visit EPA's web site at http://www.epa.gov/safewater for more information about the national drinking water program. EPA's Great Lakes Earth Day Challenge a Resounding SuccessCommunities and residents of the Great Lakes basin have responded enthusiastically to EPA's Great Lakes Earth Day Challenge to collect 1 million pounds of electronics for recycling and 1 million pills for safe disposal to keep contaminants out of the Great Lakes. So far 125 collections have been held in towns and cities around the Great Lakes. EPA has received preliminary results that over 2.5 million pills have already been turned in for safe disposal, and over 232,500 pounds of electronics. A complete list of ongoing collections and their locations is available on EPA's Web site: http://www.epa.gov/greatlakes/earthday2008/events.html Three More Indian Tribes Authorized to Administer Water Quality Standards ProgramDuring the month of April, EPA approved the applications of three Indian Tribes for treatment in the same manner as a state (TAS), making them eligible to administer the water quality standards program on reservation lands. With these three approvals, there are now 43 such Tribes authorized nationally. The three newly authorized Tribes are the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (in Wisconsin), the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community (in Washington), and the Hopi Tribe (in Arizona). The approvals also allow the Tribes to certify under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act whether federal permits or licenses for activities on the reservation comply with the Tribe’s water quality standards. The three Tribes are now developing proposed water quality standards, which they will finalize and submit separately for EPA approval. EPA provides guidance and assistance to any federally-recognized Tribes that are interested in applying for TAS eligibility. Free May 8 Webcast on EPA’s Draft Water Climate Change StrategyOn Thursday, May 8, EPA will be hosting a free webcast from 2:30 to 4:30 pm EDT to discuss EPA's Draft National Water Program Strategy: Response to Climate Change. The agency recently distributed this draft strategy and is now seeking comment until May 27, 2008. The draft strategy represents an initial effort by EPA's National Water Program to identify potential impacts of climate change for clean water and drinking water programs, and to define actions both to adapt water programs to these impacts as well as to mitigate the release of greenhouse gases. The free webcast will highlight some of the key impacts on water resources and water programs, and key actions we are proposing. If you are interested in participating in this webcast or want a copy of the draft strategy go to http://www.epa.gov/water/climatechange/. Free May 13th Webcast on Wetlands and Climate ChangeOn Tuesday, May 13th, 2008, a free Watershed Academy Webcast, "Wetlands and Climate Change," will highlight the unique challenges that wetland habitats face including rising sea levels and variable temperature and precipitation patterns. Expert instructors will discuss the issue from diverse perspectives reflecting the multifaceted approach needed to address the challenges of climate change. EPA's Watershed Academy sponsors free, monthly Webcasts for watershed practitioners from around the globe. The Webcast will feature Dr. Virginia Burkett, Chief Scientist, Global Change Research at the U.S. Geological Survey; Peter Slovinsky, Coastal Geologist, Maine Geological Survey; Jim Powell, Water Quality Standards Section Manager, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation; and David VanLuven, Hudson River Estuary Landscape Director, The Nature Conservancy-Eastern NY Chapter. To register please visit: http://www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts. Sustainable Finance Online Training
EPA's Watershed Academy has added a new online training module on “Developing a Sustainable Finance Plan.” The training module is designed to help watershed organizations develop and implement sustainable funding plans. Case studies are included throughout the module to provide real examples of finance strategies employed by nonprofit watershed organizations in the U.S. This module was developed by EPA's Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds Sustainable Finance Team in cooperation with the Watershed Academy. Helping Water Systems to Inform the Public
EPA released a new web-based program, PNiWriter, to help public water systems comply with the public notification requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Public notification is intended to ensure consumers are immediately alerted if there is a serious problem with their drinking water which may pose a risk to public health. The PNiWriter provides a fast, user-friendly format for creating public notices that meet all federal requirements. After users log in they will see a series of questions about the violation or situation requiring public notice. After answering questions and filling in blanks they will be able to print or download the public notice, an instruction sheet, and public notice certification. The program is free and can be accessed at http://www.pniwriter.org The PNiWriter is a companion product to the CCRiWriter. Since its release in 2002, the CCRiWriter has helped users generate more than 10,000 Consumer Confidence reports, also known as Water Quality Reports, that public water systems annually provide to customers to inform them about their drinking water. The CCRiWriter can be accessed at: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/ccr/tools.html. Subscribe to Water HeadlinesPlease 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 Water Headlines listserve: Send an email message, leave the subject line blank, and address it to: In the body of the message write: Subscribe Water Headlines first name last name (Please leave one blank space between each word, do not include any other message, and use your actual name- i.e. Subscribe Water Headlines Robert Jones)
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