Mother Nature Makes the Case for Adaptive Water Quality Management of Impaired Water Bodies

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 (2) ◽  
pp. 328-343
Author(s):  
James R. Rhea ◽  
Elizabeth Moran ◽  
Pradeep Mugunthan ◽  
David Glaser ◽  
Jeanne Powers
1996 ◽  
Vol 33 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimir Novotny

Components of the integrated water quality management and planning process are described. The process is initiated by the Use Attainability Analysis (UAA) in which the ambient water quality-use based standards are justified and/or modified for the water body for which water quality management is being considered. The UAA has three components: (1) Water Body Assessment, (2) The Total Maximal Daily Load (TMDL) Process, and (3) Socio-economic Analysis. The first component identifies whether the receiving water body and watershed have a water quality problem and, subsequently, separates such water bodies into those where the water quality problem is caused by natural loads or conditions and those where man-made pollution inputs cause unacceptable water quality deterioration. The TMDL process separates water bodies into those for which water quality goals can be achieved by present and future mandated abatement of point and nonpoint sources (effluent limited water bodies) and those mandated abatement will not achieve the water quality goals (water quality limited water bodies). Extensive water quality management and expenditure of public funds is justified for the latter cases. Watersheds and receiving water bodies which are adversely affected predominantly by nonpoint (unregulated) discharges are declared as impaired and should be managed. Both reduction of waste discharges and enhancement of waste assimilative capacity-habitat restoration of the receiving water body should be considered in management of water quality limited receiving waterbodies.


1989 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 281-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. J. Hawkins ◽  
D. A. Geering

Water quality standards set in the past have not helped resource managers in the decisions that they face in seeking sustainable development. Resource managers are looking for meaningful information on water quality so as to evaluate the resource, set priorities for action, and to monitor progress. Resource managers need to know how water quality affects, and is affected by, catchment uses and activities. Examples of three wild and scenic rivers, the Nymboida, Murrumbidgee, and Hawkesbury/Nepean River systems, demonstrate how a ‘Total Catchment Management' approach to resource use and resource protection has advantages for water quality management.


1984 ◽  
Vol 16 (5-7) ◽  
pp. 473-480
Author(s):  
L Jack Davis

The Gulf Coast Waste Disposal Authority is a regional public agency created by the State of Texas to design and implement water quality management systems in three counties surrounding Galveston Bay. This article will outline the water quality management strategy employed by the Authority for a highly industrialized and populated region. Regional treatment and public and private sector cooperation will be presented as a management objective for muncipal and industrial waste disposal. A description of the background and operations of the Authority will be included along with examples of joint or combined wastewater treatment. The pressing problem of hazardous waste management in Texas will be discussed. The Authority's experiences with facility siting and public reaction will be summarized and a new approach to help resolve these issues will be presented. The article will conclude with some thoughts on strategic planning for public managers.


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