Drought Fact Sheet #3

What Happens to Water Quality During a Drought?

Droughts Can Cause Changes to Our Nations Water Quality
Millions of Americans receive high-quality drinking water every day from their public water systems. Nevertheless, clean drinking water cannot be taken for granted. By far the majority of the water in the USA can be safely used for its intended purpose, largely due to the implementation of water laws over the past 40 years. However, drought could cause changes to the quality of our water. A basic understanding of the rules, regulations and the potential for changes to water quality under drought conditions is essential for drought preparedness. Water uses are commonly divided between industrial, municipal and agricultural water uses. Industries use water to make steel, process food and create computer chips. Cities provide drinking water, landscaping, car washing and a host of other household chores. Agriculture uses water primarily for irrigation of crops, but also for watering livestock and other farm production activities. Agriculture uses the majority of all water.
Clean drinking water cannot be taken for granted.

Agriculture uses the majority of all water. Water professionals estimate that 70% of all water withdrawals are going to irrigation. (Sandra Postel, 1990)
Laws that Protect Water Quality In 1972 the federal government announced regulations collectively known as the Clean Water Act. The primary objective of this act was to restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the nations waters and provide fishable and swimmable waters at a national level. More information is available at www.epa.gov.

In 1974 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began to establish numerical standards for the safety of drinking water. Surface water standards were also established under the provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act. In these regulations, potential impacts were defined as being either point or non-point sources. A general understanding of these regulatory terms will help with any assessment of the potential community impacts from drought. Point and Non-point Discharges We have an effect on water quality in two ways: point and non-point discharges. Each of these types of discharge is connected to a certain set of rules. Point discharges come from a specific location, such as a discharge pipe. The classical point discharger is your local city. They have a waste treatment system that discharges into a body of water at a specific point. Non-point discharges do not come from a specific pipe or location. They enter the water from many diffuse sources. Primary sources of non-point discharge include urban, industrial and agricultural runoff, and septic systems.

Rules Governing Discharges Agricultural, industrial and municipal waste generators discharging from a point source are regulated under the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). Contained within the NPDES rules are regulations that control storm water runoff from these same sources. Non-point discharges are regulated under a permit system known as the Water Pollution Control Facilities (WPCF). Greater detail go to: www.epa.gov

Primary Drinking Water Standards (NPDWRs or Primary Standards) which are enforceable; and 2.) National Secondary Drinking Water regulations (NSDWRs or Secondary Standards) which are not legally enforceable. A quick introduction to each of these standards will help in developing an understanding of their role in drought planning. The Primary Standards are focused on health and include measurable criteria for microbiological, inorganics, organics and radionuclides. Secondary Standards include contaminants such as odor, taste, foaming agents, color and other elements that may be distasteful, but are not known to be hazardous to our health. For a complete listing of both primary and secondary drinking water standards go to: www.epa.gov/safewater/mcl.html Since groundwater and surface water are interlinked, we need to consider that a drought may have definable impacts on both water sources. Some communities may need to shift from one water source to another--an action that may have impacts on the economics of the community. These impacts are often predictable and may form a critical piece in the development of a Drought Preparedness Plan. The NARC&DC would like to thank the USDAs Natural Resources Conservation Service for their assistance in the development of this fact sheet.

Non-point runoff is reported to account for 65-75% of the nations most polluted waters. (Ruhl, 2000)
Surface Water and Total Maximum Daily Load Under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act, each state, tribe, and territory must set water quality criteria for bodies of water in their jurisdiction. These standards incorporate all point and non-point contributions to the waters source and are based on measurable criteria to meet the objectives of the Clean Water Act. The language of the Clean Water Act comes together in the development of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). If a water source cannot meet the TMDL standard it is classified as impaired. Stream flow plays a significant role in the establishment of TMDLs because the volume of water in the receiving body has an effect on things like dilution and temperature. If a significant drought event were to change water levels, there could be a significant impact on a receiving water bodys ability to sustain the objectives set out in the Clean Water Act. It may be necessary for a community to take well-defined actions to avoid adverse impacts to the environment or the local economy when dischargers are required to meet increased treatment and control standards or reduce their withdrawal rate. Groundwater and Drinking Water Standards Groundwater is protected by two, well-developed sets of drinking water standards: 1.) National

A drought could change the overall quality of our water.

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March, 2006