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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 29, 1998
98-112
CONTACT: Mary Getchell, Public Information Manager
(360) 407-6157; Pager, (360) 534-8590
OLYMPIA - The state Department of Ecology’s biannual list of waterways receiving some pollution identifies 636 lakes, streams and estuaries in Washington as not meeting water-quality standards.
As required by the federal Clean Water Act, the Department of Ecology (Ecology) has submitted the list to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for approval.
"The amount of polluted water in our state is simply unacceptable," said Ecology Director Tom Fitzsimmons. "We need clean water for our human population, as well as for fish, wildlife and many economic uses. Our entire quality of life is in question."
Under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act, every two years, Ecology is required to prepare a list of waters not meeting standards. Ecology puts water bodies on the list that either do not meet standards currently or which are not expected to meet standards within two years, and more needs to be done to control pollution. Water quality standards are measurements to indicate whether the water can be used for activities such as recreation, industry, fish and aquatic life habitat and drinking water.
Since last August, Ecology has been compiling the list with information from more than 60 industries, local and state governments, Indian tribes and others. Of the 1,099 water bodies that Ecology considered, 636 are on the final list - about 2 percent of the waters in Washington.
The list indicates that the primary water quality problems are temperature and fecal coliform bacteria. Both problems are generally associated with "nonpoint-source" pollution, which comes from many, diffuse sources.
By far, temperature is the most prominent water quality problem for the water bodies, with 315 waters listed due to temperature problems. Elevated water temperature generally occurs in areas where loggers or developers have removed trees for timber harvesting or land development, taking away shade that is necessary to keep the water temperature low and healthy for fish.
Excessive amounts of fecal coliform bacteria were found in 288 of the waters on the list. It is found in sewage and animal waste, such as failing septic systems and improperly managed dairy-cattle waste.
The Section 303(d) list of polluted waters is used for developing and implementing water cleanup plans. These plans must include an analysis of how much pollution a lake, river or marine water can receive and still remain healthy. They also identify sources of pollution, and how much is coming from each.
In 1996, Ecology listed 612 water bodies as not meeting standards. It’s difficult to compare the total number of water bodies on the 1996 and 1998 lists, because of a new method for identifying water segments.
Approximately two-thirds of the water bodies on the two lists are the same, and one-third of the waters has changed. The primary reasons waters are no longer on the list are either action is being done to improve the health of some segments or new information shows the segments do not meet the criteria for being listed.
EPA has 30 days to approve the list. If EPA disapproves, it must identify a new list within 30 days.
Editors’ Note: See http://www.wa.gov/ecology/wq/303d for information about waters listed in your area, or contact Mary Getchell, (360) 406-6157.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
