Welcome to the Department of Ecology’s third report on Washington’s Environmental Health. The charts and maps in this report are helpful in understanding the health of our environment and the challenges we all face to maintain a high quality of life. The challenge of greatest significance is our growing population and the demands we place on available water, land use, healthy air to breathe and disposal of our garbage.
During the 1990’s, environmental protection began to shift from a primary focus on industrial sources of pollution to more widespread pollution sources. This type of pollution, called non-point, comes from car exhaust, polluted water carried into storm drains, woodstoves, septic systems, animal waste and fertilizer use. Non-point pollution is the result of the choices we make every day – how we drive, consume, recreate and garden. The choices made by all 5.9 million of us added together does have an impact on the quality of our water, land and air.
Traditional regulatory approaches, regulation and fines, to reduce non-point pollution need to be balanced with approaches that include education, information and assistance. All of Washington’s citizens have a responsibility to make informed choices about their actions and how those actions impact the high quality of life we currently enjoy. Our responsibility at the Department of Ecology is to provide you with information to help you make decisions that will protect, enhance or preserve our air, land and water for current citizens and future generations.
The graph in figure 1 shows the projected population growth for Washington state.
With our multitude of lakes, streams and rivers, Washington seems to have an abundance of water. However, demand for water has rapidly increased with population and economic growth. Water availability is largely constant except as affected by annual weather patterns and long-term climate changes. And, much of the water in our state that can be used is already in use. In several areas, too much water is leaving streams, leaving too little for fish. Our challenge is to better manage water supply to meet the needs of people and our environment, including endangered fish species.
Washington does not have enough water where and when people and fish need it in many parts of the state. Approximately 350 lakes and streams are closed to further year-round withdrawls of water to protect fish and existing water rights. Approximately 100 more streams are partially closed and 200 have low flow limits set by rule. Outdated water laws, lack of information and little agreement on state policy are hampering progress in addressing water availability problems.
Some progress is being made. In 1998, the legislature passed the Watershed Planning Act. The Act encourages local citizens to address water availability, water quality, instream flow and habitat protection. In 1999, citizens in 37 of the state’s 62 water resource inventory areas voluntarily organized local watershed planning units to begin assessing the condition of their watershed. The assessments will address water availability, water quality and habitat. Figure 2 shows the areas of the state where local watershed planning units are organized and those beginning to assess the watershed. After the assessments are completed, the watershed planning groups can develop plans for the best use of available water and protection of water quality and habitat.
Salmon, steelhead and trout have been, and continue to be, a critical part of Washington’s history, culture, economy and recreational enjoyment. The declining populations of many salmon species has resulted in their being listed as either endangered or threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. Currently, fifteen species have been listed as threatened or endangered, affecting 75% of Washington state.
Water temperature is a key factor in determining which fish species and other aquatic organisms are present in a stream or river. Every type of fish has its preferred temperature range. Clear, swift and cool streams are the preferred habitat conditions of the salmon, steelhead and trout species. The removal of trees and shrubs around a stream often results in increasing water temperature enough to affect the survival of fish eggs.
Sixty-two water quality stations have been monitored consistently over the past five years for temperature and other water quality conditions. Over half of those stations are rated as either poor or fair in having temperatures cold enough for healthy populations of salmon, steelhead or trout.
Volunteers, educators and state and local agencies are working throughout the state to restore, conserve and enhance salmon habitat. To learn more, visit:
Rivers and streams contaminated by human and animal fecal wastes can pose a significant health risk to people. Fecal waste carries with it bacteria and viruses that can cause stomach ailments and diseases such as hepatitis, salmonella, cholera and typhoid. People swimming, fishing or drinking water from contaminated rivers and streams are at risk of becoming ill. Rivers and streams can also carry fecal coliform bacteria into marine waters where shellfish can become contaminated. In turn, people eating contaminated shellfish can become ill.
Human and animal fecal waste enters surface waters from failing septic systems and poorly managed animal operations, such as dairies and rural farms. Raw sewage from failing septic systems seeps through the ground or is carried by rainwater to nearby rivers and streams. Improperly managed animal wastes are carried by rainwater to nearby surface waters. Allowing farm animals to graze in or next to a stream is another source of contamination.
Sixty-two freshwater monitoring stations have been consistently monitored since 1995 for fecal coliform and other water quality conditions. All of the stations, except one, are either showing an improved condition or no change over the five years (figure 4
).Everyone can help keep human and animal fecal waste out of Washington’s waters.
Many Washingtonians rely on healthy populations of shellfish for personal consumption or commercial use. Shellfish living in polluted sediments, the marine “floor,” can accumulate bacteria and other toxins in their tissue making them unfit to eat. Once contaminated, it is very expensive and time consuming to clean up marine sediments.
The growing population in the Puget Sound area and changes in how the land is used have put increased pressure on the opportunity to safely harvest shellfish. Failing septic systems, stormwater runoff from roads and parking lots and the areas around sewage treatment plant discharges can increase the levels of bacteria in marine sediments. In addition, rural farms and dairies can lead to increased bacteria in streams that flow into marine waters.
Localized improvements have been achieved through improved water quality throughout the region. However, some areas were downgraded during the same period, offsetting overall net improvement (figure 5).
Nitrates break down in the human body and can interfere with the natural transfer of oxygen to the blood stream. Children under the age of one year and pregnant or nursing women are at the greatest risk to what is known as methemoglobinemia, or “blue baby syndrome.” Based upon this risk, more than 10 milligrams per liter of nitrate-nitrogen in drinking water is unsafe. Nitrate-nitrogen levels between 5 and 10 milligrams per liter (mg/l) serve as a clear indication that ground water quality is at risk (
figure 6).Excessive use or over application of agricultural chemicals and lawn fertilizers, poorly managed fecal waste from farm animals and failing septic systems are the primary cause of nitrates in ground water. The nitrates in fertilizers and human and animal fecal waste seep through soil with either irrigation or rainwater and enter ground water.
Seven percent of the tested public water supply wells, compared to 6 percent in 1997, indicate high nitrate-nitrogen levels. Clustering of these sites occur in highly populated and farming areas of the state (figure 6).
Polluted air can cause or worsen lung-related diseases, such as emphysema, chronic bronchitis and asthma; and can cause breathing difficulty and even death. Easily inhaled small particles, called particulate matter, are perhaps the most significant health concern related to poor air quality. Our air quality has improved over the last ten years. Washington citizens and businesses save over $2.1 billion each year in health care costs because the air is cleaner than it was in 1990. However, our growing population and the miles we travel by car continue to threaten the quality of our air.
The primary cause of poor air quality in Washington is motor vehicle exhaust (figure 7.) Exhaust from motor vehicles contains many toxic pollutants. In addition, motor vehicles are major contributors to carbon monoxide and ground-level ozone. High levels of particulate matter are caused by tiny particles of soot, dust and unburned fuel from woodstoves, fireplaces, backyard burning, agricultural burning and industry.
Air quality in Washington is considered moderate to good. In 1995, thirteen areas of the state were not meeting federal health-based standards. Eleven of those areas now measure air quality clean enough to meet federal standards. The number of people exposed to unhealthy air in Washington has dropped from a high of more than two million people in 1990 to about 112,000 people in 1999. The high “spike” that appears in figure 9 for 1998 reflects a relatively small number of high ozone concentrations that occurred over one hot, three-day period in the summer of 1998.
The graph in figure 8 shows the number of days air quality did not meet health standards for carbon monoxide, particulate matter, ground-level ozone and sulfur dioxide. The graph in figure 9 shows the number of people exposed to air not meeting federal health standards. The graph in figure 10 shows the percent change from 1984 in Washington state vehicle miles traveled per year and population growth. The map in figure 11 shows the areas of the state working to meet or maintain air quality standards.No every-day action carries more environmental impact than the use and maintenance of our cars.
Toxic chemicals released from industrial facilities to our air, water and land can threaten human health and the environment. Ground water that is contaminated by toxic chemicals is a serious health problem when that water is used for drinking water. Toxic chemicals entering rivers and streams can harm fish, wildlife and plants. Toxic chemicals released to the air can pose a threat to human health and also end up in soil or water, potentially harming fish and other animal life.
Toxic chemicals are released to the air, land or water through industrial manufacturing processes (figure 12). At the present time, few standards exist for most toxic air pollutants. Some are formed in association with regulated air pollutants: carbon monoxide, particulate matter, ground-level ozone and sulfur dioxide. When these air pollutants are controlled (page 8) so are some toxic chemicals. For new or modified facilities, standards require that toxic air pollutants be reduced to the maximum extent possible.
Between 1990 and 1997 a downward trend in releases of toxic chemicals was reported, however, total toxic releases to the air continues to be a concern. The 1998 increase in releases to the land was due to a change in reporting requirements. Seven new categories of industrial sources were added, most significantly, commercial generation of electricity using coal or oil (figure 13).
Improper handling and disposal of hazardous waste can result in contaminated air, water and land and threaten human health. Hazardous waste reduction is very important in the prevention of future environmental and human health risks due to hazardous chemicals. Equally important is the safe management of the hazardous waste generated. Improperly handled or disposed hazardous wastes that end up in the environment often require an expensive clean up.
Most of the hazardous waste generated in Washington is produced by large industries (figure 15). Many of these industries are working to reduce the amount of hazardous waste they generate. Of increasing concern are the numerous smaller businesses, such as dry cleaners, printers and auto repair shops, that can potentially pollute soil and ground water if their hazardous waste is not handled properly.
The amount of hazardous waste generated each year has been decreasing since 1992 (figure 14). This decrease can be attributed to efforts by industry to reduce the amount of hazardous chemicals used in their business practices. Continued efforts to reduce the use of hazardous chemicals will be critical to achieving further decreases in the amount of hazardous waste generated.
Although most hazardous waste is generated by industry, there is much an individual can do:
Discharges and accidental releases of harmful chemicals to rivers, streams, lakes and the marine environment have caused sediment contamination primarily in and around the Puget Sound. Sediments are the “floor” of a river, stream or the Puget Sound. Once marine or freshwater sediments are contaminated, cleanup is very expensive and difficult. Identifying and controlling sources of sediment contamination is a priority to reduce future problems.
Much of the current sediment contamination has been caused by historical and current industrial activities and pressures of population growth. Stormwater runoff from roads, parking lots and industrial facilities can lead to contaminated marine and freshwater sediments. In addition, sediments can become contaminated during peak storm events due to an overflow of combined raw sewage and stormwater runoff.
Puget Sound encompasses roughly 1.8 million acres. The area surveyed for sediment contamination is 15,240 acres. Of that acreage, 5,748 acres are considered contaminated. Most sediment investigations are focused on urban bays and other areas of suspected contamination. More than two thirds of the sediment cleanup areas are in the process of being cleaned up.
The pie chart in figure 16 shows the status of the 112 marine and freshwater sediment cleanup sites. The pie chart in figure 17 shows the sources of contamination at sediment cleanup sites. The map of Puget Sound in figure 18 shows the location of sediment cleanup actions.
Cleaning up contaminated sediments that pose a risk to human health and the environment is a priority. The public is encouraged to take part in the decisions involved in cleaning up these areas. Information is available by calling Ecology or visiting our web page at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/tcp/smu/sediment.html.
For nearly 50 years, beginning in the 1940’s, the federal government produced plutonium for nuclear weapons at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. This process generated enormous amounts of highly radioactive and chemically hazardous wastes. The waste was stored in 177 waste storage tanks that currently hold about 54 million gallons of the highly radioactive waste.
Of the 177 tanks, 149 are of single-shell construction and are much older than they were designed to last. Many of these tanks are leaking or suspected of leaking the waste, presenting a serious, long-term threat to the Columbia River. Some of the leaked waste has already reached ground water.
Interim action is underway to pump the contents of the 149 single-shell tanks to 28 double-shelled tanks over the next 14 years. Approximately 60% of the wastes has been pumped to the double-shelled tanks to date. Following removal of the pumpable liquids, approximately 35 million gallons of solids will remain in the single-shell tanks awaiting future waste removal actions.
The map of Washington state in figure 19 shows the location of the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. The graph in figure 20 shows the amount of toxic nuclear and hazardous liquid waste remaining to be pumped from the single-shell tanks at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. The pie chart in figure 21 shows the percent of single-shell tanks leaking or suspected of leaking mixed nuclear and hazardous wastes.
Citizens can stay informed about the clean up activities at the Hanford site by visiting our web page at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/nwp or by calling the Hanford Hotline at: 1-800-321-2008.
We all make garbage; at home, school and work (figure 22). Much of what is produced and used in our society is disposable or has a short product life. Washington’s projected population growth will cause a continued increase in waste generation unless efforts are made to reduce the amount generated by each of us.
The amount of garbage currently generated each day is significant. In 1995, the total amount generated was 42 million pounds. That amount increased to 43 million pounds in 1998. About two-thirds of that amount was disposed in environmentally sound landfills, the rest was recycled. However, a large percentage (72%) of the disposed waste could have been recycled.
In 1998, 7.5 pounds of waste was generated per person each day. That is a decrease from 7.76 pounds per person per day in 1997. Even with the reduced amount of garbage generated per person, the total amount increased due to population growth. Recycling rates dropped from a high of 2.6 pounds person in 1995 to 2.1 pounds in 1998.
The graph in figure 23 shows the pounds of solid waste generated per person per day.
Washington state is one of the West Coast’s largest crude oil refining centers and conduits for Pacific-Rim trade. Consequently, over 15 .1 billion gallons of oil and 11,000 ocean-going ships moved through the Strait of Juan De Fuca in 1999. A major oil spill along Washington’s pristine outer coast or in the Sound would have the potential to cause extensive damage to the economy, natural resources and quality of life.
Most of the significant recent oil spills have been from vessels. Figure 24, a map of the North Puget Sound area, shows the location of “severe” and other vessel incidents that have occurred since 1994. High-risk areas are indicated where clusters of incidents occur on the chart such as the entrance to the Strait and at Port Angeles.
Since 1991, when the state’s spill prevention law passed, the number of major spills and volume of oil spilled has dropped. However, a recent Coast Guard study projected that due to increased vessel traffic, the risk of major Puget Sound spills over 10 thousand gallons will increase 28 percent over the next 25 years. Figure 25 shows that the rate at which these incidents and spills have occurred is just under two percent per year or roughly 200 vessels per year.
We cannot reduce our vigilance for safety. While it was not a marine spill, Olympic Pipeline’s 1999 catastrophic 277 thousand-gallon gasoline spill and explosion in Bellingham is a good reminder of the magnitude of consequences that can be caused by inadequate attention to safety.
It is up to all Washingtonians to make sure future generations have the same or better quality of life as we have today. Throughout this report are tips on how to make informed choices about protecting the environment in your everyday lives. If you need more information, call the
Ecology office closest to you or one of the toll-free information lines.To report a suspected environmental hazard or a spill, call the Ecology regional office closest to you 24 hours a day.
Ecology is an equal opportunity agency. If you have special accommodation needs, contact Felecia Curtis at (360) 407-6199 (voice) or (360) 407-6206 (HQ-TDD).
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For further information about this report or to receive additional copies, contact Dee Peace Ragsdale, Washington State Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, Washington 98504-7600; phone: (360) 407-6986.