Title: WATER QUALITY AND QUANTITY Population, Environment, Agriculture What are the trends What are the pol
1WATER QUALITY AND QUANTITY Population,
Environment, AgricultureWhat are the trends?
What are the policy options?
- Don Parrish
- Senior Director Regulatory Relations
- American Farm Bureau Federation
- Washington, DC
2Two Primary Water Laws
- The Clean Water Act Established in 1972
- The Safe Drinking Water Act Established in 1974
3The Clean Water Act
- Adopted a national goal to protect the chemical,
physical and biological integrity of the Nations
surface waters. - Adopted point source controls
- Directed states to plan the management of
nonpoint sources of pollution
4The Safe Drinking Water Act
- Requires actions to protect drinking water
supplies the Act authorizes the EPA to set
national health-based standards for drinking
water to protect against naturally-occurring and
man-made contaminants. - Initial focus was on safety at the tap
- Shifted to source water protection in 1990s
5Whiskeys for drinkin, waters for fightin
over.
Mark Twain
6Water is everywhere, but . . .
- Water covers gt2/3 of the earth.
- 98 salt or brackish.
- gt1 locked in polar icecaps.
- Only 0.3 fresh water is potentially available
for human use and consumption.
7The United States Blessed with abundant water
resources, overall
- U.S. has 1,400B gallons usable water
available/average day. - 80 from streams and lakes.
- Remainder from groundwater.
- (380B gallons/day fresh water is withdrawn from
surface ground water sources and actually
used.) -
8Water Supports a Wide Range of Uses, including
- Drinking/other domestic uses/public supply.
(12-13) - Irrigation (agricultural lawn/landscaping).
(39) - Livestock/Rural domestic.
- Industrial production. (6)
- Navigation/transportation.
- Thermoelectric power generation. (39)
- Hydroelectric power generation.
- Aquatic ecosystem maintenance.
- Mining.
- Commercial.
- Recreational.
- (35 is consumed 65 is returned after use.)
9Water Supply Sources Surface water
Groundwater Reuse
Water Supply Facilities Storage
Wells Desalinization Plants Intakes
Pumps Treatment Transmission
Distribution
Water Users/Uses
Municipal
Recreation
Industrial
Agricultural
Power/Hydropower
Environmental
Navigation
Flood Control
10WATER AVAILABILITY vs. DEMAND(1,400B gal/day)
(380B gal/day)
- Should be adequate to meet our needs, but . . .
- Supplies demands dont correlate well together,
geographically. - Water supplies and waterbodies Not uniform
around the nation. - (Water-scarce West vs. more Water-rich East).
- Water demands and uses Also not uniform.
- Some highest growth areas have long been in
driest parts of U.S. (e.g., Nevada, Arizona,
Colorado, Utah, Idaho).
11Conflicts/Disputes Over Water Supply/Allocation
Have Long Been Common, Especially in the West,
due to Shortages of Water.
- Led to early Federal and State responses to the
problem. - The Federal Government has authority to manage
water resources, but recognizes State/local
authorities. - Water Supply Act of 1958.
- Clean Water Act.
12Water Resources Legislation
- Traditional Cooperative Federal Role in Water
Resources/Water Supply - It is declared to be the policy of the Congress
to recognize the primary responsibilities of the
States and local interests in developing water
supplies for domestic, municipal, industrial, and
other purposes and that the Federal Government
should participate and cooperate with States and
local interests in developing such water supplies
in connection with Federal navigation, flood
control, irrigation, or multiple purpose
projects. - (Water Supply Act of 1958)
13Many Federal Water Supply ProjectsHave Been
Developed in Cooperationwith State/Local
Governments
- Bureau of Reclamation 348 reservoirs, 245
million acre-feet storage capacity, providing
water to 9 million acres of farmland and 31
million people. - Corps of Engineers 541 reservoirs, 330 million
acre-feet storage capacity, 9.85 million
acre-feet allocated to municipal and industrial
water supply, 56 million allocated for joint-use
between flood control and irrigation, providing
water to 10 million people in 115 cities.
14Water Supply Problems Are Not NewThe 1960s
DROUGHT Highlighted Critical Water Problems
Nationwide.
- Led to enactment of the Water Resources
- Planning Act of 1965
- In order to meet the rapidly expanding demands
for water throughout the Nation, it is hereby
declared to be the policy of the Congress to
encourage the conservation, development, and
utilization of water and related land resources
of the United States on a comprehensive and
coordinated basis by the Federal Government,
States, localities, and private enterprise with
the cooperation of all affected Federal agencies,
States, local governments, individuals,
corporations, business enterprises, and others
concerned.
15The Water Resources Planning Act of 1965
- Drew attention to the need for comprehensive
water resources planning. - U.S. Water Resources Council was established.
- Comprehensive national water availability and
use assessment identified critical problems, such
as shortages and conflicts among users. - Assessments completed in 1968 and 1978.
- Led to the development of considerable new water
supply infrastructure around the nation.
16Large Reservoirs Completed by Decade
( Note that many Reservoirs were
completed in the 1960s. )
17National Water Availability and Use Has Not Been
Assessed in Decades
- The last comprehensive national water
availability and use assessment was completed in
1978. - The U.S. Water Resources Council has NOT been
funded since 1983.
18Demand for Water is Changing
- Total water use has leveled off in the past 25
years, - BUT . . .
- Future Trends Water uses/demands are increasing
and expanding demand patterns are changing - Fast population growth (by up to 50 in some
regions over next 40 years especially in
arid/semiarid areas) --domestic water needs ?
increasing. - Demand for food will increase by 25() in next
25 years. - Demand for water transportation and power
generation will increase. - Total consumptive water uses (water not
immediately returned to the waterbody) ?
increasing.
19- Irrigated acres
- in the West ? decreasing.
- in the East ? increasing.
- Pollutants (from man-made and natural sources)
have eliminated some waters from being used. - Instream flow maintenance requirements (for
recreation, habitat protection, endangered
species, water quality) are competing for water. - Partial Offsets to Increasing Demand
Conservation, increased efficiency/productivity,
new technologies, less manufacturing, less more
efficient irrigation. - Recycled water usage ? increased 36
- (between 1990-1995) still rising.
- But, despite this, Demand is expected to increase.
20Projected Population Growth Areas
(Highest Growth Areas ? Red/Orange/Yellow)
21 Projected Areas with Significant Water Supply
Issues
22Result As we enter the 21st Century,
tremendous competition, between different water
users, for the same water.
- Skyrocketing demand is outstripping supplies in
many areas. - Not enough water to go around for everyone to use
as we have been. - Drought has exacerbated the problem in many
regions.
23(Worst Drought Areas ?
Brown/Red/Orange)
24(The Extreme Drought of Summer 2002)
25(No Transcript)
26Result
- Conflicts/disputes over water supply/allocation
are again arising across the nation. - Not just in the West (where water rights disputes
often have been contentious), but now also in the
traditionally water-rich East. - Competition for water between different users
(municipalities, states, industry, farmers, river
basins.) - This has led to
- Litigation, Negotiations, Agreements.
- Legislation on Water Resources Planning,
- Water Allocation/Use.
- Development of Water Resources Infrastructure.
27Result
- Scarcity of water The good old days are ending
. . . - Water now is a finite commodity, and a market
good, rather than a ubiquitous common resource or
free good. - The emerging fights about water are in great part
about economic development and sustainability.
28Where Are We Headed?
- A new paradigm for water management
- is emerging
- Recognition that water is not limitless.
- Recognition that there are competing uses of
water. - Recognition that there is a mismatch between our
problems and our institutions. - Need for holistic, comprehensive, integrated,
sustainable solutions to water scarcity/supply
problems. - Need to balance needs/interests of all users/
stakeholders.
29The new paradigm . . .
- Conserve/reduce consumption.
- Allocate and use water more efficiently.
- Use of non-structural alternatives to meet
demands. - Incorporate economic principles in water use and
management. - Multiple reuse/recycling of water.
- Adopt less water-intensive practices.
- Recognize basic ecosystem needs for water.
- Local values define local problems and require
local solutions.
30Water management must be based on the balance
between supply and demand
- WATER SUPPLIES
- Precipitation
- Surface Water
- Runoff
- rivers
- lakes
- Storage
- reservoirs
- snow ice
- Subsurface water
- Groundwater aquifers
- Soil moisture
- Manufactured water
- WATER DEMANDS
- Consumptive uses
- Municipal Industrial withdrawals
- Irrigation
- Energy production/cooling
- Nonconsumptive uses
- Hydropower
- Navigation
- Cooling waters
- Flood control
- Recreation
- rivers
- reservoirs
- Instream uses
- Ecosystem protection
31More Technological, Institutional, Planning, and
Information Needs for Sustainable Water
- Science and Technology Needs
- Water resources data collection/assessment.
- Increased water-use efficiency and conservation
(for municipal, industrial, agricultural, other
uses). - Alternative supplies (recycling, desalination,
etc.). - Water/wastewater treatment (e.g., for recycling,
desalination, etc.). - Pollutant reduction and environmental management.
- Ecosystem restoration methods.
32- Institutional/Legal/Educational Needs
- Institutional reforms.
- New public-private partnerships.
- Public education and participation.
- Integrated decision-making.
- Sustainable funding.
- Water Resources Planning and Management Needs
- Need to fill leadership void and plan ahead.
- Comprehensive integrated supply, demand,
drought planning and management. - Demand management, including water conservation
and tariff policy. - Bottom-up state/regional/basin-wide/local
approach.
33How Will We Pay for All of TheseFuture Water
Needs?
- External factors will decrease budgetary
flexibility -- competition for limited resources
at the Federal, State, and local level. - At the Federal level, OMB will use budget
pressure to make choices on Federal programs and
project justifications. - There will be greater pressure to make
beneficiary pay. - Water storage/reservoirs/other infrastructure.
- Water/wastewater treatment.
- Navigation flood damage reduction.
- Ecosystem restoration.
- Water quality, recreation.
- Irrigation.
- Etc.
34Who Decides How, When, Where, in What Manner, in
What Quantity (Planning)?--Very controversial!--
- What role for
- Local, state, regional water managers?
- Basin commissions?
- Political officials?
- Citizens/farmers/industry/other stakeholders?
- Experts?
- Non-governmental organizations?
- Courts (as through litigation)?
- Federal government?
- Respect States rights.
- Provide technical advice/expertise? Resources?
Coordination/facilitation/consensus building?
35- How to Coordinate/Integrate all of these Roles?
- Interbasin Transfers Are very controversial.
- Those with the water want to keep it (for future
growth, needs, etc.) those without it, want to
get it. - There is no easy answer!
36What is happening
- Many States and stakeholders are still reactive.
- Some States and water users are becoming more
proactive. - Generally, its those with the most acute
shortages. - Some States are adopting an integrated, bottom-up
local/state/regional planning approach. - Need to be engaged in these processes, to be sure
interests are represented. - The Federal Government has been dealing with
water resource issues on a piecemeal basis over
the past 25 years no comprehensive response. - Congress increasingly is becoming aware of the
problem, and the need for a new round of
comprehensive planning.
37The 21st Century Water Commission Act
- The House of Representatives passed the 21st
Century Water Commission Act in November 2003
(the Senate considered similar legislation). - Would have established a commission to provide
for water assessments to project future water
supply and demand, review current water
management programs at each level of government,
and develop recommendations for a comprehensive
water strategy. - The Commission would issue a final report within
3 years. - The Commission would have to respect the rights
of States in regulating water rights and uses.
38Bi- Partisan House Water Caucus Established June
21, 2007
- Goal is to promote dialogue about the Nations
water issues. - The Caucus aims to provide timely, scientific
information and dialogue about water resources
and water use. - Twelve Principles of Water Policy
- Ensure an adequate supply
- Increase efficiencies and safeguard environment
- Capture and store excess water for future
droughts - Improve water use efficiencies and reduce waste
- Implement water re-use strategies
- Advocate coordination of efforts at all levels of
Government - Streamline efforts to build water reservoirs and
other infrastructure - Protect rights of States and local governments
- Finance new public projects
- Encourage sustainable water supplies
- Recognize international implication of shared
water resources - Collect and share data on water use and quality
39House Water Caucus
- Co-Chairs
- John Linder (R-GA)
- Jim Costa (D-CA)
- George Radanovich (R-CA)
- Bart Stupak (D-MI)
- Grace Napolitano (D-CA)
40When the well is dry, well know the true worth
of water.
Ben Franklin