Pollution and Water Quality
According to the United Nations, declining water quality has become a global issue of concern as human populations grow, industrial and agricultural activities expand, and climate change threatens to cause major alterations to the hydrological cycle. Resources available in this sub-theme include manuals describing water quality testing and treatment, reports and assessments of water quality from around the world, methods of maintaining water quality and managing pollution, and other resources that support enabling environments for effective water quality control.
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Pollution and Water Quality Resources
Nutrient Criteria Technical Guidance Manual: Rivers and Streams
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
This manual provides methods to assess water body nutrient impairment and develop ecoregion-specific nutrient criteria. The document provides background information on classifying rivers and streams, selecting criteria variables, designing monitoring programs, building a database analyzing...Read more
Nutrient Criteria Technical Guidance Manual: Lakes and Reservoirs
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
This manual details the U.S. EPA's scientific recommendations regarding ambient concentrations of nutrients that protect resource quality and aquatic life. The guidance manual is intended to help the user develop criteria useful for abating cultural eutrophication.Read more
Regional focus:
North AmericaUnited StatesMonitoring Guidance for Determining the Effectiveness of Nonpoint Source Controls
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
This nonpoint source monitoring guidance addresses the design of water quality monitoring programs to assess both impacts from nonpoint source pollution and the effectiveness of control practices and management measures. Emphasis is on project and BMP effectiveness, statistical analysis, and...Read more
Guiding Principles on an Optional Approach For Developing and Implementing a Numeric Nutrient Criterion That Integrates Causal and Response Parameters
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
These guiding principles offer an approach for developing a numeric nutrient criterion that integrates causal (nitrogen and phosphorous) and responsive parameters into one water quality standard.Read more
University of Michigan Water Center-Supported Large Research Grants
Graham Sustainability Institute at the University of Michigan
The Water Center has awarded over $4.6 million in large grants to bolster freshwater research and restoration and protection efforts throughout the Great Lakes region and beyond. This site includes factsheets for all Water Center large grants.Read more
Regional focus:
United StatesUniversity of Michigan Water Center-Supported Leveraging Resource Grants
Graham Sustainability Institute at the University of Michigan
The Water Center has awarded over $1 million in grants to support projects that leverage ongoing freshwater research and restoration and protection efforts in order to take them a step further. This site includes factsheets for all Water Center leveraging grants.Read more
Regional focus:
United StatesWater Quality Interpretation Tool
Colorado State University
An online tool for well owners to interpret their laboratory sampling tests for drinking, livestock and irrigation water quality.Read more
Interactive Map of Eutrophication and Hypoxia
World Resources Institute
This interactive map represents 762 coastal areas impacted by eutrophication and/or hypoxia. There are 479 sites identified as experiencing hypoxia, 55 sites that once experienced hypoxia but are now improving, and 228 sites that experience other symptoms of eutrophication, including algal blooms,...Read more
World Water Day: How Cities Cause "Dead Zones"
World Resources Institute
World Water Day this year focuses on "Water for Cities," but what about water from cities? Urban runoff is one of the biggest threats to water quality around the world, with serious impacts on economies and people. However, it's a problem that most cities are only starting to address.Read more
Protecting Waterways from a Deadly Problem
World Resources Institute
This article examines why nutrient pollution emerges as one of the greatest threats to water quality. Using examples such as in the Chesapeake Bay, where large schools of jellyfish scare away swimmers. In the Gulf of Mexico, a 3,000 square mile "dead zone"" threatens a multi-billion...Read more
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