A Compilation Of Stormwater And Other Related Water News - 11/03/2008
National News
National Academy of Sciences Reports Calls for Change to
Stormwater Runoff Regulation
(Associated Press, October 16, 2008) According to a
report by the National Academy of Sciences, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) is failing to stem the pollution that
washes into waterways from cities and suburbs. The report calls for
"radical changes" in the way the federal government
regulates stormwater runoff in order for all waters to be clean
enough for fishing and swimming. The report also calls for a shift
in stormwater runoff management responsibility from developers to
local governments and for permits to be issued on the boundaries of
a watershed, rather than state boundaries.
Posted: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ixaJrp5XLiIA-Z4Vl1sBsl7oOQUQD93R534O1
State of Washington Bans Home Car Washing
(USA Today, September 28, 2008) Under authority of the
federal Clean Water Act, as a condition for issuing water runoff
permits to cities and counties, the Washington State Department of
Ecology has required local governments to adopt ordinances to
prohibit home car washing unless residents divert the wash water
from entering storm sewers. The local ordinances are not required
to ban home car washing completely. Rather, car washing on lawns or
gravel driveways, or on pavement with barriers that prevent the
wash water from entering storm sewers, may be permitted.
Posted: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-09-28-car-wash_N.htm
California News
Imperial Valley Water Reservoir to Result in Additional Water
for Southern California and Less Water for Mexico
(Los Angeles Times, October 22, 2008) Construction on a
$172.2 million reservoir to store water from the Colorado River
that would otherwise flow to Mexico began on October 22, 2008. With
the new reservoir, coastal Southern California, southern Nevada,
and central Arizona will receive more water. However, the reservoir
also will result in less water for Mexico. For decades, the United
States has allowed Mexico to receive more water from the Colorado
River than it was assured under a 1944 treaty, but with a regional
historic drought, the U.S. Department of the Interior devised this
reservoir project to capture excess water from the All-American
Canal rather than allowing it to flow to Mexico. Officials note
that Mexico will continue to receive its allocation under the 1944
treaty. The reservoir is scheduled to be completed in August
2010.
Posted...
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