Surface water and groundwater are present throughout Kentucky’s 39,486 square miles. Surface water occurs as rivers, streams, ponds, lakes, and wetlands. Groundwater occurs in the pore spaces within rocks and alluvium, in fractures, and in solution openings or conduits in areas underlain by soluble carbonate rocks (for example, limestone).
Water Supply
· Approximately 49 inches of precipitation falls on Kentucky every year. About 40 percent of this water runs off into streams, and 60 percent evaporates or is transpired by plants. This is called the hydrologic cycle
Download KGS Water Fact Sheet
· Kentuckians use more than 4.3 billion gallons of water every day. About 95 percent of this is surface water, and 5 percent is groundwater.
· Almost 94 percent of water used by consumers is returned to streams.
· About 815 public supply systems provide water for 80 percent of the population.
Water Contamination
Surface- and groundwater supplies in Kentucky are susceptible to pollution from both natural and manmade sources. Naturally occurring substances such as iron, manganese, barium, selenium, hydrogen sulfide, and salt may be present at undesirable levels. Bacteria and nitrate-nitrogen from sewage, septic tanks, animal wastes, and fertilizers are a common problem. Some water supplies in Kentucky have been threatened by organic chemicals, including trihalomethanes, a water disinfection byproduct, and trichloroethyline, an industrial solvent.
Karst Topography and Groundwater
Karst topography refers to areas with sinkholes, springs, caves, and underground streams. Approximately 38 percent of Kentucky is underlain by limestone exhibiting some karst development, and 25 percent is known to have well-developed karst features. As limestone is weathered by slightly acidic rainwater, fractures and solution openings are enlarged over time, creating these features. Although groundwater and surface water are often thought of as two different things, groundwater is frequently the sustaining supply for surface water. In karst areas, surface water often enters or returns to the groundwater system through sinkholes and cave openings.
Rivers and Streams
· Thirteen major river basins, containing more than 90,000 miles of streams, drain the state.
· Kentucky has more navigable miles of water than any other state except Alaska.
· More than 60 miles of streams have been designated “Outstanding National Resource Waters” by the EPA and receive special attention under the Clean Water Act.
· One hundred fourteen miles of nine streams and 26,382 acres of land adjacent to these streams have been designated “Wild Rivers,” which have exceptional water quality and aesthetic character.
Lakes and Reservoirs
· There are 45 major lakes in Kentucky, including reservoirs, with 29 dams 50 feet tall or higher. Only three of these lakes are natural.
· East of the Mississippi River, Lake Cumberland in south-central Kentucky is the largest artificial lake in water volume, and Kentucky Lake in western Kentucky is the largest in surface area.
· Reservoir storage in Kentucky totals 2.9 trillion gallons, or 9 million acre-feet.
· Kentucky is the only state bordered on three sides by rivers. Surface Water
· Surface sources provide about 95 percent of the water used in Kentucky.
· About 3.5 million Kentuckians are served by surface water sources, which include nearly 700 drinking-water systems.
· Surface-water withdrawals for Kentucky total 489 million gallons per day for public supply, 13 million gallons for domestic use, 167 million gallons for industrial/mining uses, 81 million gallons for agriculture, and 3,430 million gallons for cooling at thermoelectric power plants.
· Surface water provides domestic water supplies for 92 percent of Kentucky’s urban population and for about half of Kentucky’s rural population.
· The U.S. Geological Survey maintains 51 stations that monitor stream-water quality. Potential Sources of Surface-Water Pollution
· Nonpoint sources pollute about three and a half times as many miles of streams as point sources.
· Primary nonpoint sources of pollution are:
§ Mining, 31 percent
§ Agriculture, 29 percent
§ Land disposal/septic systems, 20 percent
§ Urban runoff, 10 percent
· Municipal sewage treatment plants account for 70 percent of the point sources of pollution.
Water Wells
· It is estimated that Kentucky has more than 200,000 water wells. Known wells include 52,000 domestic wells, 31,000 monitoring wells, 1,300 public supply wells, 1,100 irrigation wells, and 700 industrial wells.
· Since 1985, all water wells and monitoring wells in Kentucky must be drilled by certified well drillers, and reported to the Kentucky Division of Water.
· Average depths to groundwater range from 40 feet in the Bluegrass Region to 60 feet in the Jackson Purchase Region.
Groundwater Use
· More than 1.5 million Kentuckians are served by 185 public water-supply systems that rely on groundwater, and 416,000 Kentuckians use water wells or springs.
· Kentuckians use about 156 million gallons of groundwater per day.
· Groundwater withdrawals per day for Kentucky include 69 million gallons for public supply, 22 million gallons for domestic use, 56 million gallons for industrial/mining uses, 4 million gallons for agriculture, and 5 million gallons for cooling at thermoelectric power plants.
· Groundwater, cisterns, and hauled water supply about half of Kentucky’s rural population. Potential sources of groundwater pollution
o 125,000 unplugged oil and gas wells
o 500,000 septic tanks
o 40,000 underground storage tanks
o More than 600 inactive landfills
o 5,000 open dumps
o Nearly 3,500 permitted hazardous waste-handling facilities
o About 3,400 Class 2 injection wells (for brine disposal) associated with the production of oil or natural gas
Kentucky Groundwater Data Repository
The repository, managed by the Kentucky Geological Survey, was established in 1990 by State mandate to archive and distribute groundwater data collected by State agencies, independent researchers, universities, and other organizations. It provides the public with online access to information on water wells, well construction, springs, and groundwater quality. The repository can be accessed at https://kgs.uky.edu/kgsmap/kgswater/viewer.asp.
Water Organizations of Kentucky
Several organizations play a vital role in managing, protecting, and advocating for water resources in Kentucky. These include the Kentucky Rural Water Association (KRWA), which provides support to water and wastewater utilities, the Kentucky Waterways Alliance (KWA), focused on protecting waterways, and the Kentucky Water Research Institute (KWRI), which conducts research and provides resources related to water. The Division of Water within the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet also plays a key role in managing water resources. Kentucky Groundwater Association (KYGWA) focuses on protecting groundwater resources and supporting the water well industry. The USGS Ohio Indiana Kentucky Water Science Center provides information to describe, understand, and manage water resources and works to optimize local capabilities in technical program areas that manage water resources.
October is Clean Water Act Month
By proclamation, Governor Andy Beshear has declared the month of October as Clean Water Act Month, in honor of the anniversary of the 1972 signing of the Clean Water Act.
Kentucky’s Water Health Guide
Kentucky’s Water Health Guide is a summary of the current and historic conditions, activities, trends and impacts on the health of the rivers and streams that flow through the Commonwealth
This report describes the natural conditions of the streams and lakes in Kentucky, such as the types of rocks and soils, the land features, the types of vegetation, the quality of the water and how it moves. It also describes the human activities and influences such as building and maintenance of homes, businesses, and industries; raising of crops and livestock; treatment of human waste; recreational activities; timber cutting; mining; construction and maintenance of water lines, sewer lines, roads, pipelines, and other types of infrastructure that support human populations.
All these conditions and activities have an effect on the water that moves over and through the land as it drains into the streams and rivers. This determines the quality of the water and influences the health of the waterways. This report provides information about these influences and the water quality in Kentucky.
Download Kentucky’s Water Health Guide to learn about all those topics and so much more!
Water Quality Information
The KDOW Water Quality Branch is responsible for monitoring and assessing the water quality of the Commonwealth’s streams, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. The branch develops and reviews water quality standards, classifies surface waters for designated uses (e.g., cold water aquatic habitat and outstanding state resource waters), reports on the state’s water quality in the 305(b) Integrated Report, and creates Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) documents.
Branch staff also serve as scientific advisors for the Division of Water on emerging water quality issues and the review of technical and scientific reports and data.
The Monitoring Section collects and manages physiochemical and biological data for rivers, streams, and lakes throughout the state. It provides water quality data and reports to inform water quality assessments and public health advisories for fish consumption and water recreation.
The Intensive Survey & Wetlands Section collects and manages physiochemical, biological, and physical habitat data from waters throughout the Commonwealth, including wetlands. Data is collected to support the development and track the progress of water quality improvement plans such as section 319 Watershed Plans, Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) or TMDL Alternatives for 303(d)-listed impairments. Data collected by the section may also be used by other programs within DOW for activities such as water quality standards development or water quality assessments for section 305(b). The section is also responsible for development of wetland-specific standards and assessment methodology.
The TMDL & Program Support Section develops TMDLs and coordinates with DOW branches on related water quality restoration actions (e.g. TMDL Alternative Plans). The section maintains two inter-related data management systems: the Kentucky Water Assessment Data for Environmental Monitoring (K-WADE) which manages water quality monitoring data and the Kentucky Assessment and TMDL Tracking System (KATTS) which manages information on water quality assessment decisions and the actions being taken to improve water quality in the Commonwealth. It is also responsible for providing technical assistance, data compilation, and analysis to support water quality assessments and the development and review of water quality standards.
The Watershed Management Branch
The Watershed Management Branch provides leadership for comprehensive planning and analysis of water quality and quantity, on a watershed basis. The branch coordinates the Watershed Management Framework, through which watersheds are targeted for planning and implementation. The branch also develops and implements nonpoint source pollution control programs, inventories water sources, issues water withdrawal permits and provides technical support for water management planning, including source water protection. The Watershed Management Branch administers the Water Watch program and provides support to the Watershed Watch program, through which citizens across the state monitor stream and lake conditions.
The Nonpoint Source and Basin Team Section provides leadership and technical support to the Watershed Management Framework, including the Statewide Watershed Management Framework Steering Committee, seven Basin Teams and sub-watershed task forces throughout the Commonwealth. The section also works to improve widespread public understanding of watersheds, supports citizen involvement in monitoring water bodies by coordinating the Water Watch Program, and supports the Watershed Watch organizations.
The Water Supply Section provides leadership and technical support for water resource management, especially regarding water allocations and integrating water quantity and water quality analyses. This section implements water supply planning, source water and wellhead protection programs, drought monitoring, water shortage response, and water withdrawal permitting programs. The section also provides significant support to Water Management Planning in conjunction with the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority (KIA). These programs ensure long-term security for adequate water supplies to the citizens of the Commonwealth, including protecting drinking water sources (Source Water Protection).
The Groundwater Section implements a comprehensive groundwater program that manages, enhances and protects the groundwater resources of the Commonwealth for present and future generations through regulation, technical assistance, and collection of resource information. This section also implements groundwater protection plans, water well drillers certification, and ambient monitoring network programs.
The GIS and Data Analysis Section provides technical support and data analysis and promotes better decision-making in the Division. Section activities include effectively managing DOW data and databases, improving efficiencies in data acquisition and management, providing and maintaining geospatial data, analyzing Division data, and identifying and developing new tools to improve data accuracy, better communication with the public, and the ability to analyze complex conditions before making a decision. The section has worked to integrate the use of geographic information systems (GIS) into the Division’s workflows, including the real time National Hydrography Dataset and Watershed Boundary Dataset, layers, internal and external map viewers, and story maps.
Watershed Planning Guidebook for Kentucky Communities
A watershed plan is a strategy that provides assessment and management information for a geographically defined watershed, including the analyses, actions, participants, and resources for developing and implementing the plan.
Link to the Watershed Planning Guidebook for Kentucky Communities
Watershed Management & Hazard Mitigation Planning:
Collaborative Benefits in a Changing Climate
As climate events become more severe and frequent, the potential exists to turn natural seasonal flooding into dangerous rain events that create severe public heath, economic, and environmental problems for Kentucky. Integrating water quality and water quantity management considerations using nature-based solutions can help mitigate flooding while promoting social, economic, and environmental priorities. Ultimately, collaboration can empower communities to gain resiliency to help future generations.
KDOW Presentation – KAMM 2020 Conference
Watershed Management and Hazard Mitigation Planning – Collaborative Benefits in a Changing Climate
Mahtaab Bagherzadeh & Perry Thomas
KAMM Presentation Disclaimer
Presentations are intended for educational purposes only and do not replace independent professional judgment. Statements of fact and opinions expressed are those of the individual participants and, unless expressly stated to the contrary, are not the opinion or position of the Kentucky Association of Mitigation Managers (KAMM), its sponsors, Board of Directors, or committees. KAMM does not endorse or approve, and assumes no responsibility for, the content, accuracy, or completeness of the information presented by speakers at trainings, conferences, or other KAMM-sponsored events and/or posted on KAMM’s website, YouTube channel, or social media accounts.
Watershed Academy
Watershed Academy is a set of webinars, educational modules and publications that provides an introduction to watershed management. Watershed Academy is free of cost and requires no registration. Explore the website to learn about the Clean Water Act, watershed ecology, climate change and more.
What is a River Basin?
A river basin is the portion of land drained by a river and its tributaries. It encompasses all the land surface drained by many streams and creeks that flow downhill into one another. Another name for a river basin is watershed. Kentucky is divided into 7 major river basins, each of which is staffed by a Basin Coordinator. The Basin Coordinators serve as facilitators for agency activities and as a point of contact for local organizations interested in addressing clean water issues.
KY River Basins
Big Sandy, Little Sandy, and Tygarts River Basins
Four Rivers Basin
Green & Tradewater Rivers Basins
Kentucky River Basin
Licking River Basin
Salt River Basin
Upper Cumberland River Basin
DOW Nature Based Solutions Video
There are opportunities to strengthen and empower Kentucky’s communities, while simultaneously addressing water quality and quantity issues. In doing so, we can mitigate flooding while promoting social, economic and environmental wellbeing.
The Division of Water and its partners can assist community planners, risk managers, and watershed groups interested in practices that mutually address water quality and quantity issues.
Watch the Video! Link to the Kentucky Division of Water Nature-Based Solutions – YouTube.
Water Quality
401 Water Quality Certification Program
The §401 Water Quality Certification Program of the DOW is responsible for the Commonwealth’s review and authorization for selected federal licenses and permits. Any person, firm, or agency (including federal, state, and local government agencies) planning to work in jurisdictional waters of the United States or dump or place dredged or fill material in waters of the U.S should contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) office in your area and the DOW, Water Quality Certification Section to obtain a permit.
Various permits may also be needed during a disaster recovery process, such as Water Quality Certifications through the Clean Water Act Sections 401.
Presentation on Water Quality Certification at 2022 KAMM Conference
Clean Water Act Section 401 -Water Quality Certification – Samantha Vogeler, DOW
Examples of activities that may require a certification
Examples of activities that may require a certification from the Division of Water, Water Quality Certification Section include:
- Placement of dredged or fill materials into waters and/or wetlands
- Structural fill such as culverts and bridge supports
- Road and utility crossings
- Gravel mining/removal
- In-stream basins
- Dredging, excavation, channel widening, or straightening
- Flooding, excavating, draining and/or filling a wetland
- Bank sloping/stabilization
- Stream channel relocation
- Water diversions
- Divert, obstruct or change the natural flow or bed of any surface waters and/or wetlands.
- Construct a barrier across a stream, channel, or watercourse that will create a reservoir - dams, weirs, dikes, levees or other similar structures.
Examples of federal licenses and permits subject to §401 Water Quality Certification
Examples of federal licenses and permits subject to §401 Water Quality Certification include
· Clean Water Act §404 permits for discharge of dredged or fill material issued by the USACE
· Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) hydropower licenses
· Rivers and Harbors Act §9 and §10 permits for activities that have a potential discharge in navigable waters issued by the USACE
A §401 Water Quality Certification from the Commonwealth of Kentucky affirms that the discharge will not violate Kentucky’s water quality standards.
Section 404 Permit Program
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act: Permitting Discharges of Dredge or Fill Material
Issue Resolution under CWA Section 404(q) n
Section 404 Enforcement
Applying Section 401 Certification to Protect Wetlands
Laws and Regulations
Policy and Guidance
Scientific Documents Related to Wetlands and Aquatic Resources in the U.S.
Prevent and Control of Nonpoint Source Pollution
Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, also known as polluted runoff, is contamination of water or air from diffuse sources, rather than a single, identifiable point. It's the cumulative effect of small amounts of pollutants picked up and carried by rainwater, snowmelt, or other natural processes from a large area. This contrasts with point source pollution, which comes from a specific, identifiable location like a pipe.
Urban Runoff: Model Ordinances to Prevent and Control Nonpoint Source Pollution
Many communities across the nation are facing challenges associated with natural resource degradation due to rapid growth and development. Local governments need to have legal authorities in place to shape development and to protect resources.
The ordinance types listed below include matters that are often forgotten in many local codes including aquatic buffers, erosion and sediment control, open space development, stormwater control operation and maintenance, illicit discharges, and post construction controls.
Aquatic Buffers
Aquatic buffers serve as natural boundaries between local waterways and existing development. They help protect water quality by filtering pollutants, sediment, and nutrients from runoff. Other benefits of buffers include flood control, stream bank stabilization, stream temperature control, and room for lateral movement of the stream channel.
Good aquatic buffer ordinances specify the size and management of the stream buffer and are a specific planning tool to protect stream quality and aquatic habitat. Effective buffer ordinances provide guidelines for buffer creation and maintenance and should require:
- buffer boundaries to be clearly marked on local planning maps
- maintenance language that restricts vegetation and soil disturbance
- tables that illustrate buffer width adjustment by percent slope and type of stream
- direction on allowable uses and public education
A strong buffer ordinance is only a first step to preserving stream buffers. In addition, communities will need an effective buffer program to manage buffers and enforce buffer regulations. During the construction phase, communities need to ensure that the clearing and grading permit is well integrated with the forest buffer application. After construction, programs that educate citizens about the importance of the buffer and how to manage the buffer can help preserve its integrity.
View example aquatic buffer ordinances.
Erosion and Sediment Control
By most accounts, the most environmentally dangerous period of development is the initial construction phase when land is cleared of vegetation and graded to create a proper surface for construction. The removal of natural vegetation and topsoil makes the exposed area particularly susceptible to erosion, causing transformation of existing drainage areas and disturbance of sensitive areas.
Erosion and sediment control is widely accepted as necessary practice, but there are certain ways to make even the most well-crafted ordinance more effective. First, communities need to have the staff and resources to enforce erosion and sediment control regulations; otherwise, the authority to inspect sites becomes useless. In addition, the technical manual referred to in the ordinance needs to provide useful guidance on selecting erosion and sediment control measures. Third, education of contractors, engineers, and designers regarding the importance and effective use of erosion and sediment controls is essential to implementing effective erosion and sediment controls.
View example ordinances.
KY Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control Guide
Open Space Development
Also called “cluster development,” open space development is an alternative site planning technique that concentrates dwelling units in a compact area to reserve undeveloped space elsewhere on the site. In this technique, lot sizes, setbacks, and frontage distances are minimized to allow for open space. The typical open space development creates less impervious cover and reduces the need to clear and grade 35 percent to 60 percent of the site. Open space areas are often used for neighborhood recreation, stormwater management facilities, or conservation purposes. Open space preserved in a natural condition needs little maintenance and helps to reduce and sometimes to treat stormwater runoff from development.
Certain issues are not covered in this ordinance because many localities provide for them in other ordinances or they are too specific to each community. For example, language on road widths is not included because it is often a part of subdivision or other ordinances. Although most ordinances contain a section on the development review process, such language was not included because the review process varies widely by locality.
Although open space development is desirable, there are challenges to applying open space development criteria in every community. For open space development to be successful, ordinance needs to be crafted in a way that fosters development that is both marketable and environmentally sensitive. The ordinance needs to effectively address issues such as maintenance, liability, and emergency vehicle access. In addition, the community needs to be prepared to manage the space or to dedicate open space to a responsible organization. Finally, decisions about when and where open space development is desired need to be made early.
View example ordinances.
Stormwater Control Operation and Maintenance
The expense of maintaining most stormwater best management practices (BMPs) is relatively small compared to the original construction cost. Too frequently, however, BMP maintenance is not completed, particularly when the BMP is privately owned. Improper maintenance decreases the efficiency of BMPs and can also detract from the aesthetic qualities of the practice. The operation and maintenance language within a stormwater ordinance can ensure that designs facilitate easy maintenance and that regular maintenance activities are completed.
Some important elements of effective stormwater operation and maintenance ordinance language are the specification of a specific entity responsible for long-term maintenance and reference to regular inspection visits. The ordinance should also address design guidelines that can help ease the maintenance burden, such as the inclusion of maintenance easements.
Although language that legally requires operation and maintenance of stormwater BMPs is important, there might be a disjoint between the ordinance language and what happens “on the ground.” In this section, the information provided in support of the ordinance, such as maintenance agreements and inspection checklists, is as important as the ordinance to ensure that stormwater BMPs perform efficiently over time.
View example ordinances.
Illicit Discharge
Illicit Discharge is defined as any discharge to the municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) that is not composed entirely of storm water, except for discharges allowed under a NPDES permit or waters used for firefighting operations. These non-stormwater discharges occur due to illegal connections to the storm drain system from business or commercial establishments. As a result of these illicit connections, contaminated wastewater enters storm drains or directly into local waters before receiving treatment from a wastewater treatment plant. Illicit connections may be intentional or may be unknown to the business owner and often are due to the connection of floor drains to the storm sewer system. Additional sources of illicit discharges can be failing septic systems, illegal dumping practices, and the improper disposal of sewage from recreational practices such as boating or camping.
Illicit discharge detection and elimination programs are designed to prevent contamination of ground and surface water supplies by monitoring, inspection, and removal of these illegal non-stormwater discharges. An essential element of these programs is an ordinance granting the authority to inspect properties suspected of releasing contaminated discharges into storm drain systems. Another important factor is the establishment of enforcement actions for those properties found to be in noncompliance or that refuse to allow access to their facilities.
View example ordinances.
MS4 Permits
Do you want to know which Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permits have provisions for pesticides, metals, mercury, pH, temperature, oil and grease, trash, DDT, PCBs, marine debris, acid mine drainage, nutrients, sediment, pathogens, dissolved oxygen, or chloride? EPA released a compendium of MS4 permits that includes water quality-based requirements for specific pollutant parameters that are consistent with approved Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) and protecting designated uses.
The EPA reviewed existing state and EPA permits and identified different ways of implementing TMDLs through quantitative requirements, pollutant-specific management measures, or a combination of both. The EPA gleaned examples of how permitting authorities measured progress of implementation of water quality-based requirements through review and approval of implementation plans, monitoring/modeling, and reporting requirements. Examples of water quality-based requirements related to discharges to impaired waters without approved TMDLs are also included.
This compendium is third in the MS4 Permit Compendium series. These compendia feature examples from existing MS4 permits of clear, specific and measurable requirements:
Part 1: Six Minimum Control Measure Provisions
Part 2: Post Construction Standards
Part 3: Water Quality-Based Requirements
Post Construction Controls
The management of stormwater runoff from sites after the construction phase is vital to controlling the impacts of development on urban water quality. The increase in impervious surfaces such as rooftops, roads, parking lots, and sidewalks due to land development can have a detrimental effect on aquatic systems. Heightened levels of impervious cover have been associated with stream warming and loss of aquatic biodiversity in urban areas. Runoff from impervious areas can also contain a variety of pollutants that are detrimental to water quality, including sediment, nutrients, road salts, heavy metals, pathogenic bacteria, and petroleum hydrocarbons.
View example ordinances.
Source Water Protection
Source water protection involves preventing the pollution of the groundwater, lakes, rivers, and streams that serve as sources of drinking water for local communities. Source water protection ordinances help safeguard community health and reduce the risk of contamination of water supplies. When drafting an ordinance aimed at protecting these sources, the drinking water supplies can be divided into two general sources; aquifers and wells (groundwater) and lakes and reservoirs (surface water). Wellhead Protection (WHP) Zones and Aquifer Protection Areas are two examples of source water protection ordinances that seek to protect groundwater sources. Water Supply Watershed Districts and Lake Watershed Overlay Districts are examples of local management tools that provide protection to surface water supplies by restricting land uses around a reservoir used for drinking water.
Communities may take for granted that a plentiful supply of high quality drinking water will be available. However, drinking water sources, whether they be from ground water, or surface water, or both, are a vulnerable natural resource that needs to be protected. To ensure that these drinking water sources are protected most effectively, an ordinance should contain several basic concepts. First, source water planning should be done on a scale that ensures protection of the whole recharge zones for that source water. For surface waters, communities may wish to create overlay zoning districts that have boundaries large enough to protect both the source water resource and the tributaries and streams that contribute to the resource. For groundwater, communities could consult with the USGS to be sure their overlay zoning district encompasses the entire area that recharges any aquifer. Second, an ordinance should have language specifying allowable and prohibited land uses within the source water protection zone. For example, many source water protection ordinances limit or forbid the storage of hazardous materials and place restrictions on the location of businesses that use these materials within the overlay district. An ordinance should also include procedures for review of proposed projects within a source water protection district to verify that the project is consistent with the ultimate goal of the ordinance. This might include requiring applicants to submit geotechnical and hydrological analyses to determine the potential impacts to water quality and the submission of spill control plans for businesses performing potentially contaminating activities. Finally, language explaining the mechanisms for enforcement of the requirements of the ordinance, including the civil and criminal penalties that may apply for failure to obey, should be included.
The source water protection ordinances are divided into two separate categories: a source water (groundwater) protection category and a surface water (reservoir) protection category. Each category contains a model ordinance and five example ordinances from around the country. The language for each of the models is borrowed from a number of ordinances and communities will need to assess what the appropriate requirements are for their area. In addition, some of the example ordinances have language addressing issues not dealt with in the model, and officials are encouraged to examine each of the ordinances for the best language to meet the specific needs of their community.
View example ordinances.
KWA’s Cleanup Toolkit
Interested in cleaning up your favorite stream, lake, or river? To help you plan your own cleanup event, KWA has developed a newly expanded, comprehensive, and free Cleanup Toolkit. KWA staff are also available as resources if you have questions.
Why are Waterway Cleanups Important?
Cleaning a waterway not only enhances the natural aesthetic value of the area, but also mitigates the effects of trash contaminating the water and impacts on local communities such as:
- Harm to habitat and wildlife: Trash can smother aquatic vegetation and be mistaken for food, which can lead to death by suffocation, infection, or starvation.
- Pollution of water quality and health risk to humans: Trash can carry pathogens and toxins such as microplastics that can threaten human health and development.
- Community degradation and economic loss: Trash can degrade quality of life in coastal and all communities and impact fishing and maritime industries.
- Greenhouse gas emissions: Plastic production and disposal are major sources of greenhouse gas emissions and can contribute to environmental degradation over time.
Agricultural Runoff
Agricultural runoff is the water that flows over farmland during rain or irrigation, picking up pollutants and carrying them into nearby water bodies. This runoff can significantly degrade water quality by introducing pesticides, fertilizers, sediment, and animal waste into rivers, lakes, and other water sources. It's a major contributor to water pollution, particularly in rivers, streams, and wetlands.
Webinar Recording: Conservation Insights from the USDA Legacy Phosphorus Assessment
Mitigating legacy phosphorus requires targeted conservation in fields, at the edges of fields, and in watersheds. This Conservation Outcomes Webinar features Dr. Peter Kleinman sharing insights from USDA’s Legacy Phosphorus Assessment Project. You may access the webinar recording below.
Dr. Kleinman coordinates this collaborative effort between NRCS and USDA’s Agricultural Research Service to advance the science, innovation, and forecasting of legacy phosphorus mitigation strategies and ultimately support water quality improvements. Findings are presented from CEAP watersheds within the Chesapeake Bay, Lake Champlain, Lake Erie, Mississippi River, and Snake River. Producers, conservationists, and researchers may use the conservation insights shared to strengthen legacy phosphorus mitigation efforts and improve water quality nationwide.
Access August 2024 Webinar Recording
Can Agriculture Improve Water Quality?
With Data-Driven Voluntary Conservation, the Answer is Yes.
Agriculture offers a major potential to support water quality improvements nationwide. At USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), they deliver science and data, one-on-one technical support, and cost share opportunities to ensure this potential is realized.
NRCS Chief Terry Cosby highlights some of the key ways NRCS supports voluntary conservation efforts to deliver wins for water quality and working lands. He also shares details on a webinar that offers conservation insights for agricultural producers, conservationists, and researchers to strengthen legacy phosphorus mitigation efforts and improve water quality nationwide.
Read Chief Cosby’s blog.
USDA’s Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) offers data-driven resources to support water quality wins year-round through voluntary conservation.
KY DOW developed an Agriculture Success Stories Story Map highlighting KY farms adopting innovative practices to prevent soil erosion and protect water quality. If you know of a farm that deserves to be highlighted, contact Paulette Akers.
Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)
Harmful algal blooms, or HABs, occur when colonies of algae — simple plants that live in the sea and freshwater — grow out of control and produce toxic or harmful effects on people, fish, shellfish, marine mammals and birds. The human illnesses caused by HABs, though rare, can be debilitating or even fatal. HABs can be linked to “overfeeding.” This occurs when nutrients (mainly phosphorus and nitrogen) from sources such as lawns and agriculture flow into bays, rivers, and the sea, and build up at a rate that “overfeeds” the algae that exist normally in the environment. Some HABs appear in the aftermath of natural phenomena like sluggish water circulation, unusually high water temperatures, and extreme weather events like hurricanes, floods, and drought. (NOAA)
Better Way: An Application for Risk Characterization of HABs on the Ohio River
In 2015, an unprecedented algal bloom in the Ohio River caught many communities by surprise. Since then, EPA researchers have been working with water quality managers to address a gap in scientific research regarding the ability to predict harmful algal blooms on rivers.
HAB events on rivers are likely to become increasingly common as climate change pushes towards longer, hotter, and drier summers. As spring showers wash nutrients into the river, an extended hot drought period will cause water to evaporate from the river. Less water in the river creates a higher concentration of nutrients as well as a slower flow, factors which impact the likelihood of a HAB event.
Beginning in 2018, the team conducted research over the course of three years to create a web-based application that used key factors to predict HABs. The team developed a multi-pronged approach that modeled risk probabilities for sites along the entire river and included water quality data to help evaluate the model predictions. The efforts resulted in a real-time HABs risk characterization tool that is now being used and maintained by ORSANCO.
Read about the tool they created to help better understand water quality in the river and prepare for future algal blooms.
Learn More from the EPA
Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms
Climate Change and Freshwater Harmful Algal Blooms
Cyanotoxins Preparedness and Response Toolkit
The Cyanotoxins Preparedness and Response Toolkit (CPRT) is a tool to help states and Tribes prepare for potential HABs in freshwater bodies and know how to respond to protect public health. The CPRT follows the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Response Framework (NRF), a consistent nationwide framework built on the Department of Homeland Security’s National Incident Management System (NIMS). As such, the CPRT includes the essential components to prevent and respond to cyanotoxins events in drinking and recreational waters, and to update and improve preparedness and response for future cyanotoxin events.
Cyanotoxins Preparedness and Response Toolkit
Flood Resilience: A Basic Guide for Water and Wastewater Utilities
The EPA’s tool, Flood Resilience: A Basic Guide for Water and Wastewater Utilities was designed for small and medium drinking water and utilities and includes interactive worksheets, instructional videos, and flood maps. With a user-friendly layout, embedded videos, and flood maps to guide you, EPA’s Flood Resilience Guide is your one-stop resource to protect your critical assets.
Water Quality Funding
The EPA provides a range of financial resources, including grants, made available to support public water systems with enhancing the quality of drinking water and improving public health. The Office of Water has a variety of funding programs available to public water systems.
Water Infrastructure Financing
The EPA gives communities access to information and financing opportunities that will help improve water quality and protect public health by hosting the Water Finance Clearinghouse, a web‐based portal to help communities make informed financing decisions for their drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure needs. The Clearinghouse provides communities with a searchable database of water funding sources and over 550 resources to support local water infrastructure projects. It consolidates and expands upon existing EPA-supported databases to create a one-stop shop for all community water finance needs.
Many communities around the country have aging or inadequate water infrastructure. Each year approximately 240,000 main breaks occur while elsewhere billions of gallons of raw sewage are discharged into local surface waters from aging conveyance systems. Communities increasingly need efficient access to up-to-date water finance information to rehabilitate or replace their water infrastructure. The EPA’s new Water Finance Clearinghouse meets this need.
The Water Finance Clearinghouse gives local decision makers an opportunity to search for available funding sources for water infrastructure as well as resources (such as reports, webpages, and webinars) on financing mechanisms and approaches that can help communities access capital to meet their water infrastructure needs. State, federal, local, and foundation funding sources and resources on public-private partnerships, asset management practices, revenue models, and affordability approaches are included in the Clearinghouse.
The Water Finance Clearinghouse is updated in real-time, following a crowdsourcing model. States, federal agencies, and other water sector stakeholders can suggest edits and new resources or funding options at any time through the Contributor Portal. Stakeholders can use this interactive feature to manage how their programs and initiatives are displayed in the Clearinghouse.
Additional Resources
EPA’s Flood Resilience Checklist. Is your community prepared for a possible flood? Completing this flood resilience checklist can help you begin to answer that question.
Building Community Resilience with Nature-Based Solutions: A Guide for Local Communities provides background information on nature-based solutions, presents the business case, and provides practical advice for planning and implementation.
Sustainable Development Code provides information on removing code barriers, creating incentives, and filling in regulatory gaps. (check out Chapter 2, Sections 2.1 & 2.5)
Association of State Floodplain Managers Flood Science Center’s Green Guide highlights 25 of the 94 elements in the 2017 CRS Coordinator’s Manual which have beneficial impacts beyond flood risk reduction.