EPA National Water Quality Inventory Summarizes State Reports on Water Pollution Problems - Issue 47 - November 20, 1978

Oct 13, 2026

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EPA summarizes 1977 Nation-al Water Quality Inventory information provided by states and U.S. jurisdictions across 246 river basins, emphasizing persisting pollution challenges. The report finds industrial discharges affect 72% of basins and municipal discharges affect about 89%, with toxic pollutants raising growing concern. Toxic point-source impacts are reported for 44% of basins, while pesticides and metals drive non-point toxic problems. Traditional pollutants remain widespread, with substantial coverage for bacteria, oxygen depletion, and nutrients.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time28 min

AccessFree to download

EPA National Water Quality Inventory Summarizes State Reports on Water Pollution Problems

Coverage of 246 river basins

Industrial and municipal discharge impacts

Toxic pollutants: point vs non-point sources

Traditional pollutants and remaining challenges

Vol.16 No.47 November 20,1978 SLANTS&TRENDS 'HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO'is how some EPA officials characterize a suggested sulfurdioxide removal plan that could become part of the agency's new source performance standards for coal-fired power plants.The plan,recently run through computer modeling projections,would require "fullscrubbing,"or a uniform 90%,30-day average SO2 removal in Colorado and states to the west,but wouldpermit “partial scrubbing”(down to 45%SO2 removal)to the east. EPA IS ALSO EXPLORING A PLAN to eliminate the proposed SO2 removal credit for pre-combustioncoal treatment.An EPA source explained that eliminating the credit now appears to be a “cost-effective”method of achieving greater SO2 reductions.Meanwhile,a new National Academy of Sciences report to bereleased next month says recent scientific evidence provides “no justification"for changing EPA's annualSO2 standard.The NAS report adds the current 24-hour standard is "reasonable,"and that current data is"not sufficient"for setting a sulfate air quality standard. IN OTHER NEWS,CHRYLSER CORP.last week asked the U.S.District Court in Washington,D.C.,toblock EPA from changing procedures for testing 1980-model cars for compliance with emission standards.Repeating earlier company complaints(A/WPR,Oct.30,1978,p.436),Chrysler said EPA violated theClean Air Act by making substantial changes through the advisory circular process rather than through for-mal rulemaking.The suit asks for a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction to bar EPAfrom making test procedure changes for 1980 models beyond those in effect on July 1,1978,when thecompany started testing 1980 certification vehicles.Ironically,at an EPA-industry meeting in Ann Arborlast week,EPA said it would defer until 1981 certain requirements that manufacturers control unregulatedemissions(A/WPR,Aug.7,1978,p.315). EPA,MEANWHILE,IS PREPARING to join Rep.John Moss (D.-Calif.)and the Center for Auto Safetyin attacking DOE's so-called "tilt"rules that will increase gasoline prices(A/WPR,Nov.13,1978,p.454).DOE Secretary James Schlesinger said last week that the Administration will propose total decontrol ofgasoline prices when the new Congress meets.A DOE official said the department is making a "crash"ef-fort to complete an environmental impact statement by that time,and that a draft EIS could be readywithin weeks. pollution report SEVERAL WEEKS AGO,EPA OFFICIALS believed this plan might solve the NSPS dilemma,since they.thought it might lead to both lower costs and lower emissions than EPA's nationwide full scrubbing NSPSproposal(A/WPR,Sept.18,1978,p.372).However,what one EPA official called “very preliminary results”of the so-called “Round Three”ICF,Inc.,computer projections for EPA and DOE tend to deflate thattheory.Though the ICF model found the new plan would be cheaper than full scrubbing nationwide,itwould also allow slightly higher emissions. THE ICF PROJECTIONS MAY MAKE EPA's final NSPS decision that much harder to make,since oneEPA source said they indicate“it really doesn't make a whole lot of difference what we do”for SO2 removal.The source explained the latest projections show less difference between the effects produced by EPA's fullscrubbing plan(now projected on a monthiy average)and the DOE sliding scale plan than did earlier fore-casts.As A/WPR went to press,EPA was planning to make additional modeling projections of more extremeNSPS plans favored by utility and environmentalist interests.The agency has also extended the public com-ment period on the NSPS proposal until Dec.15,and has re-scheduled public hearings for Dec.12-14. Environmental Protection Agencylast week signed an interagencyagreement aimed at coordinating November 20,1978 Although "significant pro-gress”has been made incleaning up the nation's # EPA NATIONAL WATER QUALITY INVENTORY SUMMARIZESSTATE REPORTS ON WATER POLLUTION PROBLEMS waters,"many problems remain,"Environment

FAQs

What does the EPA 1977 National Water Quality Inventory report focus on?

It summarizes information from states and other U.S. jurisdictions, focusing on remaining pollution problems rather than improvements and trends.

How many river basins does the report cover and what region coverage does it claim?

The report covers 246 river basins and aims to cover almost the entire nation.

What percentages does the report give for industrial and municipal discharge impacts?

It reports industrial discharges affect 72% of basins and municipal discharges affect about 89% of basins.

Oct 13, 2026

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