MORGANTOWN, WV, August 13, 2001 -- A report titled Environmental Indicators of Water Quality in the United States is available from the National Small Flows Clearinghouse (NSFC).
This U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water report shows trends in water quality over time. It describes our nation's water resources, human activities, and natural events, as well as their impact on water quality. The 18 indicators used to measure progress toward water goals and objectives are also explained.
These indicators are illustrated with graphs, charts, or maps and are categorized under one of five objectives: 1) conserve and enhance public health, 2) conserve and enhance aquatic ecosystems, 3) support uses designated by the states and tribes in their water quality standards, 4) conserve and improve ambient conditions, and 5) reduce or prevent pollutant loading and other stressors.
This 28-page report may be useful to local, state, and public health officials; engineers; operators; state regulatory agencies; researchers; and the general public. The report is free, but shipping charges still apply. To order, call the NSFC at (800) 624-8301 or (304) 293-4191, and request Item #GNBLGN13. You also may e-mail .
Funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the NSFC helps small communities find affordable sewage treatment options to protect public health and the environment. Located at West Virginia University, the NSFC is a nonprofit organization established in 1979 under an amendment to the 1977 Clean Water Act. Since that time, the NSFC has become a respected national source of information about "small flows" technologies-those systems that have fewer than one million gallons of wastewater flowing through them per day. These range from individual septic systems to small sewage treatment plants.
Anyone who works with small communities to help solve wastewater treatment problems can benefit from the NSFC's services, which include more than 450 free and low-cost educational products, a toll-free technical assistance hotline, five computer databases, two free publications, and an online discussion group. For more information, visit NSFC's Web site at http://www.nsfc.wvu.edu.
