State list of contaminated waters now available
Published February 21, 2008 by Sabrina GordonThe 2008 List of Impaired Waters for North Carolina is now available for viewing at http:\\h2o.enr.state.nc.us/tmdl. Ten percent of the state’s freshwater streams, twenty percent of the saltwater streams were found to be impaired. A report is done every two years as part of the requirements the Clean Water Act.
Water bodies that are tested are given designated uses such as recreational swimming, fish consumption, aquatic life, shellfish harvesting and public drinking water. However drinking water supplies are not affected because raw water is treated before being distributed to the public.
Already 32 percent of the stream miles and 8 percent of the total water body acres have been assessed. The report looked at 41,213 saltwater and freshwater stream miles and 2,371,984 acres of estuarine and freshwater impoundments across the state.
Approximately 20 percent of the saltwater streams,10 percent of the freshwater streams,38 percent of the saltwater and 36 percent of the freshwater acres in North Carolina are impaired for one parameter or more. All of the state’s 322 coastal miles are considered impaired.
A total maximum daily load, or TMDL is developed where there is a water quality standard violation. Then evaluations are made on how to ensure and protect the water bodies. Water bodies that are potential for impact are towards industrial or municipal discharges, recreational areas, shellfish harvesting or sensitive fish nursery areas.
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