Prior to 1970, few regulations existed to protect the waters bodies of the United States. Due to public health and notable environmental impacts noticed by the public, public pressure on government officials resulted in an environmental movement that created the US Environmental Protection Agency. As a result, on 1972 the Federal Water Pollution Control Act was created, better known as the Clean Water Act (CWA). Improvements to water quality are directly linked to the implementation of programs to control or minimize the discharge of pollutants. As of today, still many challenges are ahead to continue to protect the water of the US, especially tackling the problem of septic tank failures, straight pipes discharges, and other illicit discharges
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According to the Kentucky Division of Water’s 1998 Report to Congress on Water Quality, approximately 33 percent of the rivers and streams in the state are impaired by high levels of pathogens due to improper waste disposal. The source of much of this pollution is the unpermitted discharge of untreated sewage from poorly maintained or failing septic systems. Some of these septic systems have failed drainage fields that leach septage directly into a nearby ditch or stream. Over the years, some Kentucky residents who could not afford a septic system have improvised, utilizing metal drums and even refrigerators as septic tanks (USEPA, 2002). This problem has been severe enough that in some areas of Kentucky swimming and fishing advisories have been issued due to high fecal coliform bacteria levels. As the results of the Kentucky 2010 303(d) Reports shows, the problem still …show more content…
Consequently, the solids generated in the package plant build up and ultimately are discharged into the receiving stream; resulting in high concentrations of sewage sludge, nutrients, and pathogens that contaminate the rivers and streams (USEPA 2002). Because of the large numbers of poorly operated package plants, the Kentucky Division of Water has made efforts to reduce or eliminate package plants and has moved to “Regionalize” wastewater
According to the Kentucky Division of Water’s 1998 Report to Congress on Water Quality, approximately 33 percent of the rivers and streams in the state are impaired by high levels of pathogens due to improper waste disposal. The source of much of this pollution is the unpermitted discharge of untreated sewage from poorly maintained or failing septic systems. Some of these septic systems have failed drainage fields that leach septage directly into a nearby ditch or stream. Over the years, some Kentucky residents who could not afford a septic system have improvised, utilizing metal drums and even refrigerators as septic tanks (USEPA, 2002). This problem has been severe enough that in some areas of Kentucky swimming and fishing advisories have been issued due to high fecal coliform bacteria levels. As the results of the Kentucky 2010 303(d) Reports shows, the problem still …show more content…
Consequently, the solids generated in the package plant build up and ultimately are discharged into the receiving stream; resulting in high concentrations of sewage sludge, nutrients, and pathogens that contaminate the rivers and streams (USEPA 2002). Because of the large numbers of poorly operated package plants, the Kentucky Division of Water has made efforts to reduce or eliminate package plants and has moved to “Regionalize” wastewater