Next challenge for clean water: controlling pollution from runoff

Forty years after the passage of the Clean Water Act, efforts to control pollution are shifting to a broad range of sources agricultural, storm sewer and other runoffs.

There are still some needs out there, said municipal wastewater manager Wendy Turri of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, referring to concerns about pollution from single sources. For instance, new research shows evidence of harm from hormone levels and traces of prescription drugs in rivers that werent able to be scrubbed by wastewater treatment facilities.

But today, experts argue, the bigger threat is nutrient runoff from fields, feedlots and storm sewers.

In 1987, amendments to the Clean Water Act added whats known as nonpoint sources of pollution, or pollution that comes from a variety of places. The amendments established a comprehensive program for controlling pollutants and stormwater runoff, directed states to create voluntary programs to manage pollutants not discharged from a single point, and encouraged states to pursue groundwater protection.

The challenge is that the regulations arent as strict as those for pollution from a single location and its much harder to identify or control many different pollution sources, said Winona County water planner Natalie Siderius.

In the cities and towns around Winona County, Siderius said, there are runoff standards and best-management practices for farmers. Feedlots are regulated, as are septic systems.

But for the most part, Siderius said, managing pollution from a variety of places relies on the cooperation of individual landowners.

Its a tough nut to crack, Siderius said. You have to work with people to implement as many best practices as you can on their lands.

There are two farmer-led councils in Winona County in the Whitewater and Rush Pine watersheds tackling agricultural pollution on their own, Siderius said.

Farmers realize unless they take care of things themselves, there may be additional regulations, she said.

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Next challenge for clean water: controlling pollution from runoff