AWWA WQTC71448

The goal of Water Research Foundation Project 4007, Drinking Water Source Protection through Effective Use of TMDL Processes, was to provide water utilities with information and tools that help them better understand and utilize the total maximum daily loads (TMDL) process so they can protect and improve their source water quality. The project's goal was achieved by pursuing two objectives. The first objective was to identify successful strategies used by utilities to protect their source waters through the TMDL regulatory process. To do this, case studies were developed for utilities that have been involved with the development of TMDLs for their source waters, and successful strategies used by the utilities were identified, as were missed opportunities. In addition, state drinking water and TMDL administrators were asked what recommendations they have for improving water utility involvement. Finally, user-friendly information and tools were developed to help utilities understand and navigate the Clean Water Act (CWA) as it pertains to TMDLs. The second objective was to identify specific measures that are being used to include drinking water objectives in TMDLs. The tasks related to achieving this objective focused primarily on how the federal and state governments are implementing the TMDL requirement. Results of a recent study conducted by The Cadmus Group for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), known as the WQS-CWS Baseline Project, were summarized and reviewed with this objective in mind. In addition, a survey was conducted for the Water Research Foundation project of state drinking water and TMDL administrators, as well as personnel from the USEPA's regional offices, to learn if and how the drinking water and TMDL programs were integrated at the state level and how that integration could be improved. Includes table, figures.