Process

Section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act requires states to identify waters that do not meet applicable water quality standards or do not fully support their designated uses. States are required to submit a prioritized list of impaired waters, known as the 303(d) List, to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for review and approval. The CWA also requires that a TMDL be developed for each pollutant of an impaired water body. Illinois EPA is responsible for carrying out the mandates of the Clean Water Act for the state of Illinois.

The establishment of a Total Maximum Daily Load sets the pollutant reduction goal necessary to improve impaired waters. It determines the load, or quantity, of any given pollutant that can be allowed in a particular water body. A TMDL must consider all potential sources of pollutants, whether point or nonpoint. It also takes into account a margin of safety, which reflects scientific uncertainty, as well as the effects of seasonal variation.

Developing TMDLs in a watershed begins with the collection of vast amounts of data on factors including water quality, point source discharge, precipitation, soils, geology, topography, and land use (construction, agriculture, mining, etc.) within that specific watershed. All impaired water-body segments within the watershed are identified, along with the potential pollutants causing the impairments.

Next, Illinois EPA determines the tools necessary to develop the TMDL. In most cases, computer models are used to calculate pollutant loads. The appropriate model or models are selected based on the pollutants of concern, the amount of data available, and the type of water body. Once the model is selected, the data collected for the watershed are entered, and the model is calibrated and verified so that the computed values match those of known field data. The model can then be used to develop different scenarios, by first determining the amount of specific pollutants each source contributes, then calculating the amount each pollutant needs to be reduced, and finally specifying how the reduced pollutant load would be allocated among the different sources.

After the reduced pollutant loads have been determined, an implementation plan is developed for the watershed spelling out the actions necessary to achieve the goals. The plan specifies limits for point source discharges and recommends best management practices (BMPs) for nonpoint sources. It also estimates associated costs and lays out a schedule for implementation. Commitment to the implementation plan by the citizens who live and work in the watershed is essential to success in reducing the pollutant loads and improving water quality.