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Issues: Water
All Documents in Water Tagged stormwater
- Stormwater Strategies: Community Responses to Runoff Pollution
Report - A report documenting some of the most effective strategies being employed by communities around the country to control urban runoff pollution, which is among the top sources of water contamination today. The collection of 100 case studies is intended to serve as a guide for local decisionmakers, municipal officials, and environmental activists; it is also a resource for citizens concerned about the quality of their local environment. Also available: a CD ROM version that includes color photographs and new case studies on "low-impact development" solutions.
- Water Saving Solutions
Stopping Pollution at its Source with Low Impact Development
Fact Sheet - America's urban landscape is affecting our cities' water supply and water quality. Runoff from urban areas is a leading cause of water pollution in the United States, and in many areas people are using water faster than it can be replenished. More than 100 million acres of land have been developed in the United States, and with development and sprawl increasing faster than population growth, the risks to water supply and quality are growing. Low impact development, or LID, is a simple and cost-effective green development strategy that can help cities, states, and even individuals meet the water supply challenge, clean up our existing water resources, and, in many places in the West, curb global warming pollution by reducing the amount of electricity used to supply water. Get document in pdf.
- A Clear Blue Future
How Greening California Cities Can Address Water Resources and Climate Challenges in the 21st Century
Issue Paper - This NRDC and UCSB analysis shows that implementing low impact development, or LID, practices at new and redeveloped residential and commercial properties in parts of California can increase water supplies by billions of gallons each year, providing an effective and much-needed way to mitigate global warming’s impact on California.
- Beach Pollution
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ - Answers to questions including: How widespread is beach pollution? What are the major causes of beach pollution? Can swimming in polluted water make you sick?
Documents Tagged stormwater in All Sections
- Keep Our Beaches Clean
Prevent the Beachwater Pollution That Makes Swimmers Sick
Fact Sheet - Beach vacations are an annual summer event for many families. But beachgoers at polluted beaches around the country may bring back an unwanted souvenir from their trip: ear infections, stomach flu, skin rashes, and other illnesses that are caused by polluted beachwater. To help keep our beaches clean, NRDC supports improved beachwater testing to detect the pathogens that can cause health problems in swimmers. Bills now pending in Congress would provide funding for much-needed beach cleanup efforts and help ensure that the public is notified promptly when beaches are unsafe for swimming. These bills will help make sure that our beaches are safe for swimming every day.
Get document in pdf. - Pollution-Related Beach Closings and Advisories Remain High in 2008
Stormwater and sewage spills continue to wash pollution into beach waters
News - Pollution-related closings and health advisories at U.S. beaches remained high in 2008, according to NRDC's annual report on beachwater quality. The reported number of closings and advisories made 2008 the fourth-worst for beaches since NRDC began tracking these events 19 years ago.
- Testing the Waters 2009
A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches
Report - NRDC's annual survey of water quality and public notification at U.S. beaches finds that pollution caused the number of beach closings and advisories to hit their fourth-highest level in the 19-year history of the report. The number of 2008 closing and advisory days at ocean, bay and Great Lakes beaches topped 20,000 for the fourth consecutive year, confirming that our nation's beaches continue to suffer from serious water pollution that puts swimmers at risk. The 2009 survey is based on information reported for 2008.
- Water Quality at U.S. Beaches
How to find out whether state and local authorities test for beach pollution, and what they do if they find it.
Guide - Wondering how clean the water is at your favorite vacation spot? Finding an answer can be tricky. Beach testing and closing/health advisory practices vary from beach to beach and state to state. Even when states and localities perform tests, they don't always notify the public or close beaches when bacteria levels in the water exceed health standards. Learn how you can try to check the safety of your favorite beach before you head out for a swim.
For additional policy documents, see the NRDC Document Bank.
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Water on Switchboard
NRDC experts write about water efficiency, green infrastructure and climate on the NRDC blog.
Recent Water Posts
- California's Co-Equal Goals for the Delta
- posted by Doug Obegi, 11/12/09
- California Takes a Big Step Forward in Improving Water Efficiency
- posted by Doug Obegi, 11/11/09
- EPA unveils new federal strategy for cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay
- posted by Nancy Stoner, 11/9/09
Related NRDC Press Releases
- 11/4/2009
- Historic Water Reform Package Passes California Legislature
- 10/2/2009
- San Joaquin River Reborn
- 9/11/2009
- EPA Puts Brakes On Mountaintop Removal Mining
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