DWM Publications > Table of Contents > Chapter Two

THE CLEAN WATER BOOK:
CHOICES FOR WATERSHED PROTECTION

The Earth has a phenomenal amount of water - approximately 1.4 quintillion cubic meters of it. Yet, less than 1% of that is fresh usable water. The oceans, glaciers and ice caps account for greater than 99% of all water on Earth. That remaining small fraction accounts for every cloud, river, lake, pond, swamp and aquifer. Of that more than two thirds is ground water.

In New Jersey, an average of 44 inches of precipitation per year replenishes the state's 6500 miles of streams and rivers, 61,000 acres of lakes and an extensive network of underground aquifers.

Our dependence on water in our daily lives seems to grow. In medieval times, it is estimated that each person used no more than 3 to 5 gallons per day. Today, the average American uses about 1,500 gallons a day for his needs and comforts, including food production, industrial supply, recreation and cooling. Simple everyday items take vast quantities of water to be produced. For example, 24 gallons of water are needed to produce one pound of plastic. Fifteen hundred gallons are required to process a barrel of beer. This growing demand for water and a growing population necessitates that we take every precaution to keep it clean.

When it rains, the rainwater flows overland into waterways, or is absorbed by the ground or plants. Water evaporates from land and water bodies becoming water vapor in the atmosphere. Water is also released from trees and other plants through "transpiration." The water vapor from evaporation and transpiration form clouds in the atmosphere which in turn provide precipitation (rain, hail, snow, sleet) to start the cycle over again. This process of water recycling, known as the water cycle, repeats itself continuously.

A sizable amount of rainwater runoff seeps into the ground to become ground water. Ground water moves into water-filled layers of porous geologic formations which are called aquifers. If the aquifer is close to the surface, its ground water can flow into nearby waterways or wetlands, providing a base flow. Depending on the location, aquifers containing ground water can range from a few feet below the surface to several hundred feet underground. Aquifer recharge areas are locations where rainwater and other precipitation seeps into the earth's surface to enter an aquifer. Contrary to popular belief, aquifers are not flowing underground streams or lakes.

Ground water moves at an irregular pace, seeping from more porous soils, from shallow to deeper areas and from places where it enters the Earth's surface to where it is discharged or withdrawn. A system of more than 100 aquifers is scattered throughout New Jersey, covering 7500 square miles.

Ground water is the primary drinking water source for half of the state's population. Most of this water is obtained from individual domestic wells or public water supplies which tap into aquifers.

Potential pollutants and other impurities can enter in different parts of the water cycle. As water returns to the Earth through the atmosphere in the form of precipitation, various impurities in the air are intercepted. When it reaches the ground, water contains both man-made and natural impurities such as carbon dioxide, dust and pollen. As water runs its course on the land, it continues to collect or dissolve oxygen, nutrients, minerals, nitrates, phosphates, carbon dioxide, and other materials, most of which are necessary for plant and animal life. The types and amounts of materials vary according to the location's geology, topography, vegetation, soil type, weather, water velocity and land use. Eventually, these collected materials are deposited in various parts of the water cycle before the water re-enters the atmosphere and continues to be recycled.

The type of land use (e.g., agriculture, suburban, urban) and its associated activities can have a direct impact on the water quality of the watershed. When it rains, stormwater carries with it the effects of human activities as it drains off the land into the local waterway.

New Jersey's population is unevenly distributed, with most people living in the northeastern counties, near Camden and along the Jersey Shore. It is these more densely populated regions where NPS problems are prominent, although signs of it can be found statewide. Nonpoint source concerns in these densely populated areas center on pesticides and fertilizers from lawns and gardens, household hazardous waste disposal and motor oil and other chemicals from roadways.

New Jersey's more rural counties, famous for produce, dairy products and horses, also suffer from NPS symptoms. These agricultural areas have concerns with fertilizers, pesticides, sediments and animal waste.

The type of NPS problem a waterway experiences depends upon the type of land use in its watershed. The same is true for an aquifer and nonpoint sources in its recharge area. Pollution prevention reduces the impact of these land uses in a watershed. By following the suggestions in this booklet, you can not only have a positive impact on your local stream or lake but also on the river, bays and ocean downstream.

Water conservation can also save money by reducing pumping and treatment costs both before water reaches your home and after it leaves. Reduced water use may extend the life existing treatment facilities and cost less than developing a new water supply.

Remember to conserve water in the home and at work. Here are few ideas:

Indoors

Install a toilet dam in your toilet tank.
Install a water efficient shower head and low flow toilet.

Outdoors

Water outdoor plants in the morning or evening to reduce evaporation losses.
Install a drip irrigation system in your garden.
Use drought tolerant or native plants in your landscaping.

1. Problem identification: The first step is to identify the water quality problems within the watershed as well as the source(s) of these problems. Does the lake choke with aquatic weeds in the summer? Are failing septic systems, poor manure management on local farms or excess fertilizers the root of the problem?

2. Stakeholder involvement and public participation: Successful watershed protection requires the participation and involvement of the entire community within the watershed boundaries, including industry, government and citizens. Since everyone may contribute to the watershed’s problems, all should be involved in identifying problems and solutions.

3. Identification of innovative solutions to watershed problems: All significant sources of pollution should be addressed. There are many management solutions from which to choose, from changing municipal stormwater regulations to educating car owners about motor oil recycling. Different solutions work better in some situations than others. Identifying which solutions are right for a particular watershed is a crucial component of the watershed management plan. Developed with the watershed community, the plan should reflect the concerns and priorities of that community.

4. Implementation of the watershed management plan: Once solutions have been identified and shaped into a watershed plan, they must be implemented. This can be the most difficult part of the process. How can implementation of the plan be ensured? What entities will be responsible for carrying out the identified solutions? How the implementation issue is addressed is critical to the success of the overall watershed management plan.

The advantage of using the watershed protection approach is the resulting integrated watershed management plan that addresses all sources of pollution within the watershed. Nonpoint source pollution is particularly suited to the watershed management approach because it frequently is beyond the scope of traditional regulatory programs. The plan can include a wide variety of solutions from changes in local land use to integrated pest management. Each plan will uniquely fit the problems and solutions of its watershed.