Return to Water Management

Introduction

Water is all around us
​In order to truly appreciate the value of water, we should revisit a few basic facts. Water covers over 70% of Earth's surface in our oceans, lakes, rivers and other waterways. It is a limited resource that cycles through various forms including ice, vapor, and liquid water. The water currently on our planet is stable—never increasing or decreasing in quantity as it cycles through different forms.

Water cycles through all living creatures—plants, animals, and even you! Plants and animals are comprised of at least 60% water. This process connects each of us to Earth’s water cycle. Some even say this means we are all drinking what was once dinosaur urine! Teachers use this story to get students of all ages interested in learning about the water cycle. 

The water cycle
​The water cycle describes how water evaporates from the Earth’s surface, rises into the atmosphere, condenses into clouds and then falls back down to the surface again as rain or snow. In this process, water molecules change into gas, liquid and solid states. 

Surface water & groundwater
Rain and melting snow that accumulate in rivers, lakes and reservoirs is called surface water. Surface water is used for drinking, recreation, irrigation and hydropower. Rain and snow that seep into the soil and gather underground in aquifers is referred to as groundwater, which is accessed through pumps or wells. Both groundwater and surface water are used to satisfy the needs of our thirsty planet.

Who’s in charge of our water?
The Environmental Protection Agency regulates our public water systems through a network of state and local agencies. They enforce two broad laws keep our water clean in the United States: the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Water Act.​ 

• The Safe Drinking Water Act protects public health by regulating the nation's drinking water supply and requires many actions to protect drinking water and its sources—rivers, lakes, reservoirs, springs, and ground water wells. 
  
• The Clean Water Act regulates what we discharge into our country’s water bodies and controls what we do that might disrupt them. The water leaving your home, wastewater, is treated and discharged under this federal guidance and managed locally by regional agencies. 

​Special note on well water
A small percentage of Americans (11%) get their water from privately owned utilities. While privately owned water companies must comply with strict water standards, private water wells are not regulated by the federal government. 

How's my waterway? 
The EPA’s Department of Water provides a searchable public database of the nation's waterways with information about the condition of their local waters/watersheds, including:

• Water quality and monitoring
• Beneficial uses of water like swimming, eating fish and aquatic life
• Restoration and protection efforts
• Permitted discharger information
• Identified issues (impairments and discharge violations)
• Local drinking water information

Most of us don’t give much thought to the watershed we live in and how our actions affect water quality downstream. We may be surprised about how polluted our local rivers and creeks are. Becoming aware of the beneficial uses and condition of your local waterways is the first step in protecting our local water resources. ​

Instructions

Log into How’s My Waterway and check on the condition of your local water bodies. 

1. Print or download this Data Collection Sheet and follow the instructions to check on the conditions of your local waterways. 
2. Click this link to access the EPA's online tool: How’s My Waterway?.
3. Report back by using the SUBMIT FINDINGS button below.

Evaluate and Report

Please submit your results to help our community plan for the future.

Submit FINDINGS

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