Serving the Wastewater Treatment Needs of Small Communities
All Great Lakes Region states are facing the issue of how to implement decentralized wastewater treatment for small communities. Small communities in this context include unincorporated towns and clusters of homeowners on lakeshores. As the decentralized option is increasingly recognized, as a viable approach, policy makers, engineers, local government officials will need assistance. In addition, universities have differing capacities and expertise that, if shared, may increase the overall service they are able to provide to small communities. In response, the Great Lakes Regional Water Program has formed a multi-state team consisting of the primary educators from across the region to identify collaboration opportunities that address small community needs. The team has 1) summarized existing Land Grant research and outreach capacity in the region, 2) developed a list of potential projects, and 3) identified topic leaders that are drafting project description for three priority areas (educational materials, tracking and inventory of decentralized systems, and research) to be used in discussions.
Contact:
Jim Anderson
University of Minnesota
(612) 625-0279
ander045@umn.edu
Learning from TMDL Approaches Across the Great Lakes Region
Current regulations require the determination of total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) for surface waters. According to critics, this determination of loads often is determined from incomplete information. Depending on what models are used and what the data requirements are, results can vary for the same impaired water or watershed. Success of the implementation of practices to reduce loads within the TMDL is at least partially dependent on the degree that parties subject to the load allocation agree with the methodologies used and the answers they provide. Each of our states face this problem in establishing TMDLs.
A work group was formed at the University of Minnesota to develop a model curriculum for a comprehensive training program on evaluating effectiveness of TMDLs at addressing water quality concerns. The curriculum involves three elements: 1) training on why TMDLs need to be evaluated and effective evaluation methods, 2) incorporating information on a comparative regional economic analysis of best policies for TMDL development and implementation , and 3) evaluation of TMDL development and implementation plans/strategies (what is working and what isn’t). This draft curriculum will be shared with a broader regional group and finalized in 2007.
Contact:
Jim Anderson
University of Minnesota
(612) 625-0279
ander045@umn.edu
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