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Water
Module: Related Links
Bays
(and other estuarine systems)
South
Florida Water Management District (SFWMD): What is a Lagoon, What is
a Bay? This SFWMD page describes the characteristics of a lagoon
and a bay. A bay is a type of estuary--an area where saltwater from
the sea mixes with freshwater from the land. " A bay is a part of a
sea, indenting the shoreline as it cuts into the land formed by the
sea. It is a wide inlet but not as large as a gulf." This page provides
links to specific lagoons and bays in southern Florida, such as Biscayne
Bay (see next entry).
SFWMD:
Biscayne Bay This SFWMD page describes the physical and biological
characteristics of the Biscayne Bay ecosystem.
Biscayne
Bay Feasibility Study--Overview
The "Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan" is a project in
southern Florida. The goals of this project are to restore the flow
and level of water through the Everglades. As part of this project,
scientists are conducting a feasibility study of Biscayne Bay. This
page provides an overview of the study
Biscayne
Bay Feasibility Study--Status
This page provides a status report of the Biscayne Bay feasibility
study, described above.
Sewage
Exploring
the Environment Water Quality V2: Water Pollution--Sewage
A description of sewage--what it is, where it comes from, and how
it degrades waterways.
Sewage
Treatment
A thorough description of the chemical and physical steps involved
in treating sewage.
NOAA's
Sea Grant News Media Center--Expert List: Sewage
An introductory description of the sources and contents of sewage,
and how it affects marine ecosystems. The majority of the page contains
information on research conducted (using NOAA Sea Grants) to study the
use of new technologies as solutions to the problem of wastewater treatment.
Sewage
Pollution
A description of the sources of sewage pollution in marine waterways,
as well as the ecological damage and health risks related to such pollution.
Environment
News Service: Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Smothered by Sewage
May 19, 1999 news report that "Research … indicates waste with
nutrients, bacteria, and viruses from the (Florida) Keys' 1,000 Class
V underground injection control (UIC) wells, 35,000 septic on-site disposal
systems, and 10,000 illegal cesspits is migrating into offshore waters
stimulating algae growth and killing seagrass and coral." Officials
are debating the extent of the effects of the sewage on the marine ecosystem,
the methods of cleaning it up, and how the clean up will be funded.
Water
Quality Monitoring:
Water
Quality Assessment: Overview
"Water quality is determined by assessing three classes of attributes:
biological, chemical, and physical." This page - and its associated
pages - provides information on the variables tested within each of
these three classes of attributes. The information includes how the
variables are monitored, acceptable levels, and indications of elevated
levels in terms of types of pollutants.
SFWMD:
Biscayne Bay Surface Water Improvement & Management (SWIM) Plan
A description of the five-step plan to assess water quality conditions
in the bay and recommended remedial actions and projects to address
these issues.
University
of Southern California National Sea Grant: Study Says It's Time to Test
Water for More Than Bacteria
"Microbiological safety of beaches is determined by testing for the
presence of fecal bacteria. Water found to be clear of bacteria is assumed
to be safe. However, (this) USC Sea Grant study indicates that standard
might be misleading because human pathogenic viruses sometimes lurk
in bacteria-free water."
Hach
Company's Important Water Quality Factors
"Analysts determine water quality by testing for specific chemicals.
Most often, the type of water being tested determines what parameters,
or analytes, the analyst looks for. For example, chlorine is an important
parameter in finished drinking water, but is not usually a factor in
natural water. This section lists common water quality parameters important
in drinking water, wastewater, and natural water. Many parameter listings
include descriptions of the effects of analyte levels on living organisms."
Hach
Water Testing and Water Quality Analysis
Homepage for Hach Company, a water quality test kit supplier. "Hach
Company provides advanced analytical systems and technical support for
water quality testing, with solutions for lab, process, and field."
LaMotte
Company Test Kits
Homepage for LaMotte Company, an environmental test kit supplier. LaMotte
provides test kits for many different situations, including pool &
spa water, potable & waste water, food/beverage/sanitation/laundry,
and soil testing - to name just a few.
Biscayne
Bay Surface Water Quality Monitoring Program
This page provides contact information to obtain Biscayne Bay surface
water quality data. "Biscayne Bay water quality has been monitored by
DERM (Metro-Dade Department of Environmental Resources Management )
continuously since 1979…Water samples are analyzed for trace metals,
nutrients, chlorophyll a, pheophytin, coliform bacteria, turbidity,
and color. In situ measurements include PAR attenuation, salinity, specific
conductance, temperature, pH, Redox potential, D.O. and depth. Investigative
studies involve: sediment testing at marinas, canals, the Port-of-Miami
and the Miami River; mussel tissue analyses from various stations in
the bay testing for contaminant bio-accumulation in the Biscayne Bay
ecosystem…"
Water
Quality Standards:
SFWMD:
Biscayne Bay SWIM Plan Water Quality Goals--Objective 1
Objective 1 of the Bixcayne Bay SWIM Plan is to "establish water quality
targets and identify pollutant load reduction goals for Biscayne Bay."
The "Rationale" and "Strategies and projects to establish water quality
targets (WQTs) for Biscayne Bay" are listed on this page. "Water Quality
Targets for Critical Parameters" are also spelled out here.
US
EPA Water Quality Criteria and Standards
"The Water Quality Criteria and Standards Plan is a vision for the future
of the water quality standards and criteria program. The plan describes
new criteria and standards program initiatives that EPA, the states,
and Indian tribes will take over the next decade." This page provides
links to:
- Program
Priorities and Guidance Documents
- Types
of Water Quality Criteria
- New,
€ Revised, or Draft Water Quality Criteria
- Water
Quality Standards (Program Priorities and Guidance Documents, Rulemakings
and Other Federal Register Notices, State Water Quality Standards,
Tribal Water Quality Standards)
- Priority
Pollutants
- Permits
and TMDLs
- Databases
And Water Quality Monitoring Tools
- Training
Other:
Pictures
of a sewage
spill
Pictures
and more discussion of the treatment of sanitary sewage, and more
information
More
information on what organisms can live in human waste.
More
information on the symptoms of these diseases.
For more
information on monitoring water
quality/water
quality standards.
For more
information on preventing
sickness from sewage-contaminated water.
Go to
the following web page for more information on limitations
to microbial indicators.
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