Great Lakes Regional Water Program Impact Report

Great Lakes Regional Water Program Impact Report

2005

People use water – and lots of it. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, the average American individual uses over 150 gallons of water a day, and can only survive five to seven days without it (in comparison to being able to survive about a month without food). Without water, many industries would cease to function. Approximately 62,600 gallons of water are needed to produce one ton of steel, 9.3 gallons to process one can of fruit or vegetables, and that favorite beer takes approximately 1,500 gallons to process (per barrel). The biggest threats to the nation’s water supply and quality are water consumption that outstrips supply for prolonged time periods and contamination by excess sediments, nitrogen, and phosphorous. Significant sources of contaminants include animal waste from livestock and pets, commercial fertilizers from farm fields and lawns, and sediments from farm fields, construction site erosion, and rivers and streams with altered hydrology. The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES), the Land Grant Universities, and many important partners have been instrumental in cleaning up our nation’s waters for more than 30 years. Through national and regional collaborations on water quality programs and projects, these organizations are working to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of water quality programming nationwide. This report describes the CSREES National Water Program, the structure and goals of the Great Lakes Regional Water Program, and specific programming successes in the Great Lakes Region. Please see the National Water Program website www.usawaterquality.org and the Regional Program website www.uwex.edu/ces/regionalwaterquality for more information about what each program is doing to make sure that an abundant supply of clean, usable water is available for future generations.

Great Lakes Regional Water Program

24

Drinking Water
Surface Water
Agricultural Drainage
Water Quality & Pollutants
Water Use & Availability
Water Conveyance & Hydraulics
Water Biology & Aquatic Habitat
Water Monitoring & Assessment
Water Restoration & Protection
Water Economics

animal waste
animal wastes
animal's waste
animals wasate
surface water
surface waters
surface-water
surface-waters
surfacewater
surfacewaters
Best Management Practice
Best Management Practices
BMP
BMPs
B.M.P.
B.M.Ps
drinking water
health risk
health risks
risks to health
human health risks
risks to human health
Wastewater
Waste water
waste-water
wastewaters
Agricultural Water Quality Concern
Agricultural Water Quality Concerns
ecoregion
ecoregions
eco region
eco regions
eco-region
eco-regions
pesticide
pesticides
water restoration & protection
water restoration and protection
water restorations & protections
water restorations and protections
water education, outreach, & community capacity
water economics
water policy
water policies
water quality restoration
agriculture drainage
agriculture drainages
agricultural drainage
ag drainage
pollution reduce
pollution reduces
pollution reducing
pollution reduction
pollution reductions
nutrient management

2000-2009

Yes

www.uwex.edu/ces/regionalwaterquality

Public Domain

Minnesota Water Research Digital Library