MUNICIPAL PERSPECTIVES ON DEVELOPMENT OF NUTRIENT STANDARDS

The development of nutrient standards represents a major issue facing municipal organizations especially wastewater treatment agencies. Once nutrient standards are developed they will be used in water quality assessments, TMDLs, and permit limits. The integration of nutrients into the water quality standard program has serious implications to POTWs. The majority of sources are NPS and therefore not covered under the CWA, therefore these standards have the potential to impose additional and disproportionately more stringent nutrient limits on POTWs. It is imperative that wastewater treatment agencies take an active role in the process. Because of the flexibility in nutrient criteria development there is considerable opportunity, especially at the State level, to assist in the development of criteria and standards that best reflect site specific conditions and issues relevant to municipalities.