Water Quality Technical Section
About Us
The Section began in 1977 to provide a forum for communications on water quality monitoring activities, to standardize water quality monitoring methods, to prepare an annual report describing water quality monitoring and pollution abatement activities, and to encourage the development of water quality standards for toxic compounds for the protection of aquatic life.
Current Priorities
- Addressing rising nitrogen pollution. Excessive nitrogen loading is resulting in widespread pollution of groundwater and eutrophication of surface waters (excessive algal blooms and mats of free-floating plants like duckweed).
- Addressing rising chloride pollution. Society is on an unsustainable path for chloride pollution due to the two major sources of chloride pollution: road salting and water softening. The UMRCC needs to bring awareness and action to address rising chloride levels.
- Assessing and addressing emerging contaminants. New pollutants are being discovered that may pose risks to aquatic life (pharmaceuticals, personal care products, PFAS, insecticides, and many others). There’s an urgent need to establish baseline monitoring for these pollutants and establish if connections exist between rising use of these chemical formulations and biological impairment.
Resources
Meetings
- Fall 2021 Meeting Minutes (PDF, 131 KB)
- Fall 2021 Agenda (PDF, 57 KB)
- Spring 2021 Meeting Minutes (PDF, 82 KB)
- Spring 2021 Agenda (PDF, 126 KB)
- Spring 2020 Agenda Minutes (PDF, 146 KB)
Strategic Documents
State Representatives
- Missouri: Molly Sobotka
- Illinois:
- Iowa: Dan Kendall
- Wisconsin: Sean Giblin
- Minnesota: Robert Burdis
