Definitions/Contacts for FY 2009 National Water Program Guidance Measures - Subobjective: Water Safe for Swimming

Subobjective: Water Safe for Swimming

• SP-8
• SP-9
• SS-1
• SS-2

Measure Code: SP-8

Measure Language: Number of waterborne disease outbreaks attributable to swimming in or other recreational contact with, coastal and Great Lakes waters measured as a five-year average.

Type of Measure: Target measure;Annually reported

Measure Contact: John Wathen, EPA Office of Science and Technology
wathen.john@epa.gov | (202) 566-0367

Measure Definition

Terms and phrases: A waterborne disease outbreak (WBDO) is an outbreak, as defined by the WBDO surveillance system. It is not an individual case of a waterborne disease, although this information is reported. Two criteria must be met for an event to be defined as a water-associated disease outbreak. First, two or more people must have experienced a similar illness after exposure to water. Second, epidemiologic evidence must implicate water as the probable source of the illness.

Methodology for computation of results: State, territorial, and local public health agencies report waterborne disease outbreaks (WBDO) to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on a standard form (CDC form 52.12). CDC annually requests reports from state and territorial epidemiologists or from persons designated as WBDO surveillance coordinators. As indicated above, the data are submitted to CDC by the states under an agreement with the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists.  Original data forms and the primary database itself are not available for external review because of concerns about the integrity and confidentiality of the data, which include information such as the names of data reporters, specific identities of water bodies, and identities of facilities and properties, both public and private, at which the outbreaks occurred.  Many, if not most outbreaks, occur in treated man-made water environments which are not reflective of outcomes of Clean Water Act programs.  Others occur in untreated natural waters in smaller water bodies not impacted by EPA programs or activities.  Accordingly, cooperation of database managers is required to identify specific outbreaks which should be counted under this measure as occurring in waters of the United States.

The unit of analysis for the WBDO surveillance system is an outbreak, not an individual case of a waterborne disease, although this information is reported. Two criteria must be met for an event to be defined as a water-associated disease outbreak. First, two or more people must have experienced a similar illness after exposure to water. This criterion is waived for single cases of laboratory-confirmed primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). Second, epidemiologic evidence must implicate water as the probable source of the illness. WBDOs associated with cruise ships are not summarized in the CDC report.

Units:  Number of waterborne disease outbreaks

Universe: Recreational and coastal Great Lakes waters

Baseline: 2 (2005 baseline, based on 5-year average)

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Measure Code: SP-9

Measure Language: Percent of days of the beach season that coastal and Great Lakes beaches monitored by state beach safety programs are open and safe for swimming

Type of Measure: Target measure; Annually reported

Measure Contact:  Lars Wilcut, EPA Office of Science and Technology
wilcut.lars@epa.gov | (202) 566-0447

Measure Definition

Terms and phrases: Beach season days are calculated to get a better sense of the extent of beach notification action information. The number of days all beaches are open (based on the length of the local beach season) are added up and multiplied by the number of beaches.

Methodology for computation of results: The data are an enumeration of the days of beach-specific advisories or closures issued by the reporting state or local governments during the year. Performance against the target is tracked using a simple count of the number of beaches responding to the survey and the days over which the advisory or closure actions were taken.  This is compared to the total number of days that every beach could be open.

Units:  Beach season days

Universe: Varies by year.  Universe is the total number of beach season days that beaches were open.

Baseline: 96% (2005 baseline: 743,036 beach season days)

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Measure Code: SS-1

Measure Language: Number and national percent, using a constant denominator, of Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) permits with a schedule incorporated into an appropriate enforceable mechanism, including a permit or enforcement order, with specific dates and milestones, including a completion date consistent with Agency guidance, which requires: 1) Implementation of a Long-Term Control Plan (LTCP) which will result in compliance with the technology and water quality-based requirements of the Clean Water Act; or  2) implementation of any other acceptable CSO control measures consistent with the 1994 CSO Control Policy; or 3) completion of separation after the baseline date.(cumulative)

Type of Measure: Target measure; Cumulatively reported

Measure Contact: Kathryn Riedlinger, EPA Office of Wastewater Management
riedlinger.kathryn@epa.gov | (202) 564-7004

Measure Definition

Terms and phrases:

• Combined sewer systems are sewers that are designed to collect rainwater runoff, domestic sewage, and industrial wastewater in the same pipe. During periods of heavy rainfall or snowmelt, however, the wastewater volume in a combined sewer system can exceed the capacity of the sewer system or treatment plant.  These overflows, called combined sewer overflows (CSOs), contain not only stormwater but also untreated human and industrial waste, toxic materials, and debris.
• Enforceable Mechanism is a formal enforcement order with schedules to bring the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) permittee into full compliance with the 1994 CSO Control Policy; or a formal enforcement order that includes schedules for development and implementation of an acceptable Long-Term Control Plan (LTCP) or any other CSO control measures consistent with the 1994 CSO Control Policy; or a permit with schedules in place to develop and implement a LTCP or any other CSO control measure consistent with the 1994 CSO Control Policy.

Methodology for computation of results: The results are calculated by taking the total number of CSO permits with a schedule incorporated into an appropriate enforceable mechanism at the close of the reporting period, over the total universe of systems with CSOs.

Units: Number of permits

Universe: The universe represents the total number of permits covering systems with CSOs. This includes all of those that have been corrected, those are being corrected, or need correction through permits, enforceable orders and other activities designed to meet Clean Water Act requirements as described by the CSO Policy.  The universe should include all known CSO permits as far back as 1992. If more CSOs are identified following the close of the commitment process, they should be added next fiscal year. As of FY 2009, the CSO universe is 853.

Baseline: The 2007 baseline of 536 (63%) represents the number of CSO permits with a schedule incorporated into an enforceable mechanism at that time.

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Measure Code: SS-2

Measure Language: Percent of all Tier I (significant) public beaches that are monitored and managed under the BEACH Act program.

Type of Measure:  Target measure; Annually reported

Measure Contact:  Lars Wilcut, EPA Office of Science and Technology
wilcut.lars@epa.gov | (202) 566-0447

Measure Definition

Terms and phrases: Significant public beaches are defined as the beaches that coastal and Great Lakes states and territories identify as Tier 1.  These are the beaches that have the highest risk.  States and territories must identify their Tier 1 beaches as part of their BEACH Act grant application.

Methodology for computation of results: The percent of Tier 1 beaches monitored by states and territories are identified in their grant applications. EPA Regions should use this information to report to EPA Headquarters the percent of Tier 1 beaches monitored.  To compute the target, EPA Regions should start with 100% for every state and territory that has received a BEACH Act implementation grant.  If a state or territory does not monitor a Tier 1 beach, the Region should determine if there is a good reason for not monitoring this beach, such as the BEACH Act funds are insufficient to monitor that beach and other Tier 1 beaches.  No state or territory should monitor a Tier 2 or Tier 3 beach until it monitors all Tier 1 beaches. 

Units: Tier I beaches

Universe: Changes annually.  For Calendar Year 2007 (FY 2008), the number of Tier I beaches was 2,697.

Baseline: 96.5% (2005)