Principles for Water Quality Management

On April 1, 1974, there were created in England and Wales 10 water authorities which were given the responsibility for the ownership, planning, design, construction, operation, and finance of facilities for water supply, water pollution control, water-based recreation, flood prevention, fisheries, and inland navigation. Study of the process of this revolutionary reorganization led to the development of five principles for sound water quality management that might guide practice in the United States: (1)Every water project is unique and should be so treated; (2)efficiencies and economies of scale should be exploited; (3)the costs should be met by those who benefit; (4)potable water should be drawn from protected rather than polluted sources; and (5)the management of water supply and water pollution control should be integrated. Regionalization is the key to following these principles, and interest in regionalization is already being expressed in the United States. Many approaches to regionalization can be followed, according to local circumstances.