Goal 1: Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Strategies for Water Programs

Protect Underground Sources of Drinking Water from Geologic Carbon Sequestration: Geologic sequestration is one technology in a portfolio of options that could be effective in reducing CO₂ emissions to the atmosphere and stabilizing atmospheric concentrations of CO₂. The Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program under the Safe Drinking Water Act regulates injection of fluids, including solids, semi-solids, liquids and gases (such as CO₂) to protect underground sources of drinking water. UIC regulations address the siting, construction, operation and closure of wells that inject a wide variety of fluids, including those that are considered commodities or wastes. Proper operation of injection wells for sequestration projects is required under the Safe Drinking Water Act to safeguard underground sources of drinking water and protect public health.

Increase Green Infrastructure and Low Impact Development: Green infrastructure describes an array of products, technologies and practices that use natural systems—or engineered systems that mimic natural processes—to enhance overall environmental quality and provide utility services. As a general principal, green infrastructure techniques use soils and vegetation to infiltrate, evapotranspirate or recycle stormwater runoff. To learn more about green infrastructure, visit www.epa.gov/greeninfrastructure. Reducing stormwater runoff through the use of green infrastructure promotes the following:

• Ground water is naturally recharged
• Combined sewer overflow events are reduced
• Vegetation does not need to be watered as often
• Excessive stormwater is reduced and kept out of local waterways