You are here:
Joint Mapping of Water Quality Monitoring and Environmental Justice Information
Citation:
Lindquist, Alan, G. Norris, J. Chen, T. Hultgren, AND K. Kean. Joint Mapping of Water Quality Monitoring and Environmental Justice Information. North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) 13th National Monitoring Conference, Virginia Beach, VA, April 24 - 28, 2023.
Impact/Purpose:
Abstract for platform presentation at the North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) 13th National Monitoring Conference, April 24-28, 2023, Virginia Beach Virginia.
Description:
Data collected under the fourth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 4, https://www.epa.gov/dwucmr/learn-about-unregulated-contaminant-monitoring-rule) have been summarized and displayed geospatially so that trends in space can become more observable, using data mapping tools, and are mapped in conjunction with Environmental Justice (EJ) data layers. The objective of this is to assist in identifying disadvantaged communities with specific or potential contamination problems as detected in the UCMR 4 data collection activity. These visualizations should assist local communities, decision makers and others concerned with water quality to better understand the nature of the UCMR 4 contaminants and their spatial distribution, and to help interpret this information with regard to precursor contaminants to disinfection byproducts in the context of EJ impacted communities. Having this information may enable identification of communities where additional resource allocation could be beneficial in resolving environmental problems. The UCMR 4 dataset contains information on chemicals or chemical groups and microbial contaminants. The list includes, among others, chemicals used in commerce, pesticides, biological toxins, disinfection byproducts, pharmaceuticals and waterborne pathogens (https://www.epa.gov/ccl/contaminant-candidate-list-4-ccl-4-0). One of the significant unique aspects has been the use of bivariate plotting to show the presence of precursor chemicals to disinfection byproducts. Environmental Justice mapped information includes data on parameters such as the median household income, the use of English as a primary language in the home, educational attainment, racial diversity, and a myriad of other factors. These data are used by EPA in the EJ mapping tool and are primarily drawn from surveys. The geospatial reporting elements in the UCMR, are not the same as those in the existing EJ mapping tool, used by EPA. These inherent differences have posed challenges to identifying environmental problems with greater impact on disadvantaged communities. The presentation contains a demonstration or screen shots of interactive GIS layers demonstrating the location of various intensities of UCMR 4, using the strategy for bivariate data visualization, and integrating this information with the Environmental Justice demonstrating some of the utility of these new tools.