Impaired Water Bodies in California

The CalEnviroScreen is a mapping tool developed by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment to identify communities in California (at the census tract level) that are most affected by pollution sources. The tool uses indicators to measure environmental conditions. Impaired water bodies is an environmental effects indicator, which show the locations of toxic chemicals in or near communities. From CalEnviroScreen: What are impaired water bodies? Streams, rivers and lakes are used for recreation and fishing and may provide water for drinking or agriculture. When water is contaminated by pollutants, the water bodies are considered impaired. These impairments are related to the amount of pollution that has occurred in or near the water body. Groups such as tribal or low income communities may depend on fish, aquatic plants and wildlife in nearby water bodies more than the general population. Why is this indicator included in CalEnviroScreen? Impairments can prevent recreational and other uses of the water body. Water pollution can harm wildlife habitats and change the number and types of plants and animals in the environment. When fish and shellfish are contaminated, people who eat them can be exposed to toxic substances. How do we measure impairments to bodies of water in CalEnviroScreen 4.0? The State Water Resources Control Board maintains information on water bodies in California that are impaired by pollutants. The indicator combines the number of pollutants in all water bodies designated as impaired in each census tract. A complete description of the Impaired Water Bodies indicator can be found in the CalEnviroScreen 4.0 report. Where can I find more information about impairments to water bodies? State Water Resources Control Board: My Water Quality State Water Resources Control Board, Water Quality Assessment加州环境筛查工具（CalEnviroScreen）是由加州环境健康危害评估办公室（California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment）开发的制图工具，用于识别加利福尼亚州内受污染源影响最严重的社区（以普查街区组为统计单元）。该工具通过各类指标评估环境状况，其中受损水体（Impaired Water Bodies）是一项环境影响类指标，用于标注社区内部或周边有毒化学物质的分布点位。 源自加州环境筛查工具（CalEnviroScreen）：何为受损水体？ 溪流、河流与湖泊兼具休闲娱乐、渔业养殖功能，还可作为饮用水或农业用水水源。当水体遭受污染物污染时，即被认定为受损水体，其受损程度与水体内部或周边的污染物累积量直接相关。原住民部落或低收入群体等社群，相较于普通大众，对周边水体中的鱼类、水生植物及野生生物的依赖程度更高。 为何将该指标纳入加州环境筛查工具（CalEnviroScreen）？ 水体受损会阻碍其休闲及其他功能的正常使用；水污染会破坏野生生物栖息地，改变区域内动植物的种群数量与物种组成；若鱼类及贝类受到污染，食用这些生物的人类将面临接触有毒物质的风险。 在加州环境筛查工具4.0版本（CalEnviroScreen 4.0）中，我们如何量化水体受损程度？ 加州水资源控制委员会（State Water Resources Control Board）负责维护加利福尼亚州内受污染物影响的受损水体相关信息。该指标会统计每个普查街区组内所有被认定为受损的水体中含有的污染物总数量。关于受损水体指标的完整说明可查阅《加州环境筛查工具4.0》报告。 何处可获取更多关于水体受损的相关信息？ 加州水资源控制委员会：「我的水质」栏目 加州水资源控制委员会：水质评估项目