Using Multi-Objective Management to Reduce Flood Losses in Your

Water Quality
The environmental benefits of clean water are well known. Recreation, fish and
wildlife, and water supply interests are all concerned about the quality of the
water they depend on. As with flood loss reduction, there is more than one way to
improve water quality. For example, the cost of treating public drinking water can
be significantly reduced by controlling watershed development to keep runoff as
clean as possible. New York City saved over $8 billion in new treatment facilities
by managing the rivers that feed its reservoirs.
Opportunities
The following are examples of how people concerned with water quality can help
support flood loss reduction and vice versa:
Watershed management−Best management practices can readily combine
water quantity and water quality objectives. A detention basin can store
peak flows and let the pollutants settle out at the same time.
Wetlands protection−Wetlands naturally filter and store surface waters,
making them cleaner as well as reducing peak flows. Water leaving a wetland
is cleaner than the water that enters it.
Community programs−Many organizations have public education
programs about protecting water quality. These programs can easily include
information about flood hazards and the natural and beneficial
functions of floodplains.
Related interests
The following interests often have concerns that can be linked to protecting water
quality. They are discussed elsewhere in this chapter.
Recreation
Fish and wildlife
Water supply
Agriculture
Education.
Advice and assistance
The following agencies and organizations can provide advice and/or assistance on
protecting water supply. They could also support flood loss reduction measures.
State natural resource agencies
U.S. and state environmental protection agencies
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Soil and Water Conservation District
Community water departments and private water companies
Farmers dependent upon irrigation.
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