GOAL:
Protect human health and the environment from impairments due to toxic pollutants in aquatic environments.

OBJECTIVE:
Reduce the loading of toxic pollutants to surface waters from point and non-point pollution sources.

STATUS & TRENDS:
Substantial progress has been made in developing waste treatment technology which minimizes the discharge of toxic substances including, in some applications, closed loop recycling. The loading of toxics from industrial and municipal point sources to su rface waters has decreased and the impact of point sources on aquatic ecosystems lessened. Further progress is contingent upon achieving full implementation of the existing regulatory program with additional controls on specific pollutants of concern. P ublic awareness of the environmental consequences of discharging toxics to surface waters has increased. This concern must be channeled into support for pollution prevention programs and reductions in discharges of household toxics to municipal sewage tr eatment plants. In-place contaminants and toxics in non-point source discharges such as storm water runoff and combined sewer overflows are not being addressed effectively. Our knowledge of the long term ecological and public health risks of exposure to toxic substances has benefited from recent research. However, much remains poorly understood regarding the complex interrelationship between levels of toxic pollutants in the environment and human health and ecosystem impairment.

STRATEGIES:

1. Continue to implement a comprehensive program that regulates point source discharges of toxic pollutants through the issuance of discharge permits and enforcement of permit conditions.
2. Establish ambient water quality criteria for toxic pollutants, adopt into State Water Quality Standards and fully integrate these criteria into the Toxic Water Pollution Control Program.
3. Include a long-term toxic reduction plan in all river basin/water quality management plans including provisions for waste load allocations.
4. Develop and implement a comprehensive program to reduce loading of toxic pollutants to surface waters from nonpoint sources including storm water, combined sewer overflows, landfills, road salt applications, agricultural sources, and residential pract ices.
5. Encourage the use of innovative technologies for wastewater treatment and other pollution prevention methodologies that reduce or eliminate toxic substances from wastewater discharges.
6. Encourage environmentally responsible use and disposal of materials containing toxic pollutants by providing education and technical assistance and informational exchange among government, industry, and the general public.
7. Implement a comprehensive program to manage in-place contaminants which may include remedial actions requiring dredging and disposal of contaminated sediments.
8. Strengthen existing monitoring capabilities and encourage further research on the impacts of toxic pollutants present in Connecticut waters on indigenous finfish, shellfish, benthic organisms and human consumers.