Environmental Issues

Water Quality Standards defines the goal for a water source by its uses (as drinking water or for agriculture purpose), and criteria to protect those water bodies from pollutants. Water Quality Standards are set Clean Water Act. The Clean Water Act develops criteria for water quality that accurately reflects the latest scientific knowledge according to the Section 304(a) (1).  These criteria are based solely on data and scientific judgments on pollutant concentrations and environmental or human health effects. This act also provides guidance in adopting water quality standards. Water quality Criteria developed for the protection of both aquatic and human health. Clean Water Act came into existence from 1972, which established the structures for controlling the discharge of pollutants into US waters.  It became a law for protecting the rivers and lakes from different pollutants that are associated with agricultural, urban, and suburban activities, forest harvesting, mineral extraction, and atmospheric deposition. Both water quality standards and criteria are an important in clean water program.

This provides information about water quality and also for improving that quality, provides standards for toxic levels in water for protecting aquatic life etc. water quality standards and criteria are the foundation for a wide range of programs under the Clean Water Act. This strategy contains priority strategic actions that the Office of Science and Technology will undertake in collaboration with other EPA offices, states and authorized tribes over the next six years to strengthen and improve this foundation. All waters of the United States will have water quality standards that include the highest attainable uses, combined with water quality criteria that reflect the current and evolving body of scientific information to protect those uses. Further, standards will have well-defined means for implementation through Clean Water Act programs.