EPA's water pollution control programs encompass a variety of cooperative efforts with federal, state, and local agencies as well as local stakeholders. Control methods include pretreatment, which is the treatment of industrial wastewater before it is released into the water system. Municipal water treatment plants, which are the most common form of water pollution control, control the spread of pollution by screening and filtering wastewater. The EPA also advocates the adoption of more efficient industrial and agricultural methods that reduce the amount of wastewater that is produced by these facilities. New biological treatment techniques such as carbon adsorption and reverse osmosis are also being developed.

Recommended EPA Web pages

• Source Water Protection
  Provides information about source water protection.
• National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
  Information about the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System.

Pollution Control
Costs, Pollution Control Technologies

Technology
Alternative Technologies, Best Available Control Technology, Biotechnology, Clean Technologies, Environmental Technology Verification, Innovative Technologies, Maximum Available Control Technology

Waste Treatment
Combustion, Land Treatment, Natural Attenuation, Remediation, Risk Assessment, Testing, Treatment Storage and Disposal Facilities

Water Pollution Control
Pretreatment, Remediation, Trading, Wastewater Treatment