Water is essential for life and plays a vital role in the proper functioning of the Earth's ecosystems. The pollution of water has a serious impact on all living creatures, and can negatively affect the use of water for drinking, household needs, recreation, fishing, transportation and commerce. EPA enforces federal clean water and safe drinking water laws, provides support for municipal wastewater treatment plants, and takes part in pollution prevention efforts aimed at protecting watersheds and sources of drinking water. The Agency carries out both regulatory and voluntary programs to fulfill its mission to protect the nation's waters.

Recommended EPA Web pages

• Office of Water
  The Office of Water is responsible for the Agency`s water quality activities.
• Draft Report on the Environment: Purer Water: Waters and Watersheds
  Provides infromation about water and watersheds.
• Surf Your Watershed
  A service to help you locate, use, and share environmental information about your watershed.

Drinking Water
Drinking Water System, Protection

Ground Water
Discharge, Hydrogeology, Protection, Runoff, Wells

Storm Water
Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs), Industrial Storm Water, Permits, Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs), Wet Weather Programs

Surface Water
Dumping, Marine Debris

Wastewater
Animal Feeding Operations (AFOs), Biosolids, Discharges, Effluent Guidelines, Effluents, Industrial Wastewater, Municipal Wastewater Treatment, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), Permits, Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs), Standards, Treatment, Wastewater Systems

Water Infrastructure

Water Pollution
Community Involvement, Cost Benefit Analysis, Data, Nonpoint Sources, Point Sources, Reporting, Testing, Transboundary Pollution

Water Pollution Control
Pretreatment, Remediation, Trading, Wastewater Treatment

Water Pollution Effects
Economic Effects, Environmental Effects, Health Effects

Water Pollution Legal Aspects
Compliance, Enforcement, Guidance, Legislation, Permits, Public Comment, Regulations, Standards, Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)

Water Quality Monitoring
Bioassessment, Criteria, Health Advisories, Models, Standards