EPA's Role in Transboundary Water

A lake with a rocky shore, and mountains in the distance

EPA is participating in a growing global alliance to facilitate resolution of water quality and management problems among countries who share rivers, lakes, and aquifers. While such cooperation has always been a core feature of EPA's operational programs along the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders, EPA's expertise is also being sought in other parts of the world. Through expanded dialogue among political leaders, policy makers and technical specialists, water issues can be a framework for cooperation rather than conflict. EPA is actively engaged in:

the Interagency Water Group (IWG), a U.S. Department of State-led interagency working group to develop government-wide coordination and response to requests for U.S. assistance;
several international forums, the purpose of which is to share new policy and technical approaches;
several potential pilot projects in surface water basins and shared aquifers in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe.

EPA helps foster regionally-appropriate water quality criteria and discharge standards, broader adoption of watershed management and drinking water source protection, and wider stakeholder involvement and transparency in water sector transformation.

Transboundary work on the Great Lakes: For more information on collaboration between the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Environment Canada on the Great Lakes, visit Binational.net

Contacts

For additional information on EPA's role in transboundary water programs, contact:

Stephanie Adrian
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of International Affairs (2670R)
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20460
E-mail: adrian.stephanie@epa.gov

EPA's Role in Transboundary Water

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