Water Quality Research
"Ensure drinking water is safe. Restore and maintain oceans, watersheds, and their aquatic ecosystems to protect human health, support economic and recreational activities, and provide healthy habitat for fish, plants, and wildlife."
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20090508195020im_/http://www.epa.gov/nerl/goals/images/clean_water2.jpg)
Water Quality Research - EPA's goal is to restore and maintain oceans, watersheds, and their aquatic ecosystems to protect human health, support economic and recreational activities, and provide healthy habitat for fish, plants, and wildlife. ORD research provides the scientific foundation for EPA regulatory decisions and policies about water quality. ORD's program is described fully in a multi-year research plan: ORD Water Quality MYP.
NERL's Water Quality Research Program is an integral part of ORD's, and is directed to help ORD achieve three long term goals: (1) improved water quality criteria and monitoring for identifying impaired waterbodies (2) improved diagnostics, including forecasting techniques, to identify causes and sources of impairment; and (3) improved selection, placement and management of sustainable watershed protection and restoration technologies, including techniques for forecasting the ecologic, economic, and human health benefits of management alternatives.
NERL Research Areas
Improved Water Quality Criteria and Monitoring
Improved Diagnostics
Sustainable Watershed Protection and Restoration Technologies