An Introduction to the Water Elements of EPA's Strategic Plan

EPA's FY 2011-2015 Strategic Plan charts a course for the Agency over the five years. It is organized around five key goals:  

• Taking Action on Climate Change and Improving Air Quality;
• Protecting America's Waters;
• Cleaning Up Our Communities and Advancing Sustainable Development;
• Ensuring the Safety of Chemicals and Preventing Pollution; and
• Enforcing Environmental Laws.

The Protecting America's Waters Goal of the Strategic Plan states:

Protect and restore our waters to ensure that drinking water is safe, and that aquatic ecosystems sustain fish, plants, and wildlife, and economic, recreational, and subsistence activities.

Within the Protecting America's Waters Goal, there are two specific objectives - 

• Protect Human Health; and
• Protect and Restore Watersheds and Aquatic Ecosystems.

WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH?

With the help of states, tribes and other partners, EPA expects to make progress toward protecting human health and improving water quality by 2015.

Each of the major subobjectives is supported by additional "strategic targets" that further define expected improvements in human health and watersheds and ecosystems by 2015. In addition, the Goal includes specific expectations of progress to be made by 2015 in critical estuaries, the U.S.-Mexico Border area, the Gulf of Mexico, the Great Lakes, the Chesapeake Bay, the Long Island Sound, and the Puget Sound Basin.

WHAT IS THE STRATEGY?

The Strategic Plan describes, in general terms, how we expect to accomplish each of the health and environmental goals over the next five years. Three key strategies will drive progress toward these clean and safe water goals:

• Core Programs: Continue effective implementation of core national water programs, giving priority to improving water quality monitoring and information management, as well as working with state partners to strengthen water quality standards, improve discharge permits, and reduce pollution from diffuse or “nonpoint” sources.

• Water Infrastructure: Help sustain and secure the network of pipes and treatment facilities that constitute the nation’s water infrastructure through investments in State Revolving Loan funds, pursuit of innovative financing, local adoption of sustainable management practices, and an increased commitment to water efficiency as well as partnerships and technical assistance to enhance the abilities of utilities to plan for, prevent, detect, and respond to security threats.

• Watershed Restoration and Protection: Apply a watershed approach to restoring polluted waters across the country, including developing Total Maximum Daily Loads, implementing clean-up plans on a watershed basis, and promoting innovative, cost-effective practices like water quality trading and watershed permitting to restore and protect water quality.

NEXT STEPS

At the end of 2012, the Office of Water will issue the National Water Program Guidance Commitments Appendix for FY 2013;

At the mid-point and end of FY 2012, EPA will work with states and tribes to assess progress and make needed program changes.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

You can find more information about the water elements of the FY 2011- 2015 Strategic Plan, including the FY 2013 National Water Program Guidance and the FY 2012 Commitments Appendix, on the Office of Water website.

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