About the Office of Water

Related Information

What We Do

The Office of Water (OW) ensures drinking water is safe, and restores and maintains oceans, watersheds, and their aquatic ecosystems to protect human health, support economic and recreational activities, and provide healthy habitat for fish, plants and wildlife.

OW is responsible for implementing the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act, and portions of the Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments of 1990, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Ocean Dumping Ban Act, Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act, Shore Protection Act, Marine Plastics Pollution Research and Control Act, London Dumping Convention, the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships and several other statutes.

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Office of Water works with the ten EPA regional offices, other federal agencies, state and local governments, American Indian Tribes, the regulated community, organized professional and interest groups, land owners and managers, and the public-at-large. OW provides guidance, specifies scientific methods and data collection requirements, performs oversight and facilitates communication among those involved. OW helps the states and American Indian Tribes to build capacity, and water programs can be delegated to them for implementation.

Documents Related to Our Mission

Organization

The Office of Water includes:

Immediate Office of the Assistant Administrator for Water (IO)

What We Do

Under the direction of the Assistant Administrator, the Immediate Office performs a variety of policy, communications, resources management, and operational functions for managing the National Water Program. The IO also works on broad or emerging issues in coordination with its program offices and other parts of EPA.

IO Organization

Peggy Browne, Acting Assistant Administrator

Benita Best-Wong,  Deputy Assistant Administrator

David Risley, Chief of Staff

Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (OGWDW)

What We Do

OGWDW, together with states, Tribes, and our many partners, protects public health by ensuring safe drinking water and protecting ground water. We oversee implementation of the Safe Drinking Water Act.  We:
  • develop and help implement national drinking water standards;
  • oversee and assist funding of state drinking water programs and source water protection programs;
  • build the capacity of drinking water systems, including small, rural, and tribal communities;
  • respond to emergencies and disasters that may impact our nation’s water and wastewater infrastructure; 
  • support efforts to build resiliency and increase security, including cybersecurity of water and wastewater utilities; 
  • protect underground sources of drinking water through the Underground Injection Control Program; and
  • provide information about drinking water quality to the public.

EPA's structure is designed to enhance the execution of both established (e.g., regulatory development and implementation) and newer (e.g., Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, America’s Water Infrastructure Act, Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act) programs, today and in the future.

Programs and Projects Managed by OGWDW

Mail code: 4601M | EPA mailing addresses
Location: EPA Headquarters at Washington, D.C. Federal Triangle campus
202-564-3750

OGWDW Organization

Jennifer McLain, Director
Yu-Ting Guilaran, Deputy Director

The Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water includes:

Office of Science and Technology (OST)

What We Do

OST works with states, Tribes, and other stakeholders to develop recommended safe water quality levels for toxics, nutrients, and pathogens to help ensure our nation's waters can be used for fishing, swimming, and drinking water supplies. OST also develops national economically and technologically achievable performance standards to address water pollution from industry. In addition, our Water Reuse Program helps foster collaboration among water reuse stakeholders and advance water reuse applications across the United States.

Programs managed by OST

Mail code: 4301M | EPA mailing addresses
Location: EPA Headquarters at Washington, D.C. Federal Triangle campus
202-566-0430

OST Organization

Tanya Hodge Mottley, Deputy Director and Acting Director

The Office of Science and Technology includes:

Office of Wastewater Management (OWM)

What We Do

OWM supports the Clean Water Act by promoting effective and responsible water use, wastewater treatment, disposal and management and by encouraging the protection and restoration of watersheds. We provide regulatory standards, voluntary management approaches, and financial and technical assistance to states, Tribes, communities, and regulated entities to protect human health and aquatic ecosystems, reduce flooding, and protect the nation’s infrastructure investment.

View OWM's Annual Reports.

Programs and Projects Managed by OWM

Mail code: 4201M | EPA mailing addresses
Location: EPA Headquarters at Washington, D.C. Federal Triangle campus
202-564-0748

OWM Organization

Andrew Sawyers, Director 
Wynne Miller, Deputy Director

The Office of Wastewater Management includes:

Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds (OWOW)

What We Do

OWOW works to protect our freshwater, estuarine, coastal and ocean ecosystems, including watersheds and wetlands. We regulate and monitor ocean dumping and vessel discharges, and reduce aquatic trash and marine debris. We protect water quality and habitats in 28 estuaries around the nation. We control polluted runoff and restore impaired waters.

View OWOW's Annual Reports.

Programs and Projects Managed by OWOW

Mail code: 4501T | EPA mailing addresses
Location: EPA Headquarters at Washington, D.C. Federal Triangle campus
202-566-1146
Email: ow-owow-internet-comments@epa.gov

OWOW Organization

Brian Frazer, Director
Ann Ferrio, Deputy Director

The Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds includes:

About EPA

Contact EPA
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on March 17, 2025