Water Enforcement
EPA’s enforcement and compliance assurance program focuses on addressing environmental challenges in a way that strengthens America’s prosperity, security, and global competitiveness. By unleashing American innovation and advancing next-generation energy technologies, we can address unauthorized discharges from our water systems while Powering the Great American Comeback and ensuring opportunity for all Americans.
When investing in technology, and market-based solutions, EPA reduces unauthorized water discharges while fueling job growth and strengthening U.S. competitiveness. EPA’s day-to-day enforcement actions aim at returning facilities to compliance with existing laws, which is resulting in compliance with our Clean Water Act regulations. At the same time, EPA provides technical assistance, resources, tools, and training that helps communities, businesses, state,
local, and tribal partners meet environmental requirements, so that we can protect our water, air, and land while securing our livelihoods for generations to come.
EPA’s water enforcement program equips stakeholders with the knowledge and resources needed to reduce noncompliance, improve energy efficiency, and adopt innovative technologies. By building this capacity, EPA not only supports compliance with existing laws but also fosters long-term solutions that align economic growth.
- Clean Water Act
- Clean Water Act Compliance Monitoring
- Safe Drinking Water Act
- Safe Drinking Water Act Compliance Monitoring and Assistance
On other pages:
Clean Water Act
Wastewater Management. Under the CWA's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program, EPA regulates discharges of pollutants from municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants, sewer collection systems, and stormwater discharges from industrial facilities and municipalities. Learn more about the NPDES program.
Pretreatment. EPA enforces requirements to ensure that industries pre-treat pollutants in their wastes in order to protect local sanitary sewers and wastewater treatment plants. Industrial discharges of metals, oil and grease, and other pollutants can interfere with the operation of local sanitary sewers and wastewater treatment plants, leading to the discharge of untreated or inadequately treated pollutants into local waterways. Learn more about pretreatment .
Stormwater Pollution. This occurs when debris, chemicals, sediment or other pollutants from industrial, construction, or urban areas get washed into water bodies, either directly or via storm drains. Uncontrolled stormwater discharges can pose significant threats to public health and the environment. The CWA requires that industrial facilities, construction sites, and municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) have measures in place to prevent pollution from being discharged with stormwater into nearby waterways. Learn more about stormwater pollution.
Animal Waste from Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations. CAFOs that are not controlling their animal wastes and illegally discharging pollutants to water bodies are a serious threat to water quality and human health. Learn more about animal feeding operations.
Spills - Oil and Hazardous Substances. Oil spills can harm animal and plant life, contaminating food sources and nesting habitats. Petroleum oils can form tars that persist in the environment for years. The CWA prohibits oil or hazardous substance spills in quantities that may be harmful to human health and the environment and requires actions to prevent future spills. Learn more about oil spill prevention and preparedness regulations.
Wetlands - Discharges of Dredge and Fill Material. EPA ensures that dredged or fill material is not discharged into wetlands and other waters of the United States except as authorized by a permit issued by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. EPA investigates and inspects those discharging dredge and fill material into wetlands and other waters of the United States without a permit and pursues appropriate enforcement to ensure compliance. Learn more about wetlands.
Clean Water Act Compliance Monitoring
EPA works with its federal, state and tribal regulatory partners through a comprehensive Clean Water Act compliance monitoring program to protect human health and the environment by ensuring that the regulated community obeys environmental laws/regulations through on-site visits by qualified inspectors, and a review of the information EPA or a state/tribe requires to be submitted.
Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
Drinking Water. EPA safeguards human health by enforcing the requirements of the SDWA to ensure that the nation's public drinking water supply, including the physical security and cybersecurity of the system, and its sources (rivers, lakes, reservoirs, springs, and ground water wells) are protected. Learn more about drinking water.
Public Water Systems. EPA ensures that public drinking water systems comply with health-based federal standards for contaminants, which includes performing regular monitoring and reporting. Learn more about public drinking water systems.
Underground Injection Control. Underground injection is the technology of placing fluids underground, in porous formations of rocks, through wells or other similar conveyance systems. EPA ensures that underground injection wells do not endanger any current and future underground or surface sources of drinking water. Learn more about UIC.
Safe Drinking Water Act Compliance Monitoring and Assistance
EPA works with its federal, state and tribal regulatory partners through a comprehensive Safe Drinking Water Act compliance monitoring program to protect human health and the environment by ensuring that the regulated community obeys environmental laws/regulations through on-site visits by qualified inspectors, and a review of the information EPA or a state/tribe requires to be submitted.