Standards for Water Body Health

Why are Water Quality Standards Important?
They help prevent pollution of and maintain quality of lakes, rivers, estuaries and other water bodies.
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Water Quality Standards Where You Live
Interested in the standards designated to protect the water quality in your State, Territory or authorized Tribe?
View the Water Quality Standards Where You Live Map to learn more.
Relationship Between Water Quality Criteria and Water Quality Standards
An important part of water quality standards are the water quality criteria developed to protect human health and aquatic life. Learn more about the differences between water quality standards and criteria.

Standards for Water Body Health

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Technical Resources about Water Quality Standards

Announcements and Upcoming Events (Meetings, Requests for Comments, Training, and more)

Comment Period Open: Proposed Rule for Revision of Selenium Water Quality Criteria Applicable to the Salt and Estuarine Waters of San Francisco Bay and Delta

EPA is now accepting comments on a proposed rule to revise the current federal Clean Water Act selenium water quality criteria applicable to the salt and estuarine waters of San Francisco Bay and Delta.

07/15/2016 8:00AM EDT

Comment Period Open: Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking - Federal Baseline Water Quality Standards for Indian Reservations

On 9/19/16, the EPA Administrator signed an advance notice of proposed rulemaking to invite comments on whether to establish federal baseline water quality standards for Indian reservation waters that do not currently have them.

09/20/2016 12:15AM EDT

Water Quality Standards Academy: December 12-16, 2016

Registration is open to attend the Water Quality Standards Academy in Washington, DC on December 12-16, 2016.

12/12/2016 8:00AM EST

Washington, DC