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Water Quality Standards: Regulations and Resources

  • Why are Water Quality Standards Important?

    Water quality standards protect the conditions of lakes, rivers, estuaries and other water bodies for fishing, swimming and other uses.

    Learn more about water quality standards

  • Water Quality Standards Where You Live

    States and authorized tribes develop new and revised water quality standards relevant to their local situations. Under the Clean Water Act (CWA), we must review and approve them before their use for purposes such as discharge permitting and assessment of water body quality.

    Learn more about state's CWA-effective water quality standards

  • Relationship Between Water Quality Criteria and Water Quality Standards

    Water quality criteria - one of three core components to water quality standards - identify pollutant levels or conditions that protect water body uses, such as fishing and swimming.

    Learn more about the water quality criteria-standards relationship

Learn About
Standards

Tools and Resources
  • What are Water Quality Standards?
  • How are Water Quality Standards Developed?
  • Water Quality Standards Academy

Resources for
Your Area

Standards in Your Area
  • State-Specific Water Quality Standards
  • Things You Can Do
  • Provide Comments and Attend Meetings
  • Partners to Protect Water Quality

Federal
Requirements

  • Water Quality Standards Requirements
  • Federally Promulgated Water Quality Standards for Specific States, Territories, and Tribes

Policy, Guidance
and Reference

  • Priorities for Water Quality Criteria and Standards Programs FY 2017-2018
  • Water Quality Standards Handbook
  • Reference Library of Policy and Guidance Documents
  • Guidance for Conducting Fish Consumption Surveys
  • Use Attainability Analysis (UAA) Process Diagram with Tips for Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Receiving Waters

Resources
for Tribes

Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Bluff near river mouth
  • Tribes and Water Quality Standards
  • EPA Actions on Tribal Water Quality Standards and Contacts
  • Water Quality Standards Tools for Tribes
  • Case Studies, Publications and Videos on Tribal Water Quality Standards

Related Information

  • Water Quality Criteria
  • Environmental Protection in Indian Country
  • WQSnews Listserv - Receive Alerts about Water Quality Standards News and Events
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on May 2, 2025
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