| Abstract |
The water quality standards program is directed by the Environmental Protection Agency, an independent regulatory agency which has responsibility for approving State-adopted standards, evaluating adherence to the standards, and overseeing enforcement of standards compliance. Standards, the first nationwide strategy for water quality management, contain four major elements: the use (recreation, drinking water, fish and wildlife propagation, industrial, or agricultural) to be made of the interstate water; criteria to protect those uses; implementation plans (for needed industrial-municipal waste treatment improvements) and enforcement plans; and an antidegradation statement to protect existing high quality waters. Minimum water quality criteria, or numerical specifications of physical, chemical, temperature, and biological levels, are stated. |
