Air and Water Temperature Increases

The Effect on EPA Water Programs

Increases in air and water temperatures will affect the chemistry and biology of water resources. As a result, water programs need to be prepared to handle the following effects:

• Increased number of impaired waters
• Difficulty meeting water quality and drinking water standards
• Difficulty meeting National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit limits because of more complex environmental conditions
• Reductions in availability and quality of drinking water supplies

The drinking water, surface water, discharge permits and TMDL programs have been identified as programs that face some of the greatest potential effects from air and water temperature increases.

Graphic Reference:

EPA. 2008cc. National Water Program Strategy: Response to Climate Change. EPA 800-R-08-001, accessed August 31, 2009.