The EPA enforces federal laws for clean water and safe drinking water, supports municipal sewage treatment plants, and participates in pollution prevention efforts to protect watersheds and sources of drinking water.
This page:
- feed plants
- biosolids
- Drinking water
- groundwater
- Hydraulic rupture
- deteriorated waters
- mercury
- Mining on mountain tops
- oceans and coastal waters
- Open pit coal mining in Appalachia
- Surface water: lakes, rivers and streams
- rainwater
- Residual washer
- watersheds
- wetlands
feed plants
Ver:Cross-cutting issues: animal feeding
biosolids
Biosolids are the nutrient-rich organic materials resulting from sewage sludge treatment. Only biosolids that meet the most stringent standards of federal and state regulations can be approved for use as fertilizer.
- Biosolids main page- Includes how-to guides and answers to frequently asked questions
- Biosolids compliance monitoring
- Biosolids Laws and Regulations
Drinking water
IsSafe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)It is the most important federal law that guarantees the quality of drinking water for Americans. Through the SDWA, the EPA sets standards for drinking water quality and oversees states, municipalities, and water companies that implement those standards.
read more hereAbout the Drinking Water Act.
Laws and Policies
- Current drinking water regulation:Pollutants that the EPA regulates in drinking water, such as arsenic, lead, and microbes.
- Drinking water ordinance in preparation: Current regulatory status of certain pollutants and operation of public water systems.
- Regulatory Development: how the EPA decides which pollutants to regulate, how drinking water standards are set, and when existing regulations need to be revised.
conformity
- Assistance in complying with the Safe Drinking Water Act
- Monitoring compliance with the Drinking Water Act: Information on inspections, assessments and investigations.
Application
policy and guidance
groundwater
Many communities get their drinking water from aquifers. Unfortunately, groundwater can be contaminated by human activities. These chemicals can seep into the soil and rocks, contaminating the aquifer and eventually the well.
Laws and Policies
- groundwater rule: Provides increased protection against microbial pathogens in public water systems that use groundwater sources.
- Underground Injection Control Program: Responsible for regulating the construction, operation, permitting and closure of injection wells that bring fluids underground for storage or disposal.
- protection of the water source: Guarantee the quality of drinking water by protecting it from the source to the tap.
Hydraulic rupture
Ver:Natural gas production: hydraulic fracturing
deteriorated waters
Pursuant to Section 303D ofDrinking Water Act (CWA)States, territories and licensed tribes are required to create lists of affected waters. These are bodies of water that are too polluted or degraded to meet water quality standards set by licensed states, territories, or tribes.
Laws and Policies
policy and guidance
mercury
verCross-cutting issues: Mercury.
Mining on mountain tops
See open pit coal mines in Appalachia
oceans and coastal waters
Laws and Policies
- Law of the Beach(Environmental Assessment of Beaches and Coastal Health Act of 2000) undHow the EPA protects beaches
- clean boat law: Requires appropriate nationally enforceable measures to mitigate the adverse effects of discharges from recreational craft without the use of a Clean Water Act permit.
- Laws, regulations, contracts (laws of the oceans)
- Ocean-going ships and large ships: Standards for off-road vehicles, equipment and engines.
- unloading of ships
Open pit coal mining in Appalachia
Mining operations are regulated by theDrinking Water Act (CWA), including discharges of pollutants into streams from valley fills (CWA Section 402) and valley fills where rock and soil are introduced into streams and wetlands (CWA Section 404). Coal mining is also regulated by the Ministry of the Interior.Surface Mining Recovery and Execution Office.
Open pit coal mining activities under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act
(Video) What is the EPA? | OSHAcampus.com Video
Surface water: lakes, rivers and streams
- Standards and guidelines on surface water: including water quality standards, CWA Section 304(a)(1) Water Quality Criteria and CWA Section 316(b) Cooling Water Intake Structures.
rainwater
EPA controls stormwater discharges and sewage overflows through theNational Pollutant Elimination System (NPDES). The NPDES gives local authorities, state and federal authorities orientation on how the goals of rainwater protection can be achieved as flexibly and cost-effectively as possible.
Laws and Policies
conformity
- Monitoring compliance with industrial stormwater regulations
- Additional Resources for Sanitary Sewage Overflows (SSO).
- Combined Sewage Overflows (CSO)
- National Menu of Best Practices in Stormwater Management
Residual washer
The EPA regulates the discharge and treatment of wastewater under theDrinking Water Act (CWA). IsNational Pollutant Elimination System (NPDES)issues licenses for all wastewater disposal and treatment plants. These permits establish specific discharge limits, monitoring and reporting requirements, and may also require these facilities to take special measures to protect the environment from harmful pollutants.
Laws and Policies
- Basics of the NPDES program
- NPDES-Themen: Regulatory information by program area such as animal feed plants, combined sewage overflows, pesticides and more.
- Section 319 of the Clean Water Act: the Non-Point Sources Management program.
conformity
- NPDES compliance monitoring
- NPDES training courses and workshops: for licensees, downloaders and others.