"Introduction to Water Quality Standards" Webcast Scheduled for Sept. 10

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is hosting the second in a free series of webcasts, "Introduction to Water Quality Standards," on the Clean Water Act (CWA) on Thursday, Sept. 10. The CWA is the cornerstone of surface water quality protection in the U.S. and sets broad goals for restoring and maintaining the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the nation's water. Water quality standards (WQS) are aimed at translating the broad goals of the CWA into water body-specific objectives.

This webcast will cover the WQS, which are the foundation of the water quality-based pollution control program mandated by the CWA. The webcast will highlight the three major components of state and tribal water quality standards—designated uses, water quality criteria and antidegradation—and will include a case study of how one state is working to strengthen its WQS program.

Future webcasts will highlight other aspects of the CWA including monitoring and assessment, total maximum daily loads, programs for managing point sources and nonpoint sources and wetland protection.

Speakers: Dr. Thomas Gardner, environmental scientist, U.S. EPA's National Water Quality Standards Branch; Heather Goss, physical scientist, U.S. EPA's National Water Quality Standards Branch; and William (Bill) Cole, research scientist, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Water Quality Standards Unit.

The Watershed Academy is offering a certificate to everyone who attends at least 1 hour and 30 minutes of the webcast. To register, visit http://www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts.

Source: EPA