Office of Water
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| Office of Water | |
|---|---|
| Name | Office of Water |
| Agency type | Environmental office |
| Jurisdiction | United States Environmental Protection Agency |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. |
| Chief1 name | Michael S. Regan |
| Chief1 position | Administrator |
| Parent agency | United States Environmental Protection Agency |
| Formed | 1970 |
Office of Water The Office of Water is the component of the United States Environmental Protection Agency responsible for protecting and restoring the quality of surface water and groundwater. It develops and enforces regulatory programs associated with the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and related statutes, and coordinates with federal entities such as the Department of the Interior, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Homeland Security. The Office works with states, tribal nations, municipal utilities, and nongovernmental organizations including The Nature Conservancy and the Environmental Defense Fund to implement national water protection goals.
Overview
The Office of Water administers nationwide programs addressing pollution control, drinking water safety, watershed management, and aquatic ecosystem restoration under authorities like the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act. It issues permits, sets national standards such as maximum contaminant levels, and oversees grant programs that fund infrastructure projects with partners like the Rural Utilities Service and the Economic Development Administration. The Office engages with scientific bodies including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the United States Geological Survey, and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to integrate monitoring and research into policy implementation.
History
Water protection programs trace to early 20th-century efforts such as the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 and the establishment of the Public Health Service. Major legislative milestones reshaped federal roles: the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (commonly called the Clean Water Act), the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, and later amendments including the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Organizationally, the Office evolved within the United States Environmental Protection Agency after EPA’s creation in 1970 under President Richard Nixon. Leadership and program priorities shifted through administrations, influenced by events such as the Love Canal public health crisis, the Exxon Valdez spill’s policy aftermath, and scientific syntheses from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that highlighted climate impacts on hydrology.
Organization and Structure
The Office comprises divisions focused on drinking water, wastewater, watershed protection, and permitting, structured to interface with EPA regional offices like EPA Region 2 and EPA Region 9. Staff include engineers, hydrologists, and policy specialists who coordinate with federal partners such as the Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation. Governance includes advisory committees like the Science Advisory Board and interagency councils such as the National Water Quality Monitoring Council. The Office maintains liaison programs with state agencies like the California State Water Resources Control Board and tribal entities under statutes such as the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.
Programs and Initiatives
Major programs include the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System administered under the Clean Water Act, the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund authorized by the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996, and the Combined Sewer Overflow controls guided by court settlements like those in Cleveland, Ohio and Boston, Massachusetts. Initiatives address emerging contaminants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances highlighted in litigation like New York v. United States Environmental Protection Agency and in advisory work by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Restoration efforts link to projects in the Chesapeake Bay Program, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, and estuary programs under the National Estuary Program.
Regulation and Policy
The Office develops national rules, criteria, and guidance documents including numeric nutrient criteria, surface water quality standards, and maximum contaminant levels under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Rulemaking often involves notice-and-comment procedures under the Administrative Procedure Act and judicial review in cases such as Entergy Corp. v. Riverkeeper, Inc. and Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc.. Policies on federalism and cooperative federalism shape interactions with state agencies, while executive orders from presidents such as Barack Obama and Donald Trump have directed priorities on infrastructure and deregulatory approaches. Internationally, the Office collaborates with entities like the International Joint Commission on transboundary waters.
Research and Monitoring
Scientific support comes from networks including the National Aquatic Resource Surveys and monitoring partnerships with the United States Geological Survey and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Research priorities involve contaminants of emerging concern, climate resilience, and watershed modeling using methods developed by institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California, Berkeley, and Columbia University. Peer review and synthesis draw on the National Academy of Sciences and specialist societies like the American Water Works Association and the Society of Wetland Scientists.
Funding and Partnerships
The Office administers grant and loan programs, including the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and Clean Water State Revolving Fund, in coordination with the Department of the Treasury and the Federal Emergency Management Agency for resilience funding. Partnerships span nonprofit organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund, municipal utilities including the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, and private-sector engineering firms. Funding decisions reflect congressional appropriations from committees like the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, and are influenced by legislation such as the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act and appropriations riders.