u.s. environmental protection agency is responsible for enforcing water quality standards.
u.s. environmental protection agency is responsible for enforcing water quality standards.
who is responsible for enforcing water quality standards?
u.s. environmental protection agency
section::::standards and test methods.:ambient water standards.









































the u.s. environmental protection agency (epa) has published water quality criteria for turbidity. these criteria are scientific assessments of the effects of turbidity, which are used by states to develop water quality standards for water bodies. (states may also publish their own criteria.) some states have promulgated water quality standards for turbidity, including:









































bullet::::- louisiana. 25, 50 or 150 ntu, or background plus 10 percent, depending on the water body..









































bullet::::- vermont. 10 ntu or 25 ntu, depending on water body classification.
turbidity
when high levels of phosphorus and mercury were discovered in the waterways in 1986, water quality became a focus for water management agencies. costly and lengthy court battles were waged between various government entities to determine who was responsible for monitoring and enforcing water quality standards. governor lawton chiles proposed a bill that determined which agencies would have that responsibility, and set deadlines for pollutant levels to decrease in water. initially the bill was criticized by conservation groups for not being strict enough on polluters, but the everglades forever act was passed in 1994. since then, the south florida water management district (sfwmd) and the u.s. army corps of engineers have surpassed expectations for achieving lower phosphorus levels.
restoration of the everglades