What is the role of the EPA in the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement?

The EPA coordinates U.S. activities under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. This includes working with Canada and other stakeholders to identify binational priorities and implementing actions that improve water quality in the Great Lakes.

The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement is a commitment between the United States and Canada to restore and protect the waters of the Great Lakes. It provides a framework for identifying binational priorities and implementing actions that improve water quality.

Yes, under the Clean Water Act, states can establish their own water quality standards as long as they are at least as stringent as federal standards. States may also establish secondary standards for taste, odor, and color, although these are not enforced by the EPA.

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System is a federal regulatory program that controls water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into surface waters. The program requires industrial, municipal, and other facilities to obtain permits if their discharges go directly into surface waters.