39 Water Quality
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Introduction to Water Regulations
In order to guarantee safe and clean water supplies, governments and organizations around the world must regulate water. Water quality, pollution control, resource management, and access to safe drinking water are just a few of the topics covered by the wide range of laws and policies that make up water regulations. Governments can protect human health, maintain the environment, and guarantee sustainable development by enacting efficient laws at the local, national, and international levels (American Public University, 2023).
When looking at a satellite image, a map, or a globe, you can see how most of Earth is covered in water, 71% to be exact. Less than 3% of that is freshwater, which is needed to sustain life. Almost all freshwater is locked up in ice and in the ground. Only a little more than 1.2% of all freshwater is surface water, which serves most of life’s needs (Water Science School, 2019). Water is one of the most essential resources for life as it fuels ecosystems, supports agriculture, and is critical for human life. We take the quality of water for granted, despite it having a significant impact on public health and the environment.
With the goal of safeguarding both the environment and human health, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the US carries out the environmental laws passed by Congress by creating regulations. In order to lower pollution and advance sustainability, the EPA manages programs, conducts research, and offers education. The EPA is essential to safeguarding natural resources for current and future generations through public awareness campaigns and regulatory enforcement (EPA, 2024).
The Clean Water Act is one of EPA’s major initiatives. This important law, which was passed in 1972, was designed to control water contamination and protect American water supplies. This Act establishes quality criteria for surface waters and the fundamental framework for controlling pollution discharges into waterways. Additionally, the Clean Water Act gives the EPA the power to enforce laws for businesses and towns and to carry out pollution control (EPA, 2024).
Another initiative is the Safe Water Act, which regulates the nation’s drinking water supply, which includes groundwater wells, lakes, reservoirs, springs, and rivers. Private wells that serve less than 25 people are exempt from EPA regulations. The EPA establishes health-based regulations, similar to the Clean Water Act, to shield the public from pollutants. Without this legislation, human hazards, subterranean waste injections, pesticides, animal waste, poorly disposed of chemicals, and naturally occurring contaminants would all constitute a threat to our drinking water in the United States. There are health concerns associated with drinking water that has not been adequately cleaned, treated, or distributed through an inadequately maintained system. (Office of Water , 2004).
As we dive deeper into environmental regulations, specifically water regulations, we will take a closer look into how these regulations are doing at maintaining water quality at state, national, and global level.
Water Quality in Iowa
Water quality refers to the chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of water (Water Science School , 2018). Water quality determines its suitability for drinking, recreation, and industry. Water pollution occurs when harmful substances such as heavy metals, bacteria, pesticides, and plastics enter bodies of water. This pollution makes the water unsafe consumption and can lead to adverse health effects. Ensuring access to clean and safe water is a global health priority. Contamination from pollutants, industrial waste, and agricultural runoff threatens both human health and the environment (Denchak, 2023).
Water Quality in the United States