Water Quality Regulation:
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is tasked with implementing Federal Clean Water Act guidelines in order to protect and improve Oregon's water quality. Protecting Oregon's rivers, lakes, streams and groundwater quality keeps these waters safe for a multitude of beneficial uses such as drinking water, fish habitat, recreation and irrigation. This is accomplished by developing and implementing water quality standards and plans that define and limit pollution loads (also known as Total Maximum Daily Loads or TMDLs). This includes completing watershed assessments, regulating sewage treatment systems and industrial dischargers (permits), collecting and evaluating water quality data, providing grants and technical assistance to reduce non-point pollution sources, and providing loans to communities to build treatment facilities. below are the two state agencies that are in charge of determining water quality standards, regulating pollution, and enforcing water quality standards within their jurisdiction. Many of the standards that are regulated by these agencies are based on state and federal congressional acts and federal statutes.
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is tasked with implementing Federal Clean Water Act guidelines in order to protect and improve Oregon's water quality. Protecting Oregon's rivers, lakes, streams and groundwater quality keeps these waters safe for a multitude of beneficial uses such as drinking water, fish habitat, recreation and irrigation. This is accomplished by developing and implementing water quality standards and plans that define and limit pollution loads (also known as Total Maximum Daily Loads or TMDLs). This includes completing watershed assessments, regulating sewage treatment systems and industrial dischargers (permits), collecting and evaluating water quality data, providing grants and technical assistance to reduce non-point pollution sources, and providing loans to communities to build treatment facilities. below are the two state agencies that are in charge of determining water quality standards, regulating pollution, and enforcing water quality standards within their jurisdiction. Many of the standards that are regulated by these agencies are based on state and federal congressional acts and federal statutes.
