How is water quality maintained?

In New York, water quality is maintained through a variety of laws, regulations, and programs. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is the primary agency responsible for managing surface water resources as well as protecting and enhancing water quality in the state. New York also relies on federal programs such as the Clean Water Act (CWA) including the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The CWA is designed to control the release of pollutants from point sources such as wastewater treatment plants, industrial facilities, and sewage systems. This is done by requiring that these sources be monitored and that any pollutants discharged must meet certain water quality standards. The NPDES, in particular, is an important component of the CWA that requires any source discharging wastewater to obtain a permit that regulates how much and what kind of pollutants it can release. The SDWA, on the other hand, is designed to ensure that the drinking water provided to the public is safe and meets certain standards. To this end, it requires public water systems to regularly monitor their water sources and report any violations to the appropriate agencies. Additionally, the SDWA sets maximum levels of contaminants that can be present in treated water, sets requirements for water delivery system maintenance, and provides funding for water conservation activities. Together, these laws, regulations, and programs all work in tandem to protect and maintain the quality of water in New York. This includes ensuring that drinking water is safe for human consumption, and also that other bodies of water, such as lakes, rivers, and streams, remain free of pollutants.

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How is water quality maintained?

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