Water Pollution Control State, Interstate, and Tribal Program Support

To assist States (including territories and the District of Columbia), Indian Tribes qualified under CWA Section 518(e), and interstate agencies in establishing and maintaining adequate measures for prevention and control of surface and ground water pollution from both point and nonpoint sources. States and Tribes will continue to focus on fulfilling their basic responsibilities under the CWA Section 106 funded programs, such as: (1) implementing monitoring strategies and the statistically-valid surveys to determine water quality status and trends; (2) fostering a watershed approach, including total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) and watershed plans designed to meet water quality standards; (3) implementing National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting programs; and 4) States and Tribes will continue adopting updated water quality standards that support designated uses and completing triennial reviews on time. States NPDES Programs will continue to: (1) ensure the integrity of the program; (2) achieve and measure environmental results; and (3) incorporate efficiencies in permitting program operations. States will also conduct source water protection actions to protect both ground water and surface waters used for drinking water. Tribes will continue to conduct watershed assessments and will maintain and improve their capacity to implement water quality programs through monitoring, assessments, planning, data management and standards development.