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Regulatory framework
The Clean Water Act (CWA) establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States and regulating surface water quality standards.
The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) was passed by Congress in 1974, with amendments added in 1986 and 1996, to protect our drinking water. Under the SDWA, EPA sets drinking water quality standards and oversees states, local authorities, and water suppliers that enforce those standards.
The objective of the Groundwater Standard (GWR) is to reduce the incidence of diseases associated with harmful microorganisms in drinking water. The GWR applies to public water supply systems that use groundwater as a source of drinking water.
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was signed into law on January 1, 1970. NEPA requires federal agencies to evaluate the environmental effects of their proposed measures before making decisions.
A bill to provide for the reform and continuation of the agricultural and other programs of the Department of Agriculture through fiscal year 2023, and for other purposes. Sections related to water: Art. 6101. Subsidies for water installations, waste disposal and wastewater.
Art. 6102. Technical assistance and training programs on water and wastewater in rural areas.
Art. 6103. Closed circuit water and wastewater program in rural areas.
An Act to provide for water pollution control activities in the Public Health Service of the Federal Security Agency and in the Federal Works Agency, and for other purposes.
This National Climate Resilience Framework is a vision for a climate resilient Nation designed to guide and align climate resilience investments and activities by the federal government and its partners. The Framework identifies common principles and specific actions to expand and accelerate progress towards six objectives:
１. Embed climate resilience into planning and management.
２. Increase resilience of the built environment to both acute climate shocks and chronic stressors.
３.Mobilize capital, investment, and innovation to advance climate resilience at scale.
4. Equip communities with information and resources needed to assess their climate risks and develop the climate resilience solutions most appropriate for them.
5. Protect and sustainably manage lands and waters to enhance resilience, while providing numerous other benefits;
6.Help communities become not only more resilient, but also more safe, healthy, equitable, and economically strong.
This Strategic Plan establishes the Environmental Protection Agency’s priorities and provides a roadmap for achieving its mission to protect human health and the environment. The Strategic Plan is based on the Agency’s guiding principles, and aims at tackling climate change and advancing environmental justice, and therefore it establishes seven strategic goals, to highlight the importance of climate change and environmental issues: 1) tackling climate crisis; 2) taking decisive actions to advance environmental justice and civil rights; 3) enforcement of environmental laws; 4) ensuring clean and healthy air for all communities; 5) ensuring clean and safe water for all communities; 6) community management and revitalisation; 7) ensuring safety of chemicals and pesticides for people and the environment. Furthermore, the Strategic Plan describes four cross-agency strategies, in accordance with the Agency’s mission: reinforcing science and ensuring science-based decision making process; protecting children’s and other vulnerable populations’ environmental health; enhancing mission-support functions to achieve organisational excellence; strengthening local communities engagement.
The Water and Wastewater Systems Sector-Specific Plan (Water SSP) is a national sectoral plan of the United States. Its purpose is to guide and integrate the efforts intended to secure and strengthen the resilience of the Sector’s infrastructure. The Water SSP tailors the strategic guidance provided in the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) 2013 to the unique operating conditions and risk landscape of the Sector.
The Department of Agriculture's 2021 Federal Climate Adaptation Plan is a national cross-sectoral action plan of the United States. Its main objectives are to build resilience across landscapes with investments in soil and forest health; increase outreach and education to promote adoption and application of climate-smart adaptation strategies; broaden access to and availability of climate data at regional and local scales for USDA Mission Areas, producers, land managers, and other stakeholders; increase support for research and development of climate-smart practices and technologies to inform USDA and help producers and land managers adapt to a changing climate; and leverage the USDA Climate Hubs as a framework to support USDA Mission Areas in delivering adaptation science, technology, and tools.
The National Water Reuse Action Plan is a national sectoral plan of the United States of America. Its main objectives are to enable consideration of water reuse with integrated and collaborative action at the watershed scale; to coordinate and integrate federal, state, tribal, and local water reuse programs and policies; compile and refine fit-forpurpose specifications; promote technology development, deployment, and validation; improve availability of water (quality and quantity) information; facilitate financial support for water reuse; integrate and coordinate research on water reuse; improve outreach and communication on water reuse; support a talented and dynamic workforce; consider water reuse metrics that support goals and measure progress; and build on the experiences of international partners.
The Federal Action Plan for Improving Forecasts of Water Availability is a national sectoral action plan of the United States of America. Its main objective is to improve the modeling and forecasting capabilities related to water availability and water infrastructure projects.
The New York Soil Health Roadmap, released in 2019, is a comprehensive framework designed to improve soil health across the state, building on growing interest in this field and putting New York at the forefront of the soil health movement. It recognizes the importance of healthy soils for increasing agricultural profitability, protecting soil and water resources, building resilience to extreme weather events, and contributing to climate change mitigation. The roadmap is based on collaboration between farmers, government and non-governmental organizations, researchers, and other stakeholders to produce a document that establishes a vision, specific goals, and priorities in research, outreach, and policy for soil health. In addition, it highlights the need to overcome barriers to the adoption of soil health-beneficial practices, assess economic benefits, and promote education and training.
The Plan aims to strengthen the U.S. Department of Agriculture's ability to address climate change risks by integrating climate resilience into its operations, policies, and programs. The USDA recognizes that its operations and the natural resources it manages are increasingly exposed to extreme weather events such as heat waves, wildfires, droughts, floods, and severe storms. To mitigate these impacts, the plan promotes investments in soil and forest health, expanded access to climate data at the regional and local levels, and the adoption of climate-resilient agricultural and forestry practices. One of the key elements of the plan is its focus on climate-smart adaptation, which seeks to balance adaptation with climate change mitigation efforts, especially in the agricultural and forestry sectors. This approach involves managing climate risks through a combination of strategies such as reducing the vulnerability of rural communities, strengthening infrastructure, and improving land and water management practices. The USDA also plans to expand the use of its Climate Centers to provide support in science, technology, and adaptation tools, helping producers, land managers, and other key actors implement climate-smart practices. In addition, the plan addresses the importance of environmental justice and equity, ensuring that USDA actions benefit the most vulnerable communities.
Institutional Framework
The Office of Water (OW) ensures safe drinking water and restores and maintains oceans, watersheds, and their aquatic ecosystems to protect human health, support economic and recreational activities, and provide healthy habitat for fish, plants, and wildlife. wild.
The OGWDW, together with states, tribes, and our many partners, protects public health by ensuring safe drinking water and protecting groundwater. We oversee enforcement of the Safe Drinking Water Act.
OWM supports the Clean Water Act by promoting effective and responsible water use, wastewater treatment, disposal and management, and encouraging watershed protection and restoration.
OWOW works to protect our freshwater ecosystems, estuaries, coasts and oceans, including watersheds and wetlands. We regulate and control ocean and ship discharges, and reduce aquatic litter and marine debris.
We lead on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition and other related issues, based on public policies, the best available science and effective management.
40 of 50 state water managers expect water shortages under average conditions in some part of their states over the next decade. Each American uses an average of 82 gallons of water per day at home (USGS, Estimated Water Use in the United States in 2015).Outdoor water use accounts for more than 30 percent of total household water use, on average, but can be as much as 60 percent of total household water use in arid regions.
United States of America
USGS
Links of interest:
If the average-sized lawn in the United States is watered for 20 minutes every day for 7 days, it is like running the shower constantly for 4 days or taking more than 800 showers. This is equivalent to the amount of water an average family needs to shower for a year.