This past February, the Office of Water released the first-ever interactive database of state water quality assessment data, which provides the public with easy web access to water quality information at the state and local levels.
The 2002 reporting cycle was a transition period between traditional 305(b) water quality reporting, and integration of 305(b) with reporting of impaired waters under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act, as outlined in EPA guidance to the States in Nov. 2001.
The EPA is continuing to call for integrated reporting of 305(b) and 303(d) information.
States are participating in an extensive review and approval of the 2002 data. This initial web release of the 2002 National Water Quality Database summarizes electronic data for 32 states. The remaining states should be added to the Database by March 31, 2005. National summary water quality statistics will be available at that time.
The Database may be viewed at www.epa.gov/305b/2002report and if you have any questions, please contact Cary McElhinney at [email protected].
Source: EPA
