Trends in America: Issue Brief Series - Water Quality in the States


 

Publication Date: September 2008

Publisher: Council of State Governments

Author(s): Gabriel Swain

Research Area: Environment

Keywords: water; water policy; water quality; pollution

Type: Brief

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

As state populations grow and water contaminants increase, state governments will be faced with increasing water quality issues. Because the federal government has not made water quality a top priority, responsibility lies with state and local governments to work together to improve the quality of America’s water. And increased use of interstate compacts, credit trading and agricultural environmental management programs could provide states with some powerful tools to address water quality.