Water Supply & Water Resources Research

The mission of EPA's water supply and water resources risk management research is to conduct innovative and relevant research to manage contaminants in water supplies that pose a threat to human health and to develop approaches and tools to monitor, treat, characterize, protect, and restore impaired waterways and infrastructure. This research was established within EPA to assist with responses to public health emergencies involving drinking water supply, both in the U.S. and around the globe.

The scope of the research involves conducting drinking water and water quality related research for the nation; providing scientific information to the EPA for policy and regulatory development related to implementation of the federal Safe Drinking Water and Clean Water Act; and supporting the primary and secondary regulations for drinking water by:

1. Conducting relevant risk management research for management of contaminants in drinking water that pose a threat to human health.
2. Developing approaches and tools to characterize and restore impaired water bodies.
3. Supporting EPA’s rulemaking and policy development responsibilities.
4. Lending technical support to the water industry in the U.S. and across the globe on issues related to waterborne disease and water quality.

Highly trained scientists also provide technical assistance to states, utilities and the water industry as a whole. The research integrates cost analysis with the expertise of chemical and environmental engineers, environmental and physical scientists, chemists, biologists, toxicologists, geneticists, microbiologists, and ecologists to provide effective, reliable, and cost-effective techniques for assuring water quality and the delivery of safe drinking water.

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