What We Do
The Water Systems Division (WSD) research supports EPA's systematic evaluations of the primary and secondary regulations for drinking water and pollution control programs for water quality. WSD develops and evaluates strategies and technologies to reduce the risks associated with chemical and microbial contaminants in water to help ensure safe, sustainable, and resilient water supplies. WSD’s research program addresses the following topics:
- green infrastructure and stormwater management
- watershed management
- harmful algal blooms (HABs) and risk reduction
- disinfection byproducts (DBPs)
- drinking water contamination via distribution system and premise plumbing
- wastewater, water reuse, and resource recovery from wastewater
- drinking water treatment and small systems
- recreational water quality criteria development under the Clean Water Act
WSD works closely with municipal, county, and state organizations that treat water and operate water supply facilities and wet weather flow control systems, as well as with other Federal Agencies, foreign governments, universities, and professional and private organizations. WSD also works closely with the Office of Water to ensure timely completion of the regulatory and compliance requirements of the Safe Drinking Water and Clean Water Acts, including research to support primary and secondary regulations for drinking water.