The WPP is a statewide program with a mission to protect, enhance and restore the quality and value of the waters of the Commonwealth. The program consists of environmental scientists, biologists, engineers and planners engaged in various activities required by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) pursuant to the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) and associated regulations (see CWA Summary, CWA and the Water Quality Standards Regulation). The CWA directs states to monitor and report on the condition of their water resources and whether they are healthy or impaired relative to their designated uses. WPP is responsible for developing surface water quality standards, monitoring and evaluating water quality, and creating plans to restore and protect surface waters. WPP personnel work out of the Department’s Central Regional Office in Worcester, a strategic location affording the best statewide access to conduct surface water monitoring activities.
WPP is responsible for:
- Developing and implementing the Surface Water Quality Standards (SWQS) regulation (314 CMR 4.00) pursuant to the CWA
- Monitoring the chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of surface waters in the Commonwealth
- Managing and reporting results of surface water quality monitoring data
- Assessing surface water quality conditions and attainment of existing and designated uses as defined in the SWQS
- Protecting high-quality waters and developing plans to restore impaired surface waters
- Support of water quality restoration efforts through watershed planning using watershed-based plans (WBP) and MassDEP's Watershed-Based Planning Tool
- Reducing nonpoint source pollution through the Water Quality Management Planning (604(b)) and the Nonpoint Source Competitive (319) grant programs.