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About EPA

About the Office of Water

What We Do

The Office of Water (OW) ensures drinking water is safe, and restores and maintains oceans, watersheds, and their aquatic ecosystems to protect human health, support economic and recreational activities, and provide healthy habitat for fish, plants, and wildlife.

OW is responsible for implementing the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act, and portions of the Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments of 1990, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Ocean Dumping Ban Act, Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act, Shore Protection Act, Marine Plastics Pollution Research and Control Act, London Dumping Convention, the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships and several other statutes.

Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Office of Water works with the ten EPA regional offices, other federal agencies, state and local governments, American Indian tribes, the regulated community, organized professional and interest groups, land owners and managers, and the public-at-large. OW provides guidance, specifies scientific methods and data collection requirements, performs oversight and facilitates communication among those involved. OW helps the states and American Indian tribes to build capacity, and water programs can be delegated to them for implementation.

Documents Related to Our Mission

You will need Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more.

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Organization

The Office of Water includes:

Immediate Office of the Assistant Administrator for Water (IO)

What We Do

Under the direction of the Assistant Administrator, the Immediate Office performs a variety of policy, communications, resources management, and operational functions for managing the National Water Program.  The IO also works on broad or emerging issues in coordination with its program offices and other parts of EPA.

Programs and projects managed by IO

IO Organization

Nancy Stoner, Acting Assistant Administrator 

Michael H. Shapiro, Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator 

Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (OGWDW)

What We Do

OGWDW, together with states, tribes, and our many partners, protects public health by ensuring safe drinking water and protecting ground water. We oversee implementation of the Safe Drinking Water Act. We

  • develop and help implement national drinking water standards;
  • oversee and assist funding of state drinking water programs and source water protection programs;
  • help small drinking water systems;
  • protect underground sources of drinking water through the Underground Injection Control Program; and
  • provide information about drinking water quality to the public.

Programs and projects managed by OGWDW

Mail code: 4601M | EPA mailing addresses
Location: EPA Headquarters at Washington, D.C. Federal Triangle campus
202-564-3750
[email protected]

OGWDW Organization

Pamela Barr, Acting Director

Andrew Sawyers, Deputy Director

The Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water includes:

  • Standards and Risk Management Division
    Phil Oshida, Director
  • Drinking Water Protection Division
    Ann Codrington, Director
  • Water Security Division
    David Travers, Director

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Office of Science and Technology (OST)

What We Do

OST is responsible for developing sound, scientifically defensible standards, criteria, advisories, guidelines and limitations under the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act. We work with partners and stakeholders to develop the scientific and technological foundations to achieve clean water. We produce regulations, guidelines, methods, standards, science-based criteria, and studies that are critical components of national programs that protect people and the aquatic environment.

Click here to view OST's Annual Reports.

Programs and projects managed by OST

Mail code: 4301M | EPA mailing addresses
Location: EPA Headquarters at Washington, D.C. Federal Triangle campus
202-566-0430
[email protected]

OST Organization

Betsy Southerland, Director 

Jeff Lape, Deputy Director 

The Office of Science and Technology includes:

  • Engineering and Analysis Division
    Rob Wood, Acting Director
  • Standards and Health Protection Division
    Sara Hisel-McCoy, Director
  • Health and Ecological Criteria Division
    Betsy Behl, Director

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Office of Wastewater Management (OWM)

What We Do

OWM oversees a range of programs contributing to the well-being of the nation’s waters and watersheds. Through its programs and initiatives, OWM supports the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, commonly known as   the Clean Water Act, by promoting effective and responsible water use, treatment, disposal and management and by encouraging the protection and restoration of watersheds.

Click here to view OWM's Annual Reports.

Programs and projects managed by OWM

Mail code: 4201M | EPA mailing addresses
Location: EPA Headquarters at Washington, D.C. Federal Triangle campus
202-564-0748
[email protected]

OWM Organization

James A. Hanlon, Director 

Randy Hill, Deputy Director

The Office of Wastewater Management includes:

  • Municipal Support Division
    Sheila E. Frace, Director
  • Water Permits Division
    Debora Nagle, Acting Director

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Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds (OWOW)

What We Do

OWOW works to protect our marine and fresh water ecosystems, including watersheds, coastal ecosystems and wetlands. We regulate and monitor ocean dumping, manage dredged materials, and reduce marine debris. We protect water quality and habitats in 28 estuaries around the nation. We control polluted runoff and restore impaired waters.

Click here to view OWOW's Annual Reports.

Programs and projects managed by OWOW

Mail code: 4501T | EPA mailing addresses
Location: EPA Headquarters at Washington, D.C. Federal Triangle campus
202-566-1146
[email protected]

OWOW Organization

Denise Keehner, Director

Benita Best-Wong, Deputy Director

The Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds includes:

  • Wetlands Division
    Dave Evans, Director
  • Assessment and Watershed Protection Division
    Tom Wall, Director
  • Oceans and Coastal Protection Division
    Paul Cough, Director

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