Water Quality Standards Academy
To support water quality standards development, we offer the Water Quality Standards Academy (WQSA), which presents classroom-based and online courses, along with occasional webinars.
Online Courses
The Online Academy offers Water Quality Standards training through the web.
Basic Course Modules
Key concept modules are designed to prepare you for the five-day Live Academy and are designed for persons with some familiarity with water quality standards. People with more experience in this subject matter may benefit from taking the online course as refresher training. These topics are covered in further detail in the Classroom WQS Academy.
Key Concepts Modules
- Module 1: Overview
- Module 2: Use
- Module 3: Criteria
- Module 4: Antidegradation
- Module 5: Flexibilities
- Module 6: Review
Supplemental Topics Modules
These supplemental modules are intended for users whose interest goes beyond the core WQSA modules. These topics are covered in further detail in the Classroom WQS Academy.
- Listing Impaired Waters and Developing TMDLs
- Monitoring and Assessment
- NPDES Permit Program
- Human Health Ambient Water Quality Criteria
- Aquatic Life Criteria
Special Interest Modules
Special interest modules are intended to provide users with basic information on topics that are not regularly covered in the Classroom WQS Academy.
- Public Involvement (ZIP)(5 pp, 52 MB)
- Copper Biotic Ligand Model
Webinars
There are no webcasts scheduled at this time.
Archived Webcasts
October 4, 2012 webcast seminar on:
"Water Quality Standards 101" by Thomas Gardner, Environmental Scientist, National Water Quality Standards Branch, U.S. EPA’s Office of Science and Technology; Heather Goss, Physical Scientist, National Water Quality Standards Branch, U.S. EPA’s Office of Science and Technology; and Janita Aguirre, Environmental Scientist, National Water Quality Standards Branch, U.S. EPA’s Office of Science and Technology.
Listen to this webcast to gain an overview of the U.S. EPA’s Water Quality Standards (WQS) program. This webcast is targeted toward a broad audience, including states, territories, tribes, environmental groups, industrial groups, municipalities, the academic community, federal agencies, watershed groups, and any other interested parties. The last portion of the webcast highlights how all of these different sectors play a role in the national WQS program.
- Copy of PowerPoint presentation for October 4, 2012 Webcast
- Transcript of Webcast
- Poll Questions asked During Webcast
- Answer Sheet for Poll Questions asked During Webcast
- Handout: Water Quality Standards Regulations (40 CFR 131)
- Handout: Water Quality Standards - Relevant Websites
- Handout: Water Quality Standards - Relevant Acronyms
- Handout: EPA Regional Water Quality Standards Coordinators
- Handout: Water Quality Standards Glossary
Classroom Academy
The Water Quality Standards Academy is best known for its classroom academy which is the introductory course designed for those with six months to one year experience with water quality standards and criteria programs. However, others may benefit from the course, including veterans of the water quality standards program who want a refresher course.
The 5-day course is aimed at states, territories, tribes, environmental groups, industrial groups, municipalities, the academic community, federal agencies, watershed groups, and other interested parties. The course is offered approximately twice each year.
If there are classroom sessions of the Water Quality Standards Academy scheduled in the near future, information will appear in the Events sidebar on the right of this page.