WATER QUALITY STANDARDS

VARIANCES

A Clear Path to Improve Water Quality



WHAT IS A WATER QUALITY STANDARDS (WQS) VARIANCE?

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A WQS variance is a path to improve water quality
overtime. These time-limited WQS strike a balance
between providing states/authorized tribes and
dischargers the time and flexibility to make water
quality improvements, with accountability measures
to assure the public that progress will occur.

WHEN CAN A WQS VARIANCE HELP TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY?

A WQS variance can be used when it is uncertain how much progress can be
achieved, but it is known that some progress is possible, and states/authorized
tribes don't want to give up on working toward water quality improvement.

	 WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS OVER TIME -

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HOW DOES A WQS VARIANCE WORK?

A WQS variance cannot make water quality worse.
WQS variances focus on what can be done to
improve water quality, not what can't be done.

THE WQS VARIANCE PROCESS

State/a uth or i zed
tribe works with EPA
early and often.

STEP 1

State/authorized tribe and
dischargers determine the
key elements of the variance

State/authorized tribe seeks
public input on WQS variance,
including public hearing

EPA review of
variance as a WQS

STEP 4

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Once approved, WQS variance
is implemented

STEP 5

State/authorized tribe revises,
adopts and submits WQS
variance to EPA for review



STEP 3

A WQS variance longer than 5 years
is reevaluated at defined time periods,
with public input

STEP 6

	 TIPS FOR GETTING STARTED	

DETERMINING THE KEY ELEMENTS OF THE WQS VARIANCE

State/authorized tribe and dischargers determine the scope of the WQS variance.

Investigate what pollutant Determine how much water	Define how long it

control technologies and quality may improve based	would take to implement

activities are available on the implementation	those technologies and

and affordable. of these technologies	activities to make water

and activities.	quality improvements.

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HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED?

Talk to your government
officials about achieving
water quality improvements
while balancing competing
community resources.



Participate in a WQS
public hearing and/or
public comment period.

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Provide input during

WQS variance
reevaluation periods

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE WQS VARIANCE
TERM IS COMPLETE?

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It is time to determine if further water quality improvements can be made.

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