Surface Water Quality

Surface Water Quality refers to the amount of pollution waterways can handle and still meet water quality standards. The Surface Water Quality assessment measures the capacity of Georgia’s surface waters to absorb pollutants without unacceptable degradation of water quality. This process includes basic modeling of all of Georgia’s 52 watersheds. More complex models are being developed for watersheds where the assimilative capacity may not be adequate to support projected needs for wastewater discharge. The water quality models are being used to evaluate the impacts of forecasted flows, proposed discharge locations, and future land use patterns.

In January and February 2010, EPD conducted Joint Meetings of the Regional Water Planning Councils to: 1) deliver the preliminary results of the draft baseline resource assessments to the regional water planning councils; and, 2) provide representatives of each council with the first opportunity to exchange information with representatives of the other councils with whom they share water resources.