Summary

Local governments in the region have been working since the 1930s to protect local and regional water quality. Great progress has been made, largely through employment of ever more sophisticated water quality technology at the area’s wastewater treatment plants starting in the 1960s. Despite this progress, there is a need to do even more, particularly in response to the pollution budgets known as Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). In addition to their wastewater efforts, COG’s member governments are now also focused on the challenge of reducing the negative water quality impacts of stormwater runoff.