National Water Quality Month

National Water Quality Month is dedicated to making the most of the relatively small amount of fresh water we have, because having clean water is vital to our individual health, our collective agricultural needs, and the needs of our environment.

The history of National Water Quality Month originally dates back to two US congressional acts that were passed in the early 1970s in an effort to protect our water sources. Starting with the Clean Water Act that was passed in 1972, the federal government began taking steps to curb water pollution by making it illegal to dump high amounts of toxic materials into bodies of water. This set the standard for making sure that surface water was up to certain standards before being used for human consumption and recreation. In 1974, the Safe Drinking Water Act was passed to further protect the quality of groundwater and public water systems. 

Another great resource is the American Public Health Association (APHA), Climate Changes Health: Water Quality and Accessibility.

Check out our Purdue Extension - Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) publications, videos and much more:
Pond and Wildlife Management Website
Adaptations for Aquatic Amphibians Activity 2: Water Quality Sneak Peek video, Purdue Extension - FNR YouTube Channel
Improving Water Quality by Protecting Sinkholes on Your Property video, Purdue Extension - FNR YouTube Channel
Improving Water Quality At Your Livestock Operation video, Purdue Extension - FNR YouTube Channel
The Nature of Teaching: Discovering the Watershed publication, The Education Store, Purdue Extension's resource center