However, individual facilities may still be causing violations of water quality standards and strong actions must be taken by EPA and state water quality regulatory agencies to enforce compliance. To do otherwise would represent a step backward in time and jeopardize gains made over the last 30 years. Additional regulatory activities also need to focus on stormwater and nonpoint source runoff issues, which now account for about 80 percent of the nation's impaired lakes and streams. It is important to consider the economic and recreational values of our nation's waters that are directly related to their ability to support designated public uses. Of these, the most important is protecting domestic water supplies, both surface and non-surface.
Recreational uses are also important.
These figures above reflect direct expenditures for recreational fishermen only. The Statistical Abstract of the United States provides additional information about the potential economic impacts of water quality deregulation. Approximately 274,000 individuals were employed in the commercial fishing industry, and 90,000 additional workers were employed to process the commercial catch. REP America's Water Quality Positions A. Clean water protection is a basic responsibility of government . Clean water must be considered a basic constitutional and civil right of all Americans .