Many sources of pollution, such as industrial facilities and wastewater treatment plants, are now controlled by tighter regulation. Nevertheless, storm water runoff from streets, parking lots, driveways, and other impervious surfaces greatly reduces the quality of most urbanized waters. Passage of the Rivers Protection Act of 1996, along with other local and state initiatives, should help reduce the deteoration of the region's waterways. Water quality data for river basins in the Metropolitan Area Planning Council region are provided for 1992.
Water is deemed either poor, marginal, or good.