The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is the lead stewardship agency for the protection of North Carolina’s environmental resources.
The organization, which has offices from the mountains to the coast, administers regulatory programs designed to protect air quality, water quality, and the public’s health, and also works to advance an all-of-the-above energy strategy that fits North Carolina’s needs. The Division of Water Resources is responsible for the environmental protection and quality of the State’s surface water and groundwater, and to ensure safe drinking water for its residents. This authority is granted in accordance with laws, policies and rules established by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, the N.C. General Assembly, the Environmental Management Commission, and the Commission for Public Health.