Integrating Water Quality and Construction Grants Management

The 1981 Construction Grant Amendments to the Clean Water Act established a renewed emphasis on water quality management and project cost effectiveness. Specifically, the amendments attempt to direct limited grant dollars toward facilities with the potential for the greatest water quality and public health improvements. As part of the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 1982 Needs Survey, the Water Use Impairment Improvement Screen (WUIS) was developed as a planning tool to evaluate the accomplishments of the construction grants program and aid states in water quality management. WUIS is designed for use at the screening level and for areawide application, and models both dissolved oxygen concentrations and ammonia toxicity for evaluation of stream use impairment or improvements.