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WQS stands for "Water Quality Standards." It refers to a set of regulatory guidelines and criteria established by government agencies to protect and manage the quality of surface water bodies, such as rivers, lakes, streams, and coastal waters. Water quality standards define the desired conditions and levels of pollutants, contaminants, and other parameters that water bodies should meet to support their designated uses, such as drinking water supply, aquatic habitat, recreation, and agriculture. These standards are developed based on scientific assessments, environmental monitoring data, public health considerations, and regulatory requirements, and they vary depending on the specific characteristics and ecological needs of each water body and its designated use. Water quality standards typically include numerical concentration limits for specific pollutants, narrative criteria describing the desired condition of the water body, and other provisions to address water quality impairments, such as antidegradation policies, monitoring requirements, and compliance strategies. Government agencies responsible for managing water resources, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States and similar agencies in other countries, establish, implement, and enforce water quality standards to ensure the protection of public health, the environment, and aquatic ecosystems. Compliance with water quality standards may involve pollution prevention measures, wastewater treatment, land use controls, restoration efforts, and other management actions aimed at achieving and maintaining water quality goals and objectives for the benefit of present and future generations.