Program begins with U.S. states designating intended uses (e.g., recreation, drinking water, natural habitat) for a surface water bodies, after which they develop science-based water quality criteria. The criteria include numeric pollutant concentration limits, narrative goals (e.g., free from algae blooms), and narrative biological criteria (i.e., the aquatic life that should be able to live in the waterbody). If the water body fails the existing WQS criteria, the state develops a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for pollutants of concern. Human activity impacting water quality will then be controlled via other regulatory means in order to achieve the TMDL targets. Technology-based standards The US Clean Water Act also requires implementation of technology-based standards, which are developed for individual discharger categories based on the performance of treatment technologies, rather than location-based standards of water bodies. These standards have been developed for both industrial dischargers and municipal sewage treatment plants: For industrial categories, EPA publishes Effluent guidelines for existing sources, as well as New Source Performance Standards. For sewage treatment plants, the Secondary Treatment Regulation is the national standard. These standards provide a basic minimum level of treatment requirements across a category nationwide. If more stringent controls are needed for a particular water body, water quality-based effluent limitations are implemented. Effluent limitations In the US, point sources of pollution are required to obtain discharge permits under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). Effluent limitations are legal requirements that are incorporated into the various permits. The limitations describe the permissible amount of specific water pollutants that may be released from specific sources. Numerous methods exist for determining appropriate limitations. Drinking water standards Water designated for human consumption as drinking water may be subject to specific drinking water quality standards. In the United States, for example, such standards have been developed by EPA under the Safe Drinking Water Act, are mandatory for public water systems, and are enforced via a comprehensive monitoring and correction program. (Private wells are not regulated at the federal level. Some state and local governments have issued standards for private wells.) Dumping bans Within a single country's regulated waters, administrations may have legal authority to hold a responsible party accountable. Once pollution drifts into another country's regulated waters and affects their water quality, whether it be intentional or accidental discharge of oil, release of hazardous or toxic substances, or the discard of waste into the marine environment, transboundary pollution