Water is essential for all life. Each day, all living things must drink a certain amount of water to survive. Missouri waters are as diverse as the landscapes they flow through. From spring-fed streams to man-made lakes to major navigational waters of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, Missouri is blessed with outstanding waterways. Our waters also provide us with numerous recreational opportunities for our enjoyment and sustains a vibrant economy.
Protecting Missouri’s water quality, including our drinking water and our lakes, streams and rivers, has always been a priority to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The decisions we make can affect more than just Missouri’s water quality. Water resources (rivers, aquifers, watersheds) are interconnected natural systems. The quality of Missouri's water directly impacts the water quantity, quality, and availability for downstream states. Clean water is a shared resources. We all share a common goal of protecting our water resources — because, they belong to all of us.