The chemical industry has experienced rapidly expanding growth over the last 75 years to the point where there are now approximately 2 million recognized chemical compounds and derivatives in existence with almost 250,000 new compounds synthesized each year. While providing numerous societal benefits, modern chemical technology has also brought about a marked increase in the number and variety of chemical pollutants ultimately entering natural surface waters. Recent estimates from the United States Environmental Protection Agency indicate that although the majority of these new compounds will not be commercialized, nearly 1,000 new chemicals annually have the potential for environmental release as a result of marketing, use, and disposal. As our understanding of the structure and functioning of the aquatic environment has grown, it has become obvious that the capacity of our rivers, lakes, and oceans to assimilate chemical wastes and toxic materials discharged into them is not at all infinite and that serious degradation of water quality is the inevitable result of misuse and mismanagement of this invaluable resource.