The agency said Tuesday that equipment required to reduce air pollution has increased the harmful contaminants in water discharged by power plants. It also said that existing regulations are not enough to protect water quality and wildlife.

In a study completed earlier this year, the EPA found that only a fraction of the nation's power plants were using the necessary technologies to remove pollutants before they are released into waterways. The announcement comes a day after three environmental groups threatened to sue the EPA for failing to update its regulations, first put in place in 1982.
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