The collection of water quality data has been an integral part of the International Boundary and Water Commission's mission and goal since the signing of the 1944 Water Treaty.  The IBWC collects water quality data for several transboundary rivers, the Rio Grande, Colorado River, New River, Alamo River, and the Tijuana River, along with stations in the Pacific Ocean known as the South Bay Ocean Outfall Water Quality Monitoring Program (Pacific Ocean).  The data is collected and exchanged between the United States and Mexico as agreed to under the IBWC 1944 Water Treaty and the subsequent agreements made by the IBWC to implement the various water quality monitoring programs along the border.  Water quality goals for each program are either specified in an IBWC Minute (such as Minute No. 264 for New River), or compared to water quality standards using United States or Mexican standards for rivers and streams.