Clean Water Act

Clean Water Act (CWA), officially the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972, is a significant United States federal law that regulates the discharge of pollutants into the nation's surface waters, including lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, and coastal areas. The Act was a major amendment to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1948 and was further amended by the Water Quality Act of 1987. The CWA aims to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters by preventing point and non-point pollution sources, providing assistance to publicly owned treatment works for the improvement of wastewater treatment, and maintaining the integrity of wetlands.

Overview

The Clean Water Act establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States and regulating quality standards for surface waters. Under the CWA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has implemented pollution control programs such as setting wastewater standards for industry. The CWA also made it unlawful to discharge any pollutant from a point source into navigable waters, unless a permit was obtained under its provisions.

Key Provisions

• National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES): A permit system for regulating point sources of pollution. Permits are issued by the EPA or state agencies if the state is authorized to carry out the NPDES program.
• Effluent Guidelines: National standards for wastewater discharges to surface waters and municipal sewage treatment plants. EPA has developed these guidelines for various industries.
• Water Quality Standards: Standards applicable to all surface waters. These standards define the goals for a water body by designating its uses, setting criteria to protect those uses, and establishing provisions to protect water bodies from pollutants.
• Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs): A calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a water body can receive and still meet water quality standards.

Amendments and Updates

The Clean Water Act has been amended several times since its inception. The most notable amendments include the Water Quality Act of 1987, which introduced the concept of non-point source pollution controls.

Challenges and Criticisms

Despite its successes, the Clean Water Act has faced challenges and criticisms, including issues related to agricultural runoff, hydraulic fracturing, and the definitions of navigable waters and wetlands.

Impact

The Clean Water Act has had a profound impact on improving the quality of water in the United States. It has led to significant reductions in pollutants entering the nation's waters and has helped to make many water bodies safe for fishing and swimming.

See Also

• Safe Drinking Water Act
• Water Quality Act
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Point source pollution
• Non-point source pollution