Clean Water Act

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Clean Water Act

The Clean Water Act (CWA) (pronunciation: /kliːn ˈwɔːtər ækt/), originally known as the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1948, is a significant piece of United States environmental legislation. The Act was reorganized and expanded in 1972, and it has since been amended several times.

Etymology

The term "Clean Water Act" was coined following the 1972 amendments to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, which significantly expanded and restructured the original legislation. The name reflects the Act's primary goal: to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters.

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. The basis of the CWA was enacted in 1948 and was called the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, but the Act was significantly reorganized and expanded in 1972. "Clean Water Act" became the Act's common name with amendments in 1972.

Related Terms

  • Water Pollution: The contamination of water bodies, usually as a result of human activities. The Clean Water Act was enacted to combat this issue.
  • United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): The federal agency responsible for enforcing the regulations set forth in the Clean Water Act.
  • Surface Water: Water that is on the Earth's surface, such as in a stream, river, lake, or reservoir. The Clean Water Act sets quality standards for these types of waters.
  • Point Source Pollution: Any single identifiable source of pollution from which pollutants are discharged, such as a pipe, ditch, ship or factory smokestack. The Clean Water Act regulates these discharges.

External links

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