What is the Clean Water Act and how does it relate to agriculture?

The Clean Water Act (CWA) is a federal law that protects the environment and public health by regulating the discharge of pollutants into the nation’s water systems. It was enacted by Congress in 1972 to protect the quality of the waters of the United States and its territories. In Virginia, the CWA is administered by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The CWA regulates the amount of pollutants that can be discharged into water sources, known as “waters of the United States.” This includes rivers, lakes, streams, wetlands, and other water bodies. This law also applies to non-point sources of pollutants, which are sources that are not connected to a pipe or other single source (e.g. agricultural runoff). The CWA is closely related to agriculture as it helps to ensure that water sources used for agricultural purposes are clean and safe from pollution. When farmers apply fertilizers to their fields, the excess run-off can be harmful to nearby streams, rivers, and lakes. The CWA helps prevent this by setting limits on how much fertilizer and other pollutants can be discharged into the water. Additionally, the CWA allows states to set water quality regulations that can be more protective than the minimum federal standards. Ultimately, the CWA helps to protect our environment and public health by ensuring that our nation’s waters remain safe and clean. It also helps to ensure that the agricultural industry can continue to operate in a sustainable fashion.

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What is the Clean Water Act and how does it relate to agriculture?

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