What is the Clean Water Act?

The Clean Water Act is a federal law enacted in 1972 that is the primary legal tool for protecting water quality in the United States. Originally known as the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, the Clean Water Act is administered in California by the State Water Resources Control Board. The law sets standards for allowable pollutants in U.S. waters, requiring individuals and businesses to obtain required permits to discharge pollutants into rivers, streams, lakes, and other water bodies. The Clean Water Act gives the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the authority to set limits on allowable pollutants and to enforce them. It also grants the EPA authority to issue permits to discharge pollutants and to set standards for water quality. In addition, it authorizes the EPA to issue “total maximum daily loads” of pollutants, which are limits on how much pollution can be discharged into a water body without causing its water quality to deteriorate. The Clean Water Act also requires states to develop a plan for restoring and protecting their water bodies, and encourages them to take steps to reduce pollution and protect water quality.

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What is the Clean Water Act?

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