What is the Clean Water Act?

The Clean Water Act is a federal law enacted in 1972 that protects the public’s right to clean water in the United States. The law was created to protect rivers, lakes, oceans, and other water bodies from pollution and other forms of contamination. The Clean Water Act requires states to set standards for water quality and to work to ensure that these standards are met. In Virginia, the Clean Water Act works to keep residents and visitors safe by ensuring that the water they use for drinking, swimming, and fishing is safe and healthy. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality is responsible for overseeing and enforcing the Clean Water Act in the state. The department sets limits on the levels of pollution permitted in surface and ground water, and works with local municipalities to ensure that these standards are being met. The Clean Water Act also requires permits for activities that have the potential to pollute or degrade water quality. Construction sites, agricultural operations, and industrial operations must all obtain a permit before they can discharge any type of waste or pollutant into waterways. This helps ensure that water quality standards are being met and that the public is being protected from the potential risk of contaminated water.

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What is the Clean Water Act?

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