What is the Clean Water Act?

The Clean Water Act is a federal law in the United States that was established in 1972 to protect the nation’s surface and groundwater from pollution, preserve water quality, and ensure healthy drinking water for all Americans. In California, the Clean Water Act is implemented by the State Water Resources Control Board through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and other regulatory programs. The NPDES regulates the kind of pollutants which can be discharged into any surface or waterway and sets limits on the amount of pollutants that can be released. Additionally, the NPDES requires that any facility that discharges pollutants must apply for a discharge permit from the State Water Board. The Clean Water Act also encourages states to adopt and enforce water quality standards and to create programs to control pollution from non-point sources, like runoff from farms, streets, and lawns. The Clean Water Act is an important tool for protecting water quality across California and the US, and it has been used to restore and protect waterways, reduce beach closures, and protect aquatic habitats.

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What is the Clean Water Act?

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