History Of Water Pollution Control in the US

The Federal Water Pollution Control Act, popularly known as the Clean Water Act (CWA) , is a comprehensive statute aimed at restoring and maintaining the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the Waters of the United States. Enacted originally in 1948, the Act was amended numerous times until it was reorganized and expanded in 1972 to control water pollution due to the growth of public awareness and concern. In 1977, the law was amended and known as the Clean Water Act (CWA). Primary authority for the implementation and enforcement of the CWA is U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The CWA contents five main elements:

• Water quality standards

• A system of minimum national effluent standards for each industry

• A permit program for the discharge of pollutants into navigable waters, provides enforcement mechanisms

• A revolving construction loan program (Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) , formerly a grant program) for publicly-owned treatment works (POTWs) and funding to states and tribes for their water quality programs

• Provisions to address waterway and/or regions specific water quality problems

The summary of Clean Water Act amendments and its related activities are listed in the following Table 1-1.

Click here for a CWSRF program representative in your region or state.

Copyright @ January,2005 Prepared by Transportation Environmental Resource Center (TERC)