The Clean Water Act

Growing public awareness and concern for controlling water pollution led to enactment of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972. As amended in 1977, this law became commonly known as the Clean Water Act.

The act established the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States. It gave EPA the authority to implement pollution control programs such as setting wastewater standards for industry.

The Clean Water Act also continued requirements to set water quality standards for all contaminants in surface waters. The act made it unlawful for any person to discharge any pollutant from a point source into navigable waters unless a permit was obtained under its provisions.

It also funded the construction of sewage treatment plants under the construction grants program and recognized the need for planning to address the critical problems posed by non-point source pollution.

For more information, visit the U.S. EPA's Clean Water Act Web site.