Clean Water Act Pros And Cons

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The Clean Water Act:

The Clean Water Act was created to restore and support the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters by preventing point and nonpoint pollution sources. (Clean Water Act (CWA), 2014) The first law that addressed water pollution was the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1948. Then the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1948 was then amended in 1972 and became known as the Clean Water Act. (History of the Clean Water Act, 2014)

The Federal Water Control Act of 1948 was authorized by Surgeon General of the Public Health Service and Federal, state, and local entities. The plan was to prepare programs for eliminating or reducing the pollution of interstate waters, rivers, and streams; improving the sanitary conditions of surface and underground waters. Then over twenty years later amendments were added to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to provide continued authority to conduct program activities or administrative changes. (Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act), n.d.) In 1972 the amendments established basic structure for regulating pollutants discharges into the water, gave EPA authority to make pollution control …show more content…

The EPA regulates discharges of pollutants from municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants, sewer collection systems, and storm water discharges. Overflows of raw sewage and inefficiently controlled storm water discharges from sewer systems can end up in waterways or cause backups into city streets or basements threatening water quality. EPA also enforces requirements to make sure that industries pre-treat pollutants in their wastes in order to protect local sanitary sewers and wastewater treatment plants. The EPA investigates and inspects those discharging material into wetlands and other waters of the United States without proper permits. (Water Enforcement,

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