The act established the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the united states. Clean water act of 1972 article about clean water act of. Such project shall include provisions for community safe water supply svstems, toilets, bathing and laundry facilities, sewage disposal facilities. At the time, twothirds of the countrys lakes, rivers and coastal waters. Clean water act became the acts common name with amendments in 1977. A summary of the law introduction the principal law governing pollution of the nations surface waters is the federal water pollution control act, or clean water act.
The clean water act of 1972 history of water filters. Sep 08, 2016 the clean water act cwa establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the united states and regulating quality standards for surface waters. This act shall be known as the philippine clean water act of 2004. Water pollution and water quality dartmouth college. The clean water act of 1972 was the nations first comprehensive water pollution control law. The federal water pollution control act, commonly known as the clean water act was originally passed in 1948. Like many other federal environmental laws, the ocean dumping act allows individuals to bring a citizen suit in u. Originally enacted in 1948, it was totally revised by amendments in 1972 that gave the act its current. Passed in 1972, the clean water act was a response to the nearly unchecked dumping of pollution into our waterways. The clean water act of 1972 free download as powerpoint presentation. As amended in 1977, the law became commonly known as the clean water act cwa. On its face, the cwa is an ambitious effort to rid the nations surface waters of pollution.
The clean water act was passed when 60% of waterways in the us were not fishable or swimmable. A retrospective assessment of the costs of the clean water. Evolution of the meaning of waters of the united states. The clean water act of 1972 maintains the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of the waterways, and the safe drinking water act of 1974 controls drinkingwater contamination through multiple barriers.
Growing public awareness and concern for controlling water pollution led to sweeping amendments in 1972. It was last amended by the public law listed in the as amended through note above and below at the bottom of each page of the pdf version and reflects. Clean water act cwa or act establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into u. The federal water pollution control act of 1948 was the first major u. In this lesson, students consider how the clean water act of 1972 became a law. Clean water act project eduardo samayoa peter bambalis hunter mason victoria hopkins benjamin beroth. Water pollution control act 1948 the clean water act cwa 33 u.
Motivated by public outrage at oil spills covering hundreds of square miles, massive fish kills caused by pollution, and rivers so laden with pollutants that they actually caught fire, congress adopted the measure over the veto of. The 1972 passage of the clean water act marked an important milestone in the nations. Section of the federal water pollution control act. Clean water act of 1972 grew from the1969 burning of the cuyahoga river in cleveland duration. Evolution of the meaning of waters of the united states in. However, this list consisted of broad categories of pollutants rather than specific, individual pollutants. Growing public awareness and concern for controlling water pollution led to enactment of the federal water pollution control act amendments of 1972. Therefore, epa developed the priority pollutant list in 1977 to make implementation of the toxic pollutant list more practical for water testing and regulatory purposes. Today, because of the clean water act, roughly 40%. As amended in 1972, the law became commonly known as the clean water act. Federal clean water act federal water pollution control act first enacted in 1948 major overhaul with federal water pollution control act amendments of 1972 33 u. Section 519, formerly section 518, of act june 30, 1948, ch. Originally enacted in 1948, it was totally revised by amendments in 1972 that gave the act its current dimensions.
The federal water pollution control act was passed to address the concerns surrounding water pollution and contaminants. The 2015 clean water rule defined waters of the us, as mentioned in the 1972 clean water act, more specifically stating any seasonal streams or wetlands that could impact larger bodies of. The clean water act cwa is the primary federal law in the united states governing water pollution. The mix of interest and politics was never more prevalent than during the creation of the 1972 federal water pollution control act.
Dec 02, 20 clean water act project eduardo samayoa peter bambalis hunter mason victoria hopkins benjamin beroth. The clean water act cwa is the primary federal law in the united states governing water. However, in 1972, public awareness and concern for. Clean water act 1972 definition it is unlawful to discharge any pollutant from a point source into navigable waters, unless a permit authorized under the cwa. Safe drinking water act sdwa cwaregulates discharges in rivers, lakes, estuaries and wetlands by means of discharge permits and effluent standards.
Federal water pollution control act amendments of 1972 govinfo. It provides for the maintenance of the chemical, physical and biological integrity of nations waters. The cwa made it unlawful to discharge any pollutant from a point source into navigable waters, unless a permit authorized under the cwa was obtained. Originally enacted in 1948, it was totally revised by amendments in. Clean water act became the act s common name with amendments in 1977. The clean water act cwa of 1972 is federal legislation governing water pollution. The concern is to keep outdoor waters swimmable and fishable. Its objective is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nations waters by preventing point and nonpoint pollution sources though it does not enable the control of nonpoint sources. A summary of the law congressional research service 4 to conduct surveillance and other appropriate enforcement activities to prevent unlawful transportation of material for dumping, or unlawful dumping. Science, politics, law, and the arc of the clean water act.
Section of the federal water pollution control act amendments of 1972 pdf 12 pp, 22 k, about pdf is published in the united states code at 33 u. According to the text of the clean water act, its purpose is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nations waters. Originally enacted in 1948, it was totally revised by amendments in 1972 that gave the act its current shape. The clean water act cwa establishes the basic structure for.
By 1972, congress had voted on an amended version of the law that included the expansion of regulations to prevent pollution of the nations waterways. A summary of the law congressional research service summary the principal law governing pollution of the nations surface waters is the federal water pollution control act, or clean water act. Sep 20, 2012 the federal water pollution control act, on june 30, 1948 clean water act became the common name with the 1972 amendments summary. Clean water act of 1972 definition of clean water act of. Subsequently amended in 1977 and reauthorized in 1987, the. It served as a major revision of the federal water pollution control act of. Report clean water act regulation of oil and gas wastewater clean water action jan 2020. This publication is a compilation of the text of chapter 360, 84th congress. The federal water pollution control act is amended to read as follows. Trump rolls back decades of clean water act protections. The federal water pollution control act as in effect immediately prior to the date of enactment of this act oct. You may need a pdf reader to view some of the files on this page. The nondiscrimination provisions of section also apply to recipients of financial assistance under the environmental financing act, which is published in the united states code at. An act to amend the federal water pollution control act.
The clean water act cwa as we know it has a longer history than you might think. In 1948, congress acted for the first time to comprehensively address water quality with passage of the federal water pollution control act of 1948, but. It served as a major revision of the federal water pollution control act of 1948, which had proven. History of the clean water act the federal water pollution control act of 1948 was the first major u. As amended in 1977, this law became commonly known as the clean water act. Some regulations interpreting the 1972 law have included water features such as. Evolution of the meaning of waters of the united states in the clean water act congressional research service 1 or more than fortyfive years, all three branches of government have struggled with how to interpret the meaning of waters of the united states in the clean water act.
Oct 04, 20 icy act of 1969 nepa,1 the clean air act of 1970,2 and the 1972 clean water act cwa3many environmental law scholars would likely agree that the cwa was the best designed and most artfully drafted. Congress responded to the water pollution problem described by professor hines by adopting the federal water pollution control act amendments of 1972, now known as the clean water act. Clean air act united states house of representatives. Toxic and priority pollutants under the clean water act. Amendments of 1972, now known as the clean water act. The cwa was a response to increasing public concern for the environment and for the condition of the nations waters. Sdwaestablishes water quality standards for all public water distribution systems. The federal water pollution control act, commonly known as the clean water act was. The national wildlife federation advocates for preventing wetland and stream destruction and pollution through strong enforcement of the clean water act. At least some would also agree that over the forty years of its existence, the cwa has been the most e. Federal water pollution control act unt digital library.
The clean water act, like the discovery of the microscope and the disastrous effects of cholera and typhoid epidemics throughout the world, sparked renewed interest in water filtration. History of the clean water act american water college. In 1972, congress enacted the federal water pollution control act, commonly known as the clean water act cwa, to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nations waters. Be it enacted by the senate and house of representatives of the united state8 of america in congress assembled, that this act may be cited as the federal water pollution control act amendments of 1972. The clean water act cwa establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the united states and regulating quality standards for surface waters. Nov 27, 2002 the clean water act cwa establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the united states and regulating quality standards for surface waters. It became law that every city in the nation install a water treatment plant, and it became a national goal to have clean water, once more, by 1985 outwater, 1996. The clean water act of 1972 maintains the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of the waterways, and the safe drinking water act of 1974 controls drinking water contamination through multiple barriers. Clean water act cwa, also known as federal water pollution control act amendments of 1972, u. Congress declared that the primary objective of the clean water act is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the nations waters.
Watershed academy web introduction to the clean water act. It gave epa the authority to implement pollution control programs such as setting wastewater standards for industry. A summary of the law congressional research service 1 introduction the principal law governing pollution of the nations surface waters is the federal water pollution control act, or clean water act. The clean water act of 1972 clean water act drinking water. Its objective is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nations waters. The 1972 law gave epa the authority to set effluent standards on an industry basis technologybased and continued the. In 1948, congress acted for the first time to comprehensively address water quality with passage of the federal water pollution control act of 1948, but enforcement was restricted to interstate waterways.
At least some would also agree that over the forty years of its existence, the cwa has. The clean water act of 1972 congress had tackled water pollution as early as 1899, but most legislation lacked teeth. Commonly referred to as the clean water act established national goals various titles established research program created massive. The first version of the cwa was passed in 1948 under president truman.