What is the Clean Water Act?

The Clean Water Act is fundamentally a U.S. law that focuses on regulating pollutant discharges into the nation's waters. Its primary objective is to restore and maintain the integrity of the United States' waters by establishing the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants and setting water quality standards for surface waters. This law empowers the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement pollution control programs, including setting wastewater standards for industries and establishing water quality criteria to protect aquatic life and human health.

By focusing on the control of pollutants, the Clean Water Act plays a crucial role in preventing contaminants from entering lakes, rivers, and coastal waters, thereby ensuring safer and cleaner water for both ecosystems and human activities. This specific focus on pollution regulation differentiates it from other types of legislation that might address agricultural productivity, water usage management, or recreational guidelines.