Water Pollution And The Clean Water Act

Before the Clean Water Act was passed, the US's lakes, rivers, and streams were heavily polluted with raw sewage, industrial chemicals, and dangerous metals. The Potomac River in Washington, D.C., for example, was so polluted with sewage that the stench across the National Mall was almost unbearable. The Cuyahoga River in Ohio was so contaminated with oil and debris that it would catch fire. The Clean Water Act (CWA) was enacted in 1972 to address these issues, drastically changing the course of public and environmental health. The CWA is the primary federal law in the US governing water pollution, and its objective is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters.

Raw sewage and industrial chemicals

Before the enactment of the Clean Water Act, the United States' lakes, rivers, and streams were heavily polluted with raw sewage and industrial chemicals, as well as dangerous metals. The Potomac River in Washington, D.C., for example, was so contaminated with sewage that the stench across the National Mall was nearly unbearable. The Cuyahoga River in Ohio was so polluted with oil and debris that it would catch on fire.

The Clean Water Act (CWA), enacted in 1972, drastically changed the course of public and environmental health by giving the federal government the authority to regulate and limit pollution discharged into the nation's waters. The CWA established the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and tasked it with monitoring and improving the quality of U.S. lakes, rivers, streams, estuaries, and other water bodies. The Act also requires the EPA to work with states, tribes, and territories to address pollution and provide assistance in implementing pollution control programs.

Under the CWA, the EPA has implemented programs to regulate and control pollution, such as setting wastewater standards for industries and developing national water quality criteria recommendations. The Act made it unlawful to discharge any pollutant from a point source into navigable waters without a permit, and the EPA's National Pollutent Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program controls these discharges. The CWA also addresses nonpoint source pollution, which comes from runoff that carries pollutants from farms, yards, and paved areas into nearby waters.

While the Clean Water Act has helped improve water quality and restore aquatic ecosystems, challenges remain. The EPA has faced criticism for lacking reliable information to ensure polluters' compliance with permits, and there have been calls for stronger actions to address nonpoint source pollution. The Act also does not directly address groundwater contamination or drinking water standards, and it has faced legal challenges from polluters seeking to loosen regulations. However, the CWA remains a powerful tool for citizens, the environment, and the economy, empowering those impacted by pollution to take legal action and encouraging private businesses to invest in new technologies.

Nonpoint source pollution

The Clean Water Act (CWA) was enacted in 1948 as the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. It was significantly reorganised and expanded in 1972, becoming commonly known as the Clean Water Act. The Act established the basic structure for regulating and limiting point sources of pollution—pollution discharged from discrete conveyances such as pipes, ditches, and channels.

Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, on the other hand, does not originate from a single, identifiable source. Instead, it results from various diffuse sources, including land runoff, precipitation, drainage, and seepage. NPS pollution is caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground, picking up and carrying away natural and human-made pollutants. These pollutants are then deposited into nearby lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters, and groundwater.

Sources of NPS pollution vary but often include agricultural and urban runoff. Agricultural NPS pollution comes from farm fields, livestock facilities, and the use of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Urban NPS pollution results from city streets, parking lots, construction sites, lawns, and gardens. Other sources of NPS pollution include surface coal mines, forestry, and habitat modification, such as the channelization of streams.

The impact of NPS pollution on water quality is significant. Sediment, a common NPS pollutant, can make water cloudy, hindering aquatic organisms' ability to feed and navigate. Sediment can also damage fish gills and impair the breathing of aquatic insects. Additionally, sediment can carry other pollutants, such as metals and toxic chemicals, further degrading water quality. NPS pollution can also have harmful effects on drinking water supplies, recreation, fisheries, and wildlife.

While the Clean Water Act has been successful in reducing pollution from point sources, NPS pollution remains the leading cause of water quality issues today. Addressing NPS pollution requires a different approach, as it comes from diverse and dispersed sources. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed programs and initiatives to tackle NPS pollution, but stronger actions, regulations, and funding are needed to effectively manage this complex issue.

Oil pollution

The Clean Water Act (CWA) was established to regulate the discharge of pollutants into bodies of water in the United States. Before the CWA, many lakes, rivers, and streams in the US were heavily polluted with raw sewage, industrial chemicals, and dangerous metals. The Cuyahoga River in Ohio, for example, was so polluted with oil and debris that it would often catch on fire.

In addition to direct oil pollution, oil washed out from roads and parking lots by rain often finds its way to the coast, particularly in underdeveloped countries. Hydrocarbons in crude oil, gasoline, and lubricating oils also enter coastal zones through wastewater discharges. These hydrocarbons are also emitted when burning is used to clean up an oil spill, and they contribute to acid rain, which can cause significant environmental damage to water sources, plants, and even buildings and statues.

Groundwater contamination

The Clean Water Act (CWA) was established to regulate the discharge of pollutants into bodies of water in the United States. Before the CWA, many lakes, rivers, and streams in the US were heavily polluted with raw sewage, industrial chemicals, and dangerous metals. The Act requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to monitor the quality of these bodies of water and address any sources of pollution.

Septic tank waste is another source of groundwater contamination. Untreated waste from septic tanks can contaminate groundwater with harmful bacteria and viruses, leading to diseases such as hepatitis and dysentery and diarrheal diseases like typhoid and cholera. Toxins that have leached into well water supplies can cause poisoning, and exposure to polluted water has been linked to certain types of cancer.

Landfills are also a potential source of groundwater contamination. While landfills are supposed to have a protective bottom layer to prevent contaminants from leaching into the water, cracks or the absence of this layer can allow contaminants like car battery acid, paint, and household cleaners to reach the groundwater.

The widespread use of chemicals and road salts is another concern. When it rains, these chemicals can seep into the ground and eventually contaminate the water. Similarly, road salts used to melt ice on roads in winter are washed off when the ice melts, eventually ending up in the water.

Industrial activities and leaching from municipal dumpsites have also been identified as major sources of groundwater contamination, particularly in industrialized areas.

Point source pollution

The Clean Water Act (CWA) is the primary federal law in the United States that governs water pollution. Its objective is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters. The Act was established in 1972 as an amendment to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1948, which was the first major law to address water pollution.

Point source dischargers, such as exploratory wells and grandfathered development and production facilities, are regulated using technology-based effluent limitations guidelines (ELG). These guidelines identify three broad categories of pollutants: conventional, toxic, and non-conventional. Conventional pollutants include sanitary wastes from households, businesses, and industries, such as fecal coliform, total suspended solids, biochemical oxygen demand, pH, and oil and grease. Toxic pollutants can include chemicals and heavy metals, while non-conventional pollutants may encompass emerging contaminants not yet identified or regulated.

The CWA requires the EPA to implement pollution control programs and set wastewater standards for industries. It also mandates the development of national water quality criteria recommendations for pollutants in surface waters. To obtain a permit for point source discharges, industries must comply with these standards and criteria.

Overall, the regulation of point source pollution under the CWA has been an important step in addressing water pollution and protecting the nation's waterways. However, challenges remain, and further actions are needed to address emerging threats, such as stormwater runoff and the impacts of a changing climate.

Frequently asked questions