What do I need to know about the Clean Water Act?

Clean water is everyone's business. Everyone needs it. Almost all of us say we're willing to work harder and pay more, if necessary to get it. An overwhelming majority of us support the Clean Water Act as strongly as any law.

Increasing numbers of us are interested in making more effective use of it, in conjunction with other practical tools, in our efforts to protect our home waters.

You don't need to be an expert on the Clean Water Act to make good use of it. Keeping in mind a few basic ideas, understanding a few key principles, and remembering a few important facts is enough.

There are several fundamental concepts and tools that are critical to understanding the rest of the system. This overview will present brief descriptions of the tools and then link them to more detailed explanations, examples and potential actions/citizen involvement opportunities.

Goals of the Clean Water Act

The Clean Water Act starts with a set of goals and objectives that are the basis for the entire law, and in many cases may be all that a community or a state has to use to improve or protect their favorite body of water.

The goal of the Clean Water Act is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation's waters.

Interim goals:

• Eliminate discharge of pollutants into the navigable waters by 1985.
• Achieve water quality which provides for the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish and wildlife and provides for recreation in and on the water by July 1, 1983.

Policies:

• Prohibit the discharge of toxic pollutants in toxic amounts.
• Develop and implement programs for the control of nonpoint sources of pollution in an expeditious manner.

Clean Water Act programs have been developed to meet these goals, and because the programs are implemented primarily at the state level, citizen involvement becomes the most critical part of making the programs work well.

				Next: Water Quality Standards