Integrated Water Resource Managment

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. The original 1948 statute (Ch. 758; P.L. 845), the Water Pollution Control Act, entailed the preparation of comprehensive programs for eliminating or reducing the pollution of interstate waters and tributaries and improving the sanitary condition of surface and underground waters. The CWA emphasizes improvements necessary to conserve waters for public water supplies, propagation of fish and aquatic life, recreational purposes, and agricultural and industrial uses. It also authorizes the construction of treatment plants to prevent discharges of inadequately treated sewage and other wastes into interstate waters or tributaries. Under the CWA, EPA has implemented pollution control programs such as setting wastewater standards for industry.