|
|
|
October 18th, 2002 marks the 30th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act
Federal Water Pollution Control Act
Information Supplied by the "Year of Clean Water" website:
hroughout the 1960's, public awareness regarding the quality of our
nation's water resources intensified as a result of highly volatile
environmental issues. Thousands of dead fish washing ashore, fouled
city drinking water, and lakes catching on fire were all indicative
of a highly stressed aquatic system. Pollution was readily observable
in much of the nation's rivers, streams and lakes. Swimming beaches
were closed and public water supplies were contaminated. Government
agencies attempted to respond to these problems, often without insight
as to the social, legal, economic and environmental consequences of
their actions. With a high demand for a more effective means to protect
and clean the nation's water resources, Congress in 1972, passed the
Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments. (Better known as the
Clean Water Act)
he Clean Water Act set the goal of restoring and maintaining the chemical,
physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters. In the
three decades since its passage, Clean Water Act programs have yielded
measurable improvements in water quality. Lakes and streams that were
once devoid of fish and other aquatic life now support numerous and
varied aquatic populations. Point source discharges from municipal
and industrial sources are being monitored and controlled. There are
no more lakes catching on fire, large pollution-based fish kills are
a rarity, and almost all drinking water meets the minimum criteria
for health and safety.
he success of Clean Water Act programs over the years has created
a false sense of security in the general public. A large portion of
Americans assume that the Clean Water Act has resolved all water pollution
problems. Public attention to water resource issues has waned even
though clean water is cited as one of our highest priorities. Ironically,
even with that priority, there has been a steady decline in public
understanding, commitment to, and support of efforts to protect and
restore the nation's water resources. Science has given us the ability
to detect pollutants in ever decreasing amounts and while technological
advances provide solutions to pollution problems, they also raise
new pollution concerns. Nonpoint sources of pollution from urban and
rural areas alike are posing an increasingly significant threat to
the nation's water resources. The public stewardship ethic of the
1970's must be rekindled to address the intricate web of human activity
that consistently affects the nation's water resources.
Related links:
 The Year of Clean Water
Clean
Water Action
Clean Water Fund
Environmental Protection Agency
See past topics of In the Flow here!
|
|
|
