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- Areas of Concern
- The Clean Water Act
- Great Lakes Image Collection
- State-of-the-Lakes Great Lakes Ecosystem
- The Great Lakes Atlas
- 25 Years of Great Lakes Protection
The Clean Water Act: 25th Anniversary
Clean Water It's Everybody's Business
The Federal Water Pollution Control Act is the primary Federal legislation that protects surface waters such as lakes, rivers, and coastal areas. Originally enacted in 1948, the legislation was significantly expanded and strengthened in 1972 in response to growing public concern about serious widespread water pollution problems. This 1972 legislation, known as the Clean Water Act, provided the foundation for the dramatic progress in reducing water pollution over the past twenty-five years. Amendments to the 1972 Clean Water Act were made in 1977, 1981, 1987, and 1990.
The Clean Water Act seeks to improve water quality by maintaining and restoring the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters. It provides a comprehensive framework of standards, technical tools, and financial assistance to address the many activities that can cause pollution and adversely affect water quality, including municipal and industrial wastewater discharges, polluted runoff from urban and rural areas, and habitat destruction.
The wealth of natural resources of the Great Lakes ecosystem and its strategic water-based transportation routes attracted Tribes and European settlers. The ecosystem is now home to the largest population center between the two ocean shores. The harvesting of resources, construction of canals, filling of wetlands, and the release of nutrients and toxic substances impaired the health and balance of the ecosystem. In 1972, the United States and Canada signed the landmark Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, committing the two countries to restore and preserve the precious resource they shared.
These two historic milestones began 25 years of an unprecedented environmental restoration and protection effort.
The Great Lakes contain 95 percent of all surface fresh water in the United States. Water quality is important to over 23 million people living in the region. They depend on these magnificent lakes to provide their drinking water and support countless other uses. Not surprisingly, a study by the Health Education Research organization found that over 80 percent of those surveyed wanted to see more done to protect the Great Lakes environment.
The eight States bordering the Great Lakes have long recognized the need to work together on common-sense, cost-effective solutions to reduce the harmful effects of toxic pollution. Recently, EPA and the States together developed the Water Quality Guidance for the Great Lakes System in order to help ensure a consistent high level of water quality protection across all of the lakes.
While the amount of toxic pollution released into the Great Lakes has decreased significantly, the problem has not been completely solved. Toxic chemicals from the air, from contaminated bottom sediments, from agricultural and urban runoff, and from industrial and waste sites still pose a threat to the environment and public health. These sources present a management challenge, and require a continued strong emphasis on pollution prevention and toxic control throughout the region.
Investing in Clean Water is a common sense way to ensure healthy, thriving communities. Many people, businesses and organizations are joining in partnership with EPA, States, Tribes, and others to help clean up and protect our waters.
These partnerships are encouraging. They demonstrate a willingness to invest both time and resources in order to receive the most important of all dividends the assurance of safe, clean water for today and tomorrow. In both the short- and long-term, it is difficult to imagine a more sound investment opportunity for communities and for the nation.
How You Can Help Keep Our Waters Clean
If you would like to find out more about water issues, contact EPA at the following address:
REGION 5
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (P-19J)
OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
77 WEST JACKSON BOULEVARD
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60604-3590
or send an electronic
message
You can also visit the following websites:
Clean
Water Act (A Short Description)
Clean Water
Act (United States Code from Cornell University)