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Water pollution is the contamination of natural water bodies by chemical, physical, radioactive or pathogenic microbial substances. [2] Point sources of water pollution are described by the CWA as "any discernible, confined, and discrete conveyance from which pollutants are or may be discharged." These include pipes or man-made ditches from ...
The Clean Water Act (CWA) is the primary federal law in the United States governing water pollution. Its objective is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters; recognizing the responsibilities of the states in addressing pollution and providing assistance to states to do so, including ...
Topsoil runoff from farm, central Iowa (2011). Water pollution in the United States is a growing problem that became critical in the 19th century with the development of mechanized agriculture, mining, and manufacturing industrys—although laws and regulations introduced in the late 20th century have improved water quality in many water bodies. [1]
The U.S. Clean Water Act (CWA) defines point source for regulatory enforcement purposes (see United States regulation of point source water pollution). [52] The CWA definition of point source was amended in 1987 to include municipal storm sewer systems, as well as industrial storm water, such as from construction sites. [53]
History. The Porter-Cologne Act (California Water Code, Section 7) was created in 1969 and is the law that governs water quality regulation in California. The legislation bears the names of legislators Carley V. Porter and Gordon Cologne. [1] It was established to be a program to protect water quality as well as beneficial uses of water.
The Act also requires use of best management practices for a wide range of other water discharges including nonpoint source pollution. [20] Thermal pollution discharges are regulated under section 316(a) of the CWA. [21] NPDES permits include effluent limitations on water temperature to protect the biotic life supported by a water body. A ...
A total maximum daily load (TMDL) is a regulatory term in the U.S. Clean Water Act, describing a plan for restoring impaired waters that identifies the maximum amount of a pollutant that a body of water can receive while still meeting water quality standards. [1][2][3]
Water quality laws govern the protection of water resources for human health and the environment. Water quality laws are legal standards or requirements governing water quality, that is, the concentrations of water pollutants in some regulated volume of water. Such standards are generally expressed as levels of a specific water pollutants ...