Water Clean Act Law Pollution Quality Eslpod Drinking

The Clean Water Act, "effective" (made into law in) 1972, is the "main" (primary; most important) "federal" (national) law covering water pollution in the United States. It is "administered" (operated or managed) by the Environmental Protection Agency, which is "tasked with" (asked to do something) "restoring" (bringing back to healthy, natural state) and "maintaining" (keeping something at a constant level) the nation's water. The law has gone through several "iterations" (versions) to clarify its "scope" (how much it covers; what its responsibilities are), and today it governs all types of water except "groundwater" (water found deep underground), which is protected by other laws, specifically the Safe Drinking Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and Superfund Act.

The Clean Water Act makes it "unlawful" (against the law) to "discharge" (emit; issue; send out) any "pollutant" (something that makes air and water dirty or unhealthy) into a body of water without a "permit" (official permission to do something). For example, if a factory needs to discharge "wastewater" (dirty water that is produced through manufacturing processes), it must "apply for" (request) a permit that governs how the wastewater must be treated and how much wastewater can be discharged.

The law also establishes "water quality standards" (expectations of what levels of pollution are allowed in a body of water). If pollution in a lake or river "exceeds" (is greater than) the water quality standards, the Environmental Protection Agency may take action to improve the quality of water, such as limiting agricultural runoff or improving the health of nearby "wetlands" (very wet natural areas that act like a filter for water).

The Clean Water Act also "addresses" (deals with) "thermal pollution" of water, or efforts to make sure that water temperatures are not harmful to plants and animals in the water.