The Clean Water Act of 1972 is a federal law that protects the quality of the nation's waters by regulating the discharge of pollutants into the waters of the United States. The Act established the basic structure for regulating pollutant discharges into the waters of the United States and regulating quality standards for surface
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 primary responsibilities of the states in addressing pollution and providing assistance to states to do so, including funding for publicly owned treatment works for the improvement of wastewater treatment; and maintaining the integrity of wetlands.