The Clean Water Act

Clean, healthy waters are important to everyone. Waters of Illinois are needed for drinking, growing food, washing, swimming, fishing, and supporting amazingly diverse life. Our overwhelming, but under-appreciated, dependence on clean water mandates our careful use and protection of our rivers.

The federal Clean Water Act (CWA) is the most comprehensive, powerful tool to protect and restore our waters. Passed in 1972, the CWA set forth bold, clear goals to "restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation's waters." Over its 30 year history, the CWA has proven effective at restoring many waters and reducing pollution from many sources. However, we are still far short of meeting the goals of the Clean Water Act. Much work remains, and it is our collective responsibility to get it done.

Fortunately, a key element of the CWA is citizen involvement. The Act reflects a critical understanding that protecting and restoring every water (sea to shining sea, and every water in between), will require vigilance and cooperation on the part of the people who know those waters. Prairie Rivers Network calls on you to join us in taking on this responsibility.

Opportunities for citizens of Illinois to protect their waters through the CWA include:

Improving Water Quality Standards

Strengthening Water Pollution Permits (NPDES Program)

Protecting Waters Using Illinois' Antidegradation Policy

Using the Clean Water Act to protect wetlands

Controlling stormwater pollution

Restoring Degraded Waters (TMDL Program)

Reporting Water Pollution in Illinois

Others (Coming Soon)

Resources

The Clean Water Act is a complex law. Fortunately, there are a number of resources available to help you better understand its provisions and how they have been used to protect waters.

One of the best, most user-friendly, resources is The Clean Water Act: An Owner's Manual, written and published by River Network.

The best guide to water pollution permits is Permitting an End to Pollution developed by Prairie Rivers Network, Clean Water Network, and River Network.

Clean Water Network provides a number of great tools to help you participate in several programs of the CWA.

The Laws and Regulations

You may view the complete language of the CWA at either of these sources:

epw.senate.gov/water.pdf or

www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/33/ch26.html.

The State of Illinois, through Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), is responsible for implementing and enforcing many of the CWA programs. You can find laws and regulations in place to achieve these goals in the Illinois Pollution Control Act and Title 35 of the Illinois Administrative Code.