Over the years there have been many amendments and alterations to address more specific issues as our society grows and our industry flourishes.

When it was first introduced, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act designated that each state had the responsibility of finding ways to reduce or eliminate pollution, leaving the responsibility of joining forces with local or federal agencies in order to best accomplish the task in the hands of the state agencies.

The act was passed to start improving the level of awareness within communities, industries, and governmental agencies.

The initial draft of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act indicated that throughout the necessary improvements that were to be made, conservation and specialized segregation of the various water uses. Conservation of waters for aquatic ecosystems, agriculture, recreational purposes, as well as industry needs were indicated as a necessary focal point for the act.

Water conservation practices were put into place to be sure that public water supplies were not only available but that the public water supply was sanitary. This act was the first real effort to improve the quality of drinking water, protect the sanctity of natural ecosystems, and attempt to incorporate the needs of industry all in the same act.

While the ideas and motivations behind the original Federal Water Pollution Control Act were of the best intentions, the limitations set were not stringent enough to prevent further pollution from entering all the water sources.

One of the main focuses of the original draft of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act was the appropriate treatment of raw sewage. The bacteria from raw sewage entering the waterways can lead to a vast array of potential diseases.

Raw sewage from land based buildings, institutions, and towns were once permitted to flow directly into the nearest body of water. While these issues were dealt with in the original draft of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, raw sewage discharge from pleasure boats was not officially outlawed until the 1990s. Discharging is still permitted 5 or more miles offshore.

Aside from raw sewage issues, the clean water act also attempted to deal with the contamination of waterways incurred when industries disposed of wastes via the closest body of water. With the enhanced development of industry it didn’t take long for natural bodies of water to become overwhelmed with pollutants.

Because industry developed faster than the agencies could keep up with the environmental impact, the environment as well as the ground water supply was affected for the long term.

Tainted ground water meant that the pollution that was found in the waterways was now being found in drinking water of families throughout the country. The potential for serious illness was great and the current trend of bottled water dispensers and water filters was unheard of.

This situation led to a more aggressive stand on the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. The first changes came with the amendments to the act, allowing for quality testing of ground water, pollution testing for all bodies of water, and the development of standards and the determination of allowable discharges.

In early December of 1970 an amendment to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act created the governmental agency known as the EPA.

The Environmental Protection Agency replaced the Federal Water Quality Administration to take on all issues of pollution and issues related to the health and wellbeing of environmental factors. The EPA has become the single most vital agency when it comes to preventing and correcting all issues of pollution.

Since its inception the Federal Water Pollution Control Act has been amended to include studies of pollution effects on the Chesapeake Bay, Great Lakes, and the shores of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Amendments were made to check the pollution levels of the waterway against the pollution levels in the sediment.

Because of all of these amendments the information that has been gathered over the past 6 decades has opened up a wealth of information on how pollution works and its overall impact on the environment and drinking water. These various studies were the backbone of all of the basic information that we know today about pollution.

Passing the clean water act not only educated the appropriate agencies in the United States about the serious implications of pollution, but that education has been able to be taken around the world to help people in other countries find clean water management skills.

While there is still a great deal of pollution to deal with in the United States, the chronic efforts of the EPA and adjoining agencies continue to combat the pollutant wars. With more education and a renewed dedication to cleaning up our polluted waters, the clean water act has the potential to continue to grow and continue to develop new laws that benefit the planet.

There are many laws in place to help protect the waters from pollution. However, enforcement of these laws is very slim.

Since the ocean is a vast territory, many vessels are still discharging and dumping directly into our oceans and poisoning them with contaminants.

In 1970 the Clean Water Act was passed to eliminate the discharge of all contaminants throughout the waterways. Discharging can mean anything from human waste to bilge waters contaminated with diesel, oil, or chemical residue or spills. In some cases it means biological and hazardous waste with lethal potential.

Factories and plants are still discharging harmful contaminants into streets, alleyways, and the ground which all have the potential to become dangerous to our groundwater or our waterways.

While there are laws to prevent these discharges, the likelihood of getting caught and the associated fine is often not steep enough to prevent the companies from repeating the action. These laws were put into place to encourage water pollution solutions and yet are rarely enforced throughout some of the most populated areas.

Fortunately, some cities are starting to crack down on violations of pollution laws. New York is a leader in emissions testing and spot checking factories and plants for violations of dumping and discharging laws.

The environmental police have taken charge of enforcing water pollution solutions. They have targeted everyone from delivery vehicles to the largest and wealthiest companies in the city. If more cities would follow suit, we would be well on our way to protecting our planet from intolerable water supplies.

Solutions To Water Pollution – What You Can Do

Outside of enforcing the current laws and creating even tougher regulations to prevent the continued pollution of water, there are dedicated and relatively simple objectives that everyone can participate in so that we can provide water pollution solutions to the average citizen.

Simple steps like driving hybrid cars and using home water coolers can reduce water pollution. Littering in any form can also create additional pollution. Conserving clean water supplies can be beneficial in many ways, including preventing the need for use of tainted water supplies.

For instance, if everyone supported clean agriculture there would no longer be a market for agriculture that is responsible for poisonous runoff and ground water pollution. Clean agriculture is easier than ever to recognize because of the new standards for organic labeling.

Organic foods mean that there were no pesticides or other harmful contaminants used in the growing of the food. When a food product is labeled organic, federal law requires that it meets the criteria for being 75% organic or better.

When a food product is labeled 100% organic it meets the criteria for being 99% organic or better. 100% organic foods include the soil in which the product was grown as well as the process of which the product was packaged, shipped, and distributed.  But supporting organic foods you are supporting water pollution solutions through clean agriculture.

The preservation of natural wetlands provides a relatively simple water pollution solution. Wetlands serve as nature’s filter and create a natural buffering zone between the water and the land. The vast amount of various plant life, naturally occurring bacteria and algae, and microorganisms help to filter destructive pollutants.

Wetlands can be easily preserved through replanting efforts. Planting appropriate foliage can help a wetland survive. While some wetlands have been filled and developed, wetlands tend to make rather poor environments to build upon.

Discouraging wetland development and encouraging wetland replanting is one way that everyone can get involved in finding solutions to water pollution.