ABSTRACT
Prior to the enactment of the Clean Water Act, sanitary sewage, combined sewage, and industrial wastewater were directly discharged into open waters without receiving any treatment. To restore and maintain chemical and biological integrity of the nation’s waters, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) passed the Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1972. The enactment of this Act changed the traditional discharge of point source pollutants to rivers, lakes, estuaries, and wetlands. The CWA prohibited discharge of dredged or fill material as well as untreated wastewater from municipal and industrial sources into streams, lakes, wetlands, and other water bodies of the United States unless a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit was obtained. NPDES permits were issued under CWA section 404.
