Virtual Resource Room Navigation
Federal Statutes
This page provides an overview of the major amendments to the Clean Water Act, focusing on the most significant changes and their impact.
The Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1948
Enacted on June 30, 1948, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA) (P.L. 80-845) (33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq.) stands as a pioneering milestone predating the Clean Water Act of 1972, marking it as the first major federal legislation that comprehensively targeted water pollution at a national level. The FWPCA played a crucial role in providing federal support and financial assistance to state and local governments in addressing the detrimental aspects of industrial and urban growth, contributing to the rising pollution levels in water bodies.
The following amendments have been made to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act:
On July 20, 1961, Congress adopted An Act to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to provide for a more effective program of water pollution control, and for other purposes (P.L. 87-88), which granted the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare the power to establish all-encompassing initiatives aimed at the prevention and management of water pollution.
On November 3, 1966, Congress adopted the Clean Water Restoration Act of 1966, An Act to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act in order to improve and make more effective certain programs pursuant to such Act (P.L. 89-753). The Act directed the Secretary of the Interior to undertake a comprehensive review of the effects of pollution on fish, wildlife, recreational activities, water supply, power generation, and other relevant aspects in estuaries and coastal regions. The revised legislation also incorporated measures prohibiting individuals from releasing oil into waters of the United States.
On April 3, 1970, Congress adopted the Water Quality Improvement Act of 1970, An Act to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, and for other purposes (P.L. 91-224), which amended sections relating to oil discharges into navigable waters of the United States.
The Clean Water Act of 1972
On October 18, 1972, Congress passed the Clean Water Act, An Act to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (P.L. 92-500). Despite the initial veto from former U.S. President Richard Nixon, Congress overrode the veto, enabling the Clean Water Act to be enacted and effectively implemented.
The Clean Water Act laid the foundation for a comprehensive regulatory framework governing the discharge of pollutants into U.S. waters and granted the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the authority to administer and enforce pollution control programs. Additionally, it required the establishment of water quality standards for surface waters.
The Clean Water Act Amendments of 1977
On December 27, 1977, former U.S President Gerald Ford signed into law significant amendments to the Clean Water Act of 1972—formally titled An Act to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to provide for additional authorizations, and for other purposes (P.L. 95-217). These amendments introduced specific provisions aimed at reducing the discharge of toxic pollutants into U.S. waters by implementing a series of technology-based standards. Furthermore, the amendments strengthened the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) authority in regulating and enforcing these standards to effectively control toxic pollution.
On February 4, 1987, Congress passed the Water Quality Act of 1987—formally titled An Act to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act for the renewal of the quality of the Nation’s waters, and for other purposes (P.L 100-4). Despite the initial veto from former U.S. President Ronald Regan, Congress overrode the veto, ensuring the enactment and effective implementation of the Water Quality Act. The Water Quality Act established the Chesapeake Bay Program Office and further expanded the Great Lakes program.
On November 16, 1990, former U.S. President Georges H. W. Bush signed into law the Great Lakes Critical Programs Act of 1990—formally titled An Act to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act relating to water quality in the Great Lakes (P.L. 101-596). The Great Lakes Critical Programs Act implemented provisions of the 1978 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, which the U.S. and Canada signed on November 22, 1978, to reduce certain toxic pollutants in the Great Lakes.
On October 10, 2000, former U.S. President Bill Clinton signed into law the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act, known as An Act to amend the Federal Water Pollution Act to improve the quality of coastal recreation waters, and for other purposes (P.L. 106-284). The BEACH Act focuses on water pollution management and the preservation of beach and coastal area safety within the United States. It mandates the EPA to set national standards for recreational water testing and allows for grants to support beach monitoring programs at federal and state levels.
On November 27, 2002, former U.S. President Georges W. Bush signed into law the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain Act of 2002—officially known as An Act to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (P.L. 107-303) to authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to carry out projects and conduct research for remediation of sediment contamination in areas of concern in the Great Lakes, and for other purposes.
On October 8, 2008, former U.S. President Georges W. Bush signed into law the Great Lakes Legacy Reauthorization Act of 2008, also known as An Act to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to provide for the remediation of sediment contamination in areas of concern, and for other purposes (P.L 110-365). The bill received overwhelming support in Congress, passing the House of Representatives by a vote of 411 to 9 and the U.S. Senate by unanimous consent. By reauthorizing the Great Lakes Legacy Act 2002, the 2008 Act secured federal funding for the remediation of Great Lakes Areas of Concerns (AOCs). The primary goal of the 2008 Act is to improve the water quality and ecosystem health of the Great Lakes by specifically addressing historical pollution and contaminated sediment hotspots.
On November 15, 2021, U.S. President Joe Biden signed into law the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as An Act to authorize funds for Federal-aid highways safety programs, and transit programs, and for other purposes (P.L. 117-58). The legislation aims to significantly improve the Nation’s water infrastructure by investing $50 billion into EPA’s established water financing programs, including over $14 billion specifically for initiatives under the Clean Water Act.
