The overarching objective of the Clean Water Act (CWA) is to "...restore and maintain the chemcial, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation's waters." Two basic goals and a national policy were launched in order to achieve this objective.
- the goal of zero discharge of pollutants into the navigable waters be eliminated by 1985;
- the goal of attaining fishable and swimmable waters by 1983 providing for the protection and propagation of fish,
shellfish, and wildlife, and providing for recreation in and on the water; and,
- the national policy establishing that the discharge of toxic pollutants in toxic amounts be prohibited.
Clearly, the goals and national policy established in the CWA have not been met. However, progress has been made particularly with municipal sewage dischargers.
At the centerpiece of the Clean Water Act (CWA) was a substantial increase in federal funding available for the construction of Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) and for upgrades to existing facilities. At a time of the CWA's passage, municipal sewage dischargers were major contributors of point sources of pollution to waters of the State. Provisions in the CWA now required a regional wastewater management plan or a 208 Plan, pursuant to Section 208 of the CWA, in order to access federal funds.
How effective were these investments in improvements to wastewater treatment? According to a 2000 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency report on water quality gains made by national investments in municipal wastewater treatment, more than $77.2 Billion in federal grants and other contributions were spent to enhance the quality of wastewater treatment plant effluent from 1970 to 1999. The report adds that "the overall number of people served by POTWs
increased from 140.1 million in 1968 to 189.7 million in 1996 ( a 35% increase)", and "the number of people served by POTWs with secondary or greater levels of wastewater treatment almost doubled from 85.9 million in 1968 to 164.8 million in 1996...".
While the population served by POTWs increased over time, the report conveys improvements in biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) levels, a primary parameter measured post secondary treatment. Specifically, the report states "POTW effluent BOD5 and BODu discharged to the Nation's waterways decreased by about 45% and 23% respectively...".
