Clean water helps us enjoy our favorite sport - it's a necessity for life, too. In 1972, Congress passed the Clean Water Act, forever transforming the nation's relationship with water. Now, after more than 40 years, the law has made a huge difference. While waterways continue to need protection, this success is worth celebrating. Let's take a peek at the Clean Water Act, what it means, what it has done, and how it can help ensure a cleaner future for all of us.
Clean Water Act Basics
You might not know it, but people have been interested in protecting America's waterways for decades. The Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1948 was a good start; the 1970 Clean Air Act helped to make a difference, and the 1972 Clean Water Act sought to ensure all U.S. waters would be fishable and swimmable by 1985. While there is still work to be done, water is better now than it was when the law was enacted. Today's legislators know that to protect a waterway, all areas upstream must be protected as well. Despite this knowledge, non-point pollution sources, like farm runoff and urban storm water need to be addressed.
Before the Clean Water Act, just about a third of waterways in the U.S. were safe for fishing and swimming; today, about 65% of waterways are safe. Some other pre-Clean Water Act figures of interest:
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The nation was losing up to half a million acres of wetlands annually - today, that number is down to about 60,000 acres of wetlands lost per year. Though still unacceptable, this figure is encouraging.
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30% of tap water samples were unfit to drink. Today, more than 90% of tap water samples are suitable for consumption.
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In 1968, DDT tainted 584 of 590 water samples obtained by the U.S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries
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In 1969, an oil slick floating on the Cuyahoga River near Cleveland, OH, caught fire.
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Also in 1969, 26 million fish were killed in a single Florida lake due to discharge from 4 nearby food processing plants. That year, an estimated 41 million fish died nationwide.
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In 1971, FDA reported about 87% of U.S. swordfish samples contained too much mercury to be safely consumed by humans.
Runoff continues to be the biggest challenge facing our waterways and our oceans; urban runoff often contains a blend of chemicals and other toxins, while rural runoff from farms tends to carry phosphorus and nitrogen from manure and fertilizers. These fuel algae blooms and create "dead zones" devoid of the oxygen required for life. New rules including watershed restoration projects designed to replace pavement with parks, ponds, green roofs, and other permeable surfaces helps settle runoff so that it can be concentrated as groundwater rather than ending up in waterways.
Groundwater and surface water are hydrologically connected; this is one reason many environmental scientists are calling for updates to the Clean Water Act. We know more about our environment now than we did back in 1972, so new issues like climate change, rare earths, and fracking are joining the debate, while older issues including pollution from storm water and sewage remain at the fore.
You can help by reducing or eliminating the use of toxic chemicals at home and at work, choosing green cleaners and other green options instead. Add more plants to outdoor areas, and do what you can to help enlighten others; and, don't forget to let your elected officials know how you feel about the importance of clean water. We're thrilled at the positive changes the Clean Water Act has brought about - it's up to all of us to keep the momentum going.