When was the Clean Water Act initially passed?

The Clean Water Act, which is a key piece of environmental legislation in the United States aimed at regulating water pollution, was initially passed in 1972. This act expanded upon earlier legislation and set the foundation for a national framework to protect and restore the integrity of the nation’s waters. The 1948 Federal Water Pollution Control Act was an earlier law focused on addressing water quality issues, but it did not establish the comprehensive regulatory framework that the Clean Water Act introduced. The 1972 Clean Water Act represented a significant shift towards more stringent and enforceable standards for water quality, paving the way for more protections to ensure safe and clean water across the country.