What is the main goal of the Clean Water Act (CWA)?

The main goal of the Clean Water Act (CWA) is to restore and maintain the integrity of the nation's waters, which includes rivers, lakes, and estuaries. This legislation aims to ensure that water quality is sufficient to support aquatic life, recreational activities, and the drinking water supply. By establishing a framework for regulating discharges of pollutants into waterways, the CWA focuses on protecting the health of both aquatic ecosystems and human populations that rely on clean water. The intent is to prevent degradation of water quality and to restore water bodies that have been impacted by pollution.

While there may be aspects related to air quality or inherently linked concepts like water conservation, the CWA specifically targets water integrity as its primary objective. The idea of eliminating all aquatic life runs counter to the foundational goals of this act, which emphasize protection and restoration rather than destruction. Thus, the choice to focus on restoring and maintaining water integrity is aligned with the core purpose of the Clean Water Act.