The Clean Water Act is Major piece of legislation passed in 1972 that addresses the issue of water pollution. The Act is an expansion to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act that was made in 1948. Major pollution of the Nations waterways was common in this time due to Factories and other sources just putting waste in waterways. Due to this massive pollution that was killing animals and even starting river fires, congress expanded on the original act. This new act made it illegal to even pour pollutants in water ways without a permit, and reduces how much contaminants can be put into waterways from point sources. Controversy in the act was that limitations on how much pollution could be put into waterways would be too much financial strain businesses and would destroy industry in the U.S. This law has had major impact due to the fact that raw sewage and other pollutants can not just be put into the ocean or other water ways.
It is a very important law that has had much impact since its induction.