Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act
This year marks the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act (CWA)! We hope that you will join us in celebrating this milestone through various programs and events held this year. Events will be held in New York and Vermont to commemorate the legacy of this important legislation. We will be highlighting the 50th anniversary during Adirondack Water Week, August 5th-14th. This week-long collection of events connects both residents and visitors to issues that impact clean water through educational programming, lectures, and community engagement.
The history of the CWA begins with the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA) of 1948, regarded as the first law aimed at reducing water pollution. Although the FWPCA created a foundation for federal and state agencies to regulate pollutants, this law was not well-defined and failed to create meaningful change. The following two decades passed without any significant impact on highly polluted U.S. waters. However, many point to the Cuyahoga River fire of 1969 to be the turning point in the nation’s struggle to address clean water. Following the creation of Earth Day and the passing of the Clean Air Act in 1970, pressure mounted to address our nations’ waterways. In an era where two-thirds of the nation’s lakes, rivers, and coastal waters were unsafe for fishing or swimming, passing this legislation was bipartisan. In 1977 the CWA was amended to include parameters to regulate the discharge of untreated wastewater from businesses, municipalities, and industry. Another amendment in 1987 established Section 319 which addresses non-point source pollution. Section 319 offers states, territories, and tribes the funding, training, or logistical support they need to implement non-point source pollution reduction measures.
Here are four facts about the Clean Water Act:
Although the Clean Water Act has been effective at allocating funds, setting restrictions, and enforcing pollution limits, there is more work to be done. New York State recently approved an amendment to the State Constitution that states, “Each person shall have a right to clean air and water, and a healthful environment.” Governor Hochul announced in January 2022 that New York State will be allocating $66 million for clean water and drinking water infrastructure improvements on various projects across the state. New Yorkers will vote on the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act in November of 2022. The Bond Act includes $4 billion towards programs that will protect and improve our water resources, conserve land, and assist with reducing pollution and mitigating climate change.
The Clean Water Act was a step towards more meaningful regulation and responsibility. We hope you join us in commemorating the successes of this historic legislation. If you have a story about how the Clean Water Act has impacted you or your community, we would love to hear from you. The Adirondack Watershed Institute is holding a series of events across the Adirondacks for Adirondack Water Week. You can find information on Adirondack Water Week and other AWI programming on our website and social media.
Are you looking to give back to Adirondack waterways? We’re looking for volunteers to conduct routine water quality monitoring on Adirondack lakes.