This week (October 18, 2022) marks the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Clean Water Act, originally adopted in 1972. “With an overwhelming bipartisan majority – it charted a new path for America’s waters. And as a result, we have seen transformational progress over the last 50 years and many communities are returning to their waters,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox. Specifically, we have seen a reduction in direct pollution discharges to our nation’s waters and improved wastewater and stormwater infrastructure.
In August, the EPA kicked off a tour to highlight the waters that are essential to human health, ecosystems, agricultural productivity, and economic growth. Stops included the Florida Everglades, Chesapeake Bay, Great Lakes, Cuyahoga River and the San Francisco Bay, most of which impact the customers and communities we serve. You can see videos from these events on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Facebook page, YouTube and see how the Chesapeake region is celebrating this anniversary at cwa50.org.
I want to especially thank our water quality, environmental leadership, research and development, engineering and operations teams for not only continuing to provide safe, clean, reliable water for our customers, but for also protecting our waterways through efforts in the source water protection and wastewater arenas. These teams have evolved quickly, and many times led the charge in our industry, in meeting new regulations, advancing science and best practices that protect our customers and communities. Your dedication Keeps Life Flowing for millions of people across the country every day. American Water joins the EPA and all of our regulators and stakeholders in looking ahead to the next 50 years of progress for clean water.
The EPA shared that the recent “Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has provided a historic investment in water infrastructure, including $12.7 billion through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund programs that were established by the 1987 amendments to the Clean Water Act. This funding is a significant investment in the future of clean water in the country. And our investments in improved, resilient infrastructure will have positive impacts on our waterways for years to come.”
