Congress enacted the Federal Water Pollution Control Act—commonly known as the Clean Water Act (CWA)—to "restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation’s waters." The Act has two core components: (1) providing financial assistance for the construction of municipal wastewater treatment facilities, and (2) establishing regulatory requirements for entities discharging into navigable waters, including municipal and industrial sources. This book explores the evolution of the Clean Water Act and strategies for modernizing it to better protect water quality, facilitate project completion, mitigate supply chain disruptions, and support economic development. It offers insights into the current landscape of clean water infrastructure financing, with particular attention to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF). Additionally, it examines recent policy developments and funding enhancements—such as those introduced through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act—and their impact on clean water initiatives nationwide.
