The Clean Water Act turns 35! The Next 35 Years of Clean Water: What will the Future Hold?

On September 19, 2007, WEF and the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) held a congressional briefing marking the 35th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act (CWA).  Despite considerable progress in achieving water quality goals envisioned in the Act, data indicate that up to 44% of assessed estuaries and 35% of assessed rivers and streams still suffer from impaired water quality.   While the CWA is considered one of the most successful environmental statues enacted over the past half century, Congress has not revisited its provisions since 1987, and calls for updating the law to address such issues as stormwater and agricultural runoff are growing.  What are the challenges facing this landmark statute over the next 35 years and what should Congress do now to meet those challenges?  The congressional briefing focused on this question and addressed issues like non-point stormwater runoff, emerging sources of pollution, and the role water quality trading might play in achieving the Act’s goals.