Discover the History of the Clean Water Act
On October 18, 1972, the Clean Water Act was signed into law, establishing the basic structure for protecting water quality and regulating pollutant discharges into waters of the United States. Through this Act and the amendments that followed, our nation’s waters are now safer and cleaner – inviting communities to return to the water to swim, fish, and recreate.
Fifty years after the Clean Water Act signing, U.S. EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan and national and local environmental leaders celebrated this milestone at an event on the banks of the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, Ohio.
- Read the EPA news release celebrating fifty years of the Clean Water Act.
- Read the Presidential Proclamation on the 50th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act.
- Fact Sheet - Achievements of the Clean Water Act (pdf)
