Reasons We Need the Clean Water Rule
By EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy
Today, EPA and the Army are finalizing a Clean Water Rule to protect the streams and wetlands we rely on for our health, our economy, and our way of life.
As summer kicks off, many of us plan to be outside with our friends and families fishing, paddling, surfing, and swimming. And for the lakes and rivers we love to be clean, the streams and wetlands that feed them have to be clean, too. That’s just one of many reasons why this rule is so important. Here are several more:
Clean water is vital to our health. One in three Americans get drinking water from streams that lacked clear protection from pollution without the Clean Water Rule. Finalizing the rule helps protect 117 million Americans’ health.
Our economy depends on clean water. Major economic sectors—from manufacturing and energy production to agriculture, food service, tourism, and recreation—depend on clean water to function and flourish. Without clean water, business grinds to a halt—a reality too many local small business owners faced in Toledo last year when drinking water became contaminated for several days.
Clean water helps farms thrive, and the rule preserves commonsense agriculture exemptions. Farms across America depend on clean and reliable water for livestock, crops, and irrigation. Activities like planting, harvesting, and moving livestock across streams have long been exempt from Clean Water Act regulation; the Clean Water Rule doesn’t change that. The final rule doesn’t create any new permitting requirements for agriculture, maintains all previous exemptions and exclusions, and even adds exclusions for features like artificial lakes and ponds, water-filled depressions from construction, and grass swales—all to make clear our goal is to stay out of agriculture’s way. Just like before, a Clean Water Act permit is only needed if a water is going to be polluted or destroyed—and all exemptions for agriculture stay in place.
Climate change makes protection of water resources even more essential. Impacts from climate change like more intense droughts, storms, fires, and floods—not to mention warmer temperatures and sea level rise—threaten our water supplies. But healthy streams and wetlands can protect communities by trapping floodwaters, retaining moisture during droughts, recharging groundwater supplies, filtering pollution, and providing habitat for fish and wildlife. With states like California in the midst of historic drought, it’s more important than ever that we protect the clean water we’ve got.
Clear protections mean cleaner water. The Clean Water Act has protected our health for more than 40 years—and helped our nation clean up hundreds of thousands of miles of polluted waterways. But Supreme Court decisions in 2001 and 2006 threw protections into question for 60 percent of our nation’s streams and millions of acres of wetlands. Using the latest science, this rule clears up the confusion, providing greater certainty for the first time in more than a decade about which waters are important to protect.
Science shows us the most important waters to protect. In developing the Clean Water Rule, the Agencies used the latest science, including a report summarizing more than 1,200 peer-reviewed, published scientific studies—which showed small streams and wetlands play an important role in the health of larger downstream waterways like rivers and lakes.
You asked for greater clarity. Members of Congress, state and local officials, industry, agriculture, environmental groups, scientists, and the public called on EPA and the Army to clarify which waters are protected under the Clean Water Act. With this rule, the agencies are responding to those requests and addressing the Supreme Court decisions. EPA and the Army held hundreds of meetings with stakeholders across the country, reviewed over a million public comments, and listened carefully to perspectives from all sides. All of this input shaped and improved the final rule we’re announcing today.
Just as importantly, there are lots of things the rule doesn’t do. The rule only protects waters historically covered under the Clean Water Act. It doesn’t interfere with private property rights, and it only covers water—not land use. It also doesn’t regulate most ditches, doesn’t regulate groundwater or shallow subsurface flows, and doesn’t change policy on irrigation or water transfers.
These are just a few of the many reasons why clean water and this rule are important—learn more here, and share yours with #CleanWaterRules.
JR
May 27, 2015 @ 11:12:36
Clean Water is something all Americans can get behind. Lets not take it for granted this summer as we pour it from our taps to make lemonade, or splash with the kiddos down in the creek in our backyards. #CleanWaterRules
Scarpace
May 27, 2015 @ 11:38:42
How about creating some new “clean TAP water” rules?
Will Wilson
May 27, 2015 @ 13:51:46
Thank you! Does the new rule protect intermittent and ephemeral streams?
julie mraz
May 27, 2015 @ 13:53:01
Clean water , one of the most important issues to date. Our well water is having to be filtered at the well by the Environmental Agency at this moment for excessive Nitrates and Cadmium. Clean water effects all life, Human, Aquatic, etc…SO important !
Brittanie
May 27, 2015 @ 15:38:09
I think all Americans are tired of more governmental control. Leave things alone! Our water process is good the way it is.
Adrian Spencer
May 28, 2015 @ 04:37:42
Great Move! I hope this survives the fight with corporate and “business” interests. If those corporate and business interests can’t produce products without harming the environment, they shouldn’t be able to produce at all, period. Factory farming and agriculture need to utilize the technology and science available today and discontinue wasteful and harmful practices of the post-industrial revolution. It’s time to stop all polluters and enforce the natural laws that ensure not only the health and survival of aqueous environments but also ensure the survival of both human and animal communities surrounding these critical waterways. No more “externalities”…no business should profit while others pay. “Externalities” should be minimized to the maximum extent possible as we transition to a more responsible way of life.
Karen Glaub
May 28, 2015 @ 15:50:53
Thank you EPA. Those of us who care about keeping our waters clean can breathe a little easier now.
Raphael Boldrick
May 29, 2015 @ 04:06:59
Clean water is by far the most important commodity we need as a human race. We used to be able to rely on tap water but now people seek out bottled water. The sad fact is that bottled water is not regulated like tap water is just nicely dressed up with neat names to make everyone think it’s cleaner and better but this is not always the case. States have had to implement new laws to regulate bottled water companies who come into their state, take as much of their water resources as they can then leave to go bottle it in another state. New regulation must be put in place to ensure that the consumer is actually getting clean safe water. Right now I trust good old tap water.
Sam I.
Oct 20, 2016 @ 18:00:40
I wish tap water was actually held to the regulation standards inplace instead of merely monitoring the findings of samples periodically collected; of which the analyzed meaningless data is input into a spreadsheet never to be viewed again or acted on.
wans
May 29, 2015 @ 08:54:08
New regulation must be put in place to ensure that the consumer is actually getting clean safe water. Right now I trust good old tap water._
James Knoch
May 29, 2015 @ 11:06:37
Is there anything about building pipeline over aquifers and waterways?
Rebecca Gaertner
May 29, 2015 @ 11:31:11
Thank you for these new rules. Travelling to foreign countries where we can’t drink the water makes me appreciate being able to turn on the tap to drink water. Clean water is essential! Thank you.
KEvin
May 29, 2015 @ 11:58:09
My next-door farmer puts excessive nitrates into the soil and pollutes our lake with it causing duck weed to take over the surface all summer. Hope this will stop him from over fertilizing the fields since we are the headwaters of Goose Creek River and that flows into the Potomac in VA.
Mark Larson
May 29, 2015 @ 13:05:51
Seems like agriculture needs to be checked. I think a lot of farm run off needs to be treated before it is returned to the water system. Also how about fracking and polluted water storage?
phyllis holden
May 29, 2015 @ 16:28:12
Middletown, Ohio residents have had boiling water advisories from buried waste materials sine WWII. Distilleries and brewers moved away from Ohio River resources. There are still opportunistic dumps. Now the Great Lakes are headed into “Old Country” patterns. Since there is no widespread education of adults by adults, we simply share adaptions to brinksmanship market forces.
Delarno
May 29, 2015 @ 17:58:36
It is vital to drink plenty of water, but not just water, CLEAN WATER. Any initiative to help water remain clean is noble. According to a recent report released by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), carcinogens found in 201 municipal water systems from 43 states, after analyzing these water samples.
Some tend to say they drink bottle water or else. The truth, many companies out there sell Tap Water. And even when purified, most purification systems do not remove chemicals from the water. Important is to protect the sources in the first place.
For more reading on connection between cancer and water
George Gretzinger
May 29, 2015 @ 19:32:07
Fracking , the use of eminent domain to run for profit gas and oil lines thru important aquifers and under rivers which all drain into our oceans and lakes…… All “rubber stamped” by so called federal oversight agencies…… Who you trying to kid?
Renee
May 30, 2015 @ 13:36:31
Still not addressing fluoride in our water yet EPA? The entire world and our own national Institute of cancer physician plus many others know it causes cancer, lowers IQ, and disrupts hormones, and causes bone fluorosis aka more harmful than arthritis. It doesn’t prevent cavaties!
Susie
May 30, 2015 @ 18:37:39
We must make absolute sure our farmers, who use over 80% of our water in California, stop putting nitrogen phosphorus and other chemicals/fertilizers on their fields.That run into our rivers & lakes then eventually our oceans. Killing birds, fish, ducks people & wildlife along the way. This is inexcusable as it poisons our drinking water!
These “fertilizers” are killing & poisioning the clean water we have left!
This must be stopped along with industrial contamination today!
This is even more vital due to the drought.
Alberto G.
Jun 02, 2015 @ 14:12:53
Pro-clean water? Why then pollutiing millions and millions of gallons of water with fracking? Renewable energy is clean and can create lots and lots of jobs.
vannguyen
Aug 06, 2015 @ 10:21:27
I’ve never been to your country. I can only learn about the United States via the Internet. From this article, it makes I have to think about my country (Vietnam), where water is very plentiful, but we have used a waste of this important natural resources.
What we are very concerned that the development industry is making our water source is contaminated, it will be difficult to do it again, is not it?
Hillary
Nov 20, 2015 @ 17:32:48
This is a great explanation on why maintenance of our lakes and wetlands are essential to have clean water for us in the present and future days to come.
Hillary
Nov 20, 2015 @ 17:35:32
Managing lakes and wetlands are essential to having clean water. The Clean Water Act does a great job. Clean water is important and we have to act in the present to preserve the future of the quality of water.
alnindo
Feb 16, 2016 @ 00:54:00
Clean water , one of the most important issues to date. Our well water is having to be filtered at the well by the Environmental Agency at this moment for excessive Nitrates and Cadmium. Clean water effects all life, Human, Aquatic, etc…SO important !
Maid In Midland
Mar 25, 2016 @ 17:21:57
Clean water is essential to great-tasting beer, and it’s critical for public health and the health of a wide range of industries.
Site Suceava
Mar 26, 2016 @ 04:12:52
Thank you so muck for the new laws. Being able to drink clear water is crucial. After i visited a few countries where we can’t drink the tap water makes me appreciate this even more. Keep up the good work!
Tina
Apr 05, 2016 @ 15:43:39
In the states and globally there is no such thing as clean water. Especially when our air is being polluted daily from geoengineering. We are being bombarded with heavy metals that are killing us and everything else on our planet. Look up at the sky … see those lines the jets are leaving? Those aren’t contrails. They are death dumps as a former CIA agent puts it. Search the Internet for CHEM Flu, Stratospheric Aerosol Spraying, Geo engineering, Solar radiation management, and last but not least chemtrails. Alzheimer’s is up in my county by 260% alone because of it. Our ER’s in my state is overflowing with people complaining of Asthma Attacks, Flu-Like Symptoms, Head Aches, Nose Bleeds, Heart Attacks/ Strokes and so many more. Now they are starting to switch up their game and dumping COAL FLY ASH. Another highly toxic element to worry about.
Water Purification Systems
Apr 07, 2016 @ 01:12:51
I appreciate your efforts. Clean water , one of the most important issues to date. It is really important to drink only clean , pure water to stay healthy. You have shared really helpful article. consumption of Impure water may cause to so many harmful diseases.
Everyone in the world should pay special attention to the water they are drinking. Be sure that water you and family drinking is pure and clean. Everyone should take necessary steps to keep water safe by not spreading dirt etc in water.
GREE
May 05, 2016 @ 03:40:36
This is really great that you show how important is clean water, not only for drinking but also for economy etc.
In developping countries people are not that aware and that is sad, they keep to throw rubbish in canals, thinking there will be no consequences. In Vietnam, water treatment is becoming more and more important for people and that is a good thing.
Pure Water
Sep 08, 2016 @ 03:06:25
Thanks for sharing really useful article . It is really true that we all need to drink only pure water to avoid diseases like cholera. If we drink impure water , we may suffer from dangerous water borne diseases, health diseases.
I appreciate your effort to spread awareness for drinking pure water.
Thoat vi dia dem
Sep 13, 2016 @ 05:58:55
Clear protections mean cleaner water.
Thats imazing, thank you!
www.caitaonhadep.vn
Nov 04, 2016 @ 05:31:16
EPA Thank you for your usefull article. Our planet is being polluted. we can suffer from dangerous water borne diseases and health diseases.
Steven Brewstet
Dec 22, 2016 @ 06:36:02
It’s true, Now a days pure water is very much essential for all of us. Pollution is a major problem for this century, that’s why pure water level goes lower and lower day by day. Pure water can protect us from all diseases. It is a great explanation about the reasons we need the clean water. Innovative rule. Thank You