Clean Water Act
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![Nonpoint source pollutants, such as sediments, nutrients, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers,animal wastes and other substances that enter our water supply as components of runoff and ground water, have increased in relative significance and accounts for more than 50 percent of the pollution in U.S. waters.[12]](/Images/godic/202501/14/Percentages_sources_of_pollution_that_impair_water_bodies1557.gif")
The Clean Water Act (CWA) is the primary federal law in the United States governing water pollution. Its objective is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters by preventing point and nonpoint pollution sources, providing assistance to publicly owned treatment works for the improvement of wastewater treatment, and maintaining the integrity of wetlands. It is one of the United States' first and most influential modern environmental laws. As with many other major U.S. federal environmental statutes, it is administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in coordination with state governments. Its implementing regulations are codified at 40 C.F.R. Subchapters D, N, and O (Parts 100-140, 401-471, and 501-503).