M5.2 Public health importance of safe drinking-water

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Before 1972, there was little regulation over water pollution. I can only imagine how many pollutants were discharged prior to this date and how many of them are still present in the environmental crisis we have today. The first time water pollution was addressed was through the now amended Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1948, which laid down the foundation of the Clean Water Act of 1972 (CWA). The CWA of 1972 gave power to the EPA to control pollution regulations and created standards for disposal. Basically, this law made it illegal to dump pollutants, or, at least not without a permit and enforces waste management disposal under the EPA. Thanks to this law, water has become a much more protected resource which not only benefits the environment but the health and wellbeing of the humans and animals that depend on it for survival. It protects public health by ensuring that we have safe drinking water and safe use of such a valuable resource.


Comments

  1. AnonymousSeptember 29, 2018 at 3:31 PM

    It really is shocking to think about just how polluted our waterways were before this legislation. We take it for granted these days, but laws like these are the only defense we have against polluters - corporate, public, large and small businesses - dumping harmful chemicals into the environment.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sintia ShahbazSeptember 30, 2018 at 8:39 PM

    I personally never even thought about water having a special law in order to be regulated, after this I am so thankful for this. It is just still sad because after all these regulations theres still a lot of improvements that need to be done.

    ReplyDelete

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