What are the three main goals of the Clean Water Act (CWA)?

What are the three main goals of the Clean Water Act (CWA)?

• A. Increase recreational opportunities in freshwater
• B. Make waters safe for swimming, protect fish and wildlife, and eliminate the discharge of pollutants
• C. Enhance water supply for agriculture
• D. Promote water-based tourism

Answer: (B)

The three main goals of the Clean Water Act (CWA) focus on safeguarding the quality of the nation's waters by ensuring they are safe for various uses. The correct answer emphasizes making waters safe for swimming, protecting fish and wildlife, and eliminating the discharge of pollutants. This aligns with the CWA's core purpose of restoring and maintaining the integrity of the nation's waters. The emphasis on safety for swimming directly relates to public health considerations, while the protection of fish and wildlife speaks to ecological balance and conservation efforts. Additionally, the objective of eliminating pollutant discharges reflects the CWA's overarching aim of improving water quality and preventing pollution at its source. In contrast, while increasing recreational opportunities in freshwater, enhancing water supply for agriculture, and promoting water-based tourism are important issues, they are not the primary goals of the CWA. These aspects can be outcomes of improved water quality and management, but they do not encompass the main legal framework and objectives established by the CWA itself.

The three main goals of the Clean Water Act (CWA) focus on safeguarding the quality of the nation's waters by ensuring they are safe for various uses. The correct answer emphasizes making waters safe for swimming, protecting fish and wildlife, and eliminating the discharge of pollutants.

This aligns with the CWA's core purpose of restoring and maintaining the integrity of the nation's waters. The emphasis on safety for swimming directly relates to public health considerations, while the protection of fish and wildlife speaks to ecological balance and conservation efforts. Additionally, the objective of eliminating pollutant discharges reflects the CWA's overarching aim of improving water quality and preventing pollution at its source.

In contrast, while increasing recreational opportunities in freshwater, enhancing water supply for agriculture, and promoting water-based tourism are important issues, they are not the primary goals of the CWA. These aspects can be outcomes of improved water quality and management, but they do not encompass the main legal framework and objectives established by the CWA itself.