Water Pollution Control Act

The Water Pollution Control Act governs the discharge of pollutants and other harmful deposits into a state's waters, declaring a general anti-pollution policy and vesting continuing jurisdiction over water quality in a state environmental agency and its director. Its central mechanism is a permit program — discharges are prohibited without a permit — supported by water quality standards and effluent limitations, application and annual permit fees that fund water quality management, inspections, compliance and emergency orders, and requirements to carry out remedial action and report progress. Enforcement ranges from administrative and civil penalties and injunctive relief to criminal prosecution, along with liability for response costs and for damage to fish and aquatic life, with agency decisions subject to appeal before a state environmental review board.

Editorial summary generated from the text of this act. It is not part of the statute — read the sections below for the operative language.