U.S. Clean Water Act (CWA)
primary objective is to restore and maintain the integrity of the nation's waters. This objective translates into two fundamental national goals:
- eliminate the discharge of pollutants into the nation's waters, and
- achieve water quality levels that are fishable and swimmable
1) all waters must be assessed for water quality based upon federal and state standards in light of the established designated uses for the water body
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- Designated Uses in Texas: aquatic life, general use, contact recreation, noncontact recreation, public water supply
- If the use is not being supported, it is termed “use impairment”
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2) corrective action for water bodies that are in violation(s) must be undertaken