Initially, what was the focus of the Clean Water Act?

The initial focus of the Clean Water Act was primarily on ensuring the quality of water bodies by targeting sewage treatment plants and industrial discharges. The act, originally enacted in 1948 and significantly restructured in 1972, was designed to regulate the discharge of pollutants into navigable waters and set the framework for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).

This legislation aimed to improve water quality by explicitly holding municipalities and industries accountable for the wastewater they released. Treatment plants were identified as crucial points of pollution control because they process sewage before it enters water bodies, thus protecting public health and aquatic ecosystems. Over time, the scope of the Clean Water Act expanded to include other factors like stormwater management and agricultural runoff, but the cornerstone focus at its inception was on treatment plants and industrial sites where significant pollution was stemming from specific discharges.