What is Clean Water Act? Explain Safe Drinking Water Act. Discuss in brief about European Legislation in water quality.

Clean Water Act (CWA):
The Clean Water Act is a comprehensive federal law enacted in the United States in 1972 with the objective of regulating and improving the quality of surface waters, including lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, and coastal areas. The primary goals of the Clean Water Act are to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters, and to eliminate the discharge of pollutants into navigable waters. The CWA establishes a framework for regulating point sources of pollution (e.g., industrial discharges) and non-point sources (e.g., runoff from agriculture), setting water quality standards, and establishing pollution control programs. It also authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set effluent limitations for various industries and to issue permits for discharges into water bodies.

Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA):
The Safe Drinking Water Act is another key federal law in the United States, passed in 1974, aimed at protecting public health by regulating the quality of drinking water supplies. The SDWA authorizes the EPA to set national standards for drinking water quality, establish maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for various pollutants, and oversee public water systems to ensure compliance with these standards. The law also requires regular monitoring, reporting, and treatment of drinking water to safeguard against contaminants such as bacteria, lead, arsenic, pesticides, and other harmful substances.

European Legislation in Water Quality:
In Europe, water quality is governed by several directives and regulations established by the European Union (EU) to protect and improve the quality of surface water, groundwater, and coastal waters. Key legislation includes:

1. Water Framework Directive (WFD): Adopted in 2000, the WFD aims to achieve good ecological status of all EU surface waters and prevent further deterioration. It establishes a framework for integrated river basin management, setting environmental objectives, monitoring requirements, and measures to address pollution and water scarcity.

2. Drinking Water Directive: This directive sets standards for the quality of water intended for human consumption, including parameters for microbiological, chemical, and indicator organisms. The directive ensures that drinking water is safe, clean, and free from contaminants that pose risks to public health.

3. Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD): The UWWTD requires Member States to collect and treat urban wastewater to protect water bodies from pollution. It sets standards for wastewater treatment and discharge to prevent contamination of surface and groundwater.

4. Nitrates Directive: This directive aims to protect water quality from agricultural pollution by regulating the use of nitrogen-based fertilizers to prevent nitrate pollution of water bodies.

These European legislative measures contribute to the protection and sustainable management of water resources, ensuring safe drinking water, healthy aquatic ecosystems, and compliance with international environmental standards.