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The Clean Water Act The Clean Water Act, one of the most successful environmental laws in our nation's history, has been protecting our wetlands, stream, and lakes for over 35 years. You can read the full text of the Clean Water Act, as amended in 1987. Thanks to the Clean Water Act, today nearly two-thirds of our lakes and rivers are safe for swimming, compared to just 36% in 1972. However, we have not yet achieved the Act's goals to make all our waters safe for fishing and swimming; nor have we eliminated discharge of all pollutants into the nation's lakes, rivers, and coastal waters. The federal government is taking steps to make the Clean Water Act less effective at a time when we really need to be strengthening the Act. Read the Sierra Club's frequently asked questions about how recent Supreme Court decisions will affect our clean water protections to learn more. Up to Top HOME | Email Signup | About Us | Contact Us | Terms of Use | © 2008 Sierra Club