What are some of the important public-policy issues relating to water quality?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Since the enactment of the Clean Water Act in 1972, the number of Americans served by sewage treatment plants has increased from 85 million to 173 million. Many of our most heavily used rivers, lakes, and bays have been cleaned up and restored. EPA estimates that an additional $148 billion will be needed over the next 20 years to meet funding needs for all eligible municipal wastewater treatment systems. The amount represents a gap of about $6 billion between current annual expenditures and projected needs.
Problems in reauthorizing the act include debates "over whether requirements should be strengthened or weakened, whether additional mandates should be subjected to a cost/benefit analysis, and how regulatory relief should be provided to industries, states, cities, and individuals who are required to take actions to comply with the regulations."
"EPA has identified nonpoint-source pollution as the nation's number-one water pollution problem, with the construction of new wastewater treatment facilities not far behind. Other significant issues, including storm-water discharges, combined and separate sewer overflows, wetlands protection, and animal feeding operations, are also receiving the EPA's attention and are in Congress's sights for possible action. The continuing high percentage of the nation's water resources that fail to meet the water quality standards makes it clear that much remains to be accomplished."