NACWA 2019 Winter Conference

In passing the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), Congress had two different goals and objectives in mind. The CWA aimed to mitigate point source pollution and achieve the goal of “fishable and swimmable” waters. The SDWA focused its sights on protection of public health and providing safe, high quality drinking water from source to tap. Over the last 50 years, programs under each Act have matured independently, but perhaps now more than ever, wastewater and drinking water issues are overlapping in the real world. NACWA’s 2019 Winter Conference takes an in-depth look at the progress of the CWA, its nexus with the SDWA, and asks whether the palpable intersection between these monumental environmental statutes breeds conflict or collaboration for the water sector?