The World

Clean Water Anniversary

The Clean Water Act turns 35 this month – time to take stock. Lakes and rivers are cleaner but nowhere near the Act’s goals.

The Clean Water Act turns 35 years old this month. American rivers, lakes, and wetlands are a lot healthier than they were before the law’s inception. But the act’s goal of “fishable, swimmable” waterways has still not been realized. Jeff Young reports on the success and shortcomings of the Clean Water Act.