The rule protects streams and wetlands that are key to public health, economy and communities.
It helps protect 117 million Americans’ health as most of them get drinking water from streams that don’t have protection from pollution.
According to the EPA, the rule provides certainty in how far safeguards extend to nearby waters and protects the country’s regional water treasures.
It focuses on streams, not ditches and maintains the status of waters within municipal separate storm sewer systems. The use of case-specific analysis of waters will also be reduced.
EPA administrator Gina McCarthy said: "Protecting our water sources is a critical component of adapting to climate change impacts like drought, sea level rise, stronger storms, and warmer temperatures – which is why EPA and the Army have finalized the Clean Water Rule to protect these important waters, so we can strengthen our economy and provide certainty to American businesses."
The rule only protects the types of waters that have been covered under the Clean Water Act.
It does not regulate majority of ditches, groundwater, shallow subsurface flows, or tile drains. Changes will not be made to existing policies on irrigation or water transfers or apply to erosion in a field.
Image: The Clean Water Rule protects streams and wetlands. Photo: courtesy of xedos4/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
