Water Pollution Control Legislation

Abstract

A number of federal and California state laws have been enacted to protect water quality. Pollution from " point sources " such as industry and wastewater treatment plants has received the most attention during the past 20 years and now these facili-ties operate under permit systems. Nonpoint source pollution from agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, septic systems, marinas, forestry, and other sources is now receiv-ing increased attention. The following federal and state laws provide the State of California with authority to regulate both point and nonpoint sources of pollution, including pollution from irrigated agriculture.