American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Practice Exam

Which act establishes water quality standards for the nation's waters?

1. The Federal Water Management Act

2. The Federal Clean Water Act

3. The Federal Safe Drinking Water Act

4. The National Environmental Policy Act

The correct answer is: The Federal Clean Water Act

The Federal Clean Water Act is the legislation that establishes water quality standards for the nation’s waters. This act was first enacted in 1972 and has undergone several amendments over the years. Its primary goal is to regulate discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States and to ensure that the quality of water is maintained for the protection of both human health and the environment. Under the Clean Water Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is tasked with developing and enforcing regulations to manage water quality and overseeing the state implementation of water quality standards. While the other acts listed do deal with aspects of water and environmental protection, they do not focus specifically on water quality standards for surface waters in the same comprehensive manner as the Clean Water Act. For instance, the Safe Drinking Water Act primarily aims to protect the quality of drinking water supplies, the Federal Water Management Act does not exist as a singular piece of legislation, and the National Environmental Policy Act focuses on the overall environmental review process rather than specific water quality standards.