The year 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act (CWA), the nation’s first comprehensive legislation protecting water quality. The CWA established a goal of restoring and maintaining the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation’s waters for the use and benefit of every American. Since its passage in 1972, the levels of pollution in the United States have experienced a dramatic decrease.
There has been so much progress made by the Division of Water and the countless partner organizations across Kentucky to assess and manage the 90,000 miles of streams throughout the State. Of those streams, the Division has assessed 12,600 miles of streams and works to address known issues. The Division continues to focus on the importance of clean water, investment in clean water infrastructure and commitment to continued progress.