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EPA Joins State Officials to Celebrate Clean Water Act Anniversary

Release Date: 10/18/2002
Contact Information: Leo Kay

Agency Gives $79,000 to State for Stormwater Permitting, Recognizes State Leaders

    SAN FRANCISCO   On the 30th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, EPA Regional Administrator Wayne Nastri presented the state of Arizona with only one of three $79,000 innovation grants given nationwide to support the state's stormwater permitting program.

     Nastri also announced that the cities of Glendale, Mesa, Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe have been awarded first place in the EPA's national pretreatment award for municipalities.  The award recognizes the Phoenix area cities' partnership in treating industrial wastewater before it reaches local treatment plants.

    "Today's a great day to celebrate our successes to date in combatting water pollution, while refocusing our efforts to protect the water we drink, swim and play in," Nastri said.  "Arizonans at both the state and local level continue to lead the way in looking for smart, effective ways to protect our waterways.  As an Arizona native, I welcome this opportunity to move forward with our state and local partners in keeping our waters clean."

    Since the Clean Water Act's inception in 1972, the EPA has:

         Provided over $80 billion in wastewater assistance, dramatically increasing the number of      Americans enjoying better water quality;

         Prevented the discharge of more than 700 billion pounds per year of pollutants; and,
          Helped increase the number of people getting safe drinking water by more than 40      million in the last decade.

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