Water

Laws governing water and waterways in the United States are shaped by federal statutes such as the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1977 and state surface and groundwater laws. Together, these regulate matters like water quality, water quantity, water ecosystems, water recreations, permitting, wastewater and stormwater discharges, and drinking water systems.

For environmental lawyers, water law sits at the intersection of public health, infrastructure, and competing water rights. Legal disputes and issues of concern to ACOEL fellows include regulatory jurisdiction, water quality standards, permitting decisions, infrastructure investment, pollution control, and access, among many others.