The Clean Water Act passed in 1972, was instrumental in improving water quality in the Great Lakes by setting pollution control standards.

One important environmental regulation that aims to improve water quality throughout the United States, including the Great Lakes, is the Clean Water Act of 1972. This law created the foundation for controlling pollutants discharged into water bodies and set national water quality standards. The law mandated that industries treat wastewater before releasing it into navigable waters and made it unlawful to release dangerous contaminants into these waters without a permit. The Clean Water Act is an essential instrument for safeguarding these priceless water resources since it has significantly reduced pollution, restored ecosystems, and improved the quality of the Great Lakes' water.