What federal law sets water quality standards for surface waters?

The Clean Water Act is the federal law that establishes the framework for regulating the discharge of pollutants into the waters of the United States and sets water quality standards for surface waters. The primary goal of this legislation is to restore and maintain the integrity of the nation's waters by preventing point and nonpoint source pollution, providing assistance to publicly owned treatment works for improvements, and maintaining the quality of water suitable for fishing, swimming, and other recreational activities.

The Clean Water Act also authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set water quality standards that protect both human health and the environment. This law has been crucial in addressing various pollution issues affecting rivers, lakes, streams, and other bodies of water.

In contrast, the Safe Drinking Water Act primarily focuses on protecting drinking water sources and ensuring that public water systems adequately safeguard public health. The Clean Air Act deals with air quality and pollution control, while the Endangered Species Act is aimed at protecting endangered plant and animal species and their habitats, rather than addressing water quality.