What is the main objective of the Clean Water Act (CWA)?

The main objective of the Clean Water Act (CWA) is to restore and maintain the integrity of the nation’s waters. This comprehensive goal encompasses a wide range of water quality issues, focusing on reducing pollution in surface waters and ensuring that water bodies are suitable for various activities such as swimming, fishing, and ecosystem health. The act emphasizes the protection of waterways to safeguard public health, wildlife, and recreational uses.

While there are important aspects concerning drinking water quality, flood management, and ecosystem services like fishing, these are either secondary to the CWA's primary mission or fall under other specific regulations or acts. The CWA is fundamentally about the overall health and cleanliness of the nation's waters, making the selected answer the most accurate representation of its core objective.