Under the Clean Water Act of 1972, which action is unlawful without a permit?

• A. It is unlawful to discharge pollutants from a point source into navigable waters without a permit
• B. It prohibits the use of any pesticides in waterways
• C. It requires no permit for discharges into navigable waters
• D. It only applies to wastewater treatment plants

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that the Clean Water Act requires a permit for discharges of pollutants from a point source into navigable waters. A permit under the Act (the NPDES permit) controls and limits what can be discharged and under what conditions. So discharging pollutants from a discrete conduit like a pipe or ditch into a river, lake, or other navigable water without that permit is unlawful because it bypasses the authorization and limitations the law sets.

Pesticide use and other activities may be regulated in different ways, and the Act’s permit requirement applies broadly to discharges from point sources into navigable waters, not to a blanket prohibition on pesticides. The Act also covers more than just wastewater treatment plants; many types of discharges and facilities fall under its permit program.