Supreme Court Weakens Clean Water Act, Eases Sewage Discharge Limits

In a significant ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court decided 5-4 against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the case of City and County of San Francisco v. EPA, effectively weakening the Clean Water Act's provisions regarding sewage discharge permits. The Court found that the EPA exceeded its authority by including 'end result' requirements in permits that did not specify how permit holders should achieve compliance with water quality standards. Justice Samuel Alito, writing for the majority, argued that these provisions were not authorized under the Clean Water Act, a stance met with dissent from Justice Amy Coney Barrett and the three liberal justices who contended that the ruling prioritizes polluter interests over environmental protections. Critics warn that this decision enables cities to release more untreated sewage into waterways, jeopardizing public health and ecosystem integrity. The ruling represents a broader trend under the current Court to reduce federal environmental regulations. This decision has raised concerns among environmental advocates about the future of water quality protections in the U.S.