BALTIMORE, MD (October 18, 2013) – Today marks the 41st  anniversary of the signing of the Clean Water Act, legislation that has been instrumental in improving the health of rivers, lakes, streams and coastal waters throughout Maryland and the nation. This landmark legislation ensured that all Americans have access to clean, pollution-free drinking water.

The Chesapeake Bay Watershed states will celebrate their own clean water milestone this year with the 30th anniversary of the first Chesapeake Bay Agreement.  The Agreement was the first pledge by political leaders to work together to restore the Chesapeake Bay.  In the years since the agreement was signed, significant progress has been made in identifying and eliminating harmful pollutants from our waterways and developing meaningful programs that help track our progress and measure our success. To date, Maryland has achieved 75 percent of its 2025 pollution reduction goals.