The document discusses the Clean Water Act and its impacts. It mentions NPDES permits, point and non-point sources, and TMDLs. It also notes that the percentage of waters considered fishable and swimmable increased from 36% in 1972 to 62% in 1998, and the population with access to adequate wastewater treatment rose from 32% to 74% over the same period. The amendments gave states and the EPA more power and required NPDES permits to limit pollutant releases to within established TMDL levels.