In 1972 the Clean Water Act further broadened the law, as Congress became concerned about pollution and water quality, spurred by high-profile incidents such as the Cuyahoga River catching fire in 1969.

WSJ: Federal Offenses: Sewage Blunder Earns Building Engineer a Criminal Record

"Scottish Water, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and the local authorities already work closely with Keep Scotland Beautiful to ensure that the information provided to the public about water quality and short-term pollution incidents is accurate and up-to-date at the beaches, " he said.

BBC: Blue Flag beaches 'should lose top award'

The main beach in Weston-super-Mare received a pass in the MCS Good Beach Guide study, which focuses entirely on water quality standards and the risk of sewage pollution.

BBC: Weston Uphill Slipway beach fails water quality standard

Its Ohio River basin water-quality trading project will allow those facing high pollution-control costs to buy reduction credits from those whose costs are lower.

ECONOMIST: Nutrient pollution

They included disruption to operations from drought or flooding, declining water quality that required costly on-site pretreatment, increases in water prices, and fines and litigation relating to pollution incidents.

FORBES: A New Tool To Manage Companies' Growing Water Risks

Water quality issues also create risk for companies, from stricter pollution standards on their own effluent to other entities polluting water upstream, requiring them to clean up water prior to use.

FORBES: A New Tool To Manage Companies' Growing Water Risks

The film highlights key water quality problems such as lack of access to safe water and sanitation, inefficient wastewater management in urban areas, water pollution caused by intensive use of nutrients and chemicals in agriculture, the invisible threat of new and emerging pollutants in water and the economic costs of water quality degradation.

UNESCO: MEDIA SERVICES