The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1974 

•Its objective is 

to provide prevention and control of water pollution 

maintaining or restoring of wholesomeness and purity of water in the various sources of water

•It vests regulatory authority in Centre Pollution Control Boards (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB).

•It empowers CPCB and SPCB to establish and enforce effluent standards for factories discharging pollutants into water bodies.

•CPCB performs these same functions for Union Territories. It also formulates policies related to the prevention of water pollution and coordinates activities of different State Boards.

•SPCB control sewage and industrial effluent discharge by approving, rejecting or impose conditions while granting consent to discharge.