Of course permit standards mean little without enforcement. Enter public supplementation of agency enforcement efforts. Enforcement should be firm and efficient. Enforcement actions must result in costs higher for those violating the law than costs of compliance for those who abide by the law. Individuals impacted by water pollution and the public interest groups that champion their interests, such as Waste Action Project and the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, take up the slack and put the citizen suit provision to work to further the Clean Water Act's goals.
Liability is strict.
Violators of discharge elimination permits and unpermitted dischargers will often find themselves judged liable for what could be millions of dollars in civil penalties even before getting to trial. Citizen enforcement is potent stuff. For the sake of efficiency and the opportunity to fashion a resolution that best serves the zero discharge and fishable, swimmable Clean Water Act goals, citizen plaintiffs often choose to settle enforcement actions prior to final judgment. Citizens insist on full compliance with the law and applicable standards, usually negotiating with violators for reasonable timetables for the implementation of fixes. Instead of directing penalty money to the federal treasury for general use as would the court, citizens strive to use the penalty component of their available relief to directly enhance water quality.