Mo. Rev. Stat. § 644.011 (2026)

  644.011.  Statement of policy. — Whereas the pollution of the waters of this state constitutes a menace to public health and welfare, creates a public nuisance, is harmful to wildlife, fish and aquatic life and impairs domestic, agricultural, industrial, recreational and other legitimate uses of water, and whereas the problem of water pollution in this state is closely related to the problem of water pollution in adjoining states, and whereas this state must possess the authority required of states in the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, if it is to retain control of its water pollution control programs, it is hereby declared to be the public policy of this state to conserve the waters of the state and to protect, maintain, and improve the quality thereof for public water supplies and for domestic, agricultural, industrial, recreational and other legitimate beneficial uses and for the propagation of wildlife, fish and aquatic life; to provide that no waste be discharged into any waters of the state without first receiving the necessary treatment or other corrective action to protect the legitimate beneficial uses of such waters and meet the requirements of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended; to provide for the prevention, abatement and control of new or existing water pollution; and to cooperate with other agencies of the state, agencies of other states, the federal government and any other persons in carrying out these objectives.  It is also the policy of this state to strive to meet these objectives while maintaining maximum employment and full industrial development of the state.  The commission shall seek the accomplishment of these objectives through the prevention, abatement, and control of water pollution by all practical and economically feasible methods.