Pollution pouring into nation's waters far beyond legal limits More than half of all industrial and municipal facilities across the country dumped more sewage and other pollutants into the nation's waterways than allowed under the Clean Water Act, according to a report released Thursday by an environmental group. California was among the 10 states with the highest percentage of facilities leaking more pollutants into waterways than their Clean Water Act permits allow, according to data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency obtained by the environmental group, U.S. PIRG. The report was based on EPA data obtained through the Freedom of Information Act for 2005, the most recent year available. Among the major findings: -- 3,600 major facilities nationwide - 57 percent of all facilities that must report to EPA - exceeded their Clean Water Act permits at least once in 2005. -- The average violation was almost four times the legal limit of what can be dumped into waterways. -- 628 facilities violated their Clean Water Act permits for at least half of the monthly reporting periods, and 85 sites exceeded their permits during every reporting period. The report's authors said the survey probably underestimates the problem because it looked only at data from major facilities, not smaller sites that also pollute....Go here to view the report. Hat Tip Grist