Final answer:
The Cuyahoga River caught fire in 1969 due to severe pollution, drawing attention to environmental issues and leading to the passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972 to improve water quality and reduce pollution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Cuyahoga River event was significant because it was so polluted that it caught fire in 1969, highlighting the severe environmental issues of the time. This incident helped to galvanize public opinion and increase awareness about the environmental impacts of industrial pollution. It became a symbol of the pollution crisis and ultimately triggered a series of legislative actions. One of the most important outcomes was the enactment of the Clean Water Act in 1972, which set regulations to maintain and restore water quality, making it illegal to dump pollution into surface water without a permit.
The Clean Water Act has had significant success in improving water quality, although continued progress is necessary. This act and related environmental legislation emerged as a response to the heightened consciousness of the environmental costs of industrialization, symbolized by the Cuyahoga River fire. As a result of these efforts, there have been improvements in the environmental practices regarding waste disposal in rivers and other bodies of water.