The Clean Water Act regulates the discharge of pollutants into which type of waters?

The Clean Water Act primarily regulates the discharge of pollutants into navigable waters, which are defined as waters that could affect interstate or foreign commerce. This includes rivers, lakes, and oceans, as well as waters that are connected to these navigable bodies. The focus of the Act is to maintain and restore the integrity of the nation's waters by controlling the discharge of pollutants into these areas.

Navigable waters are critical because they are significant in terms of providing habitats for wildlife, recreational opportunities, and resources for human use, while also being important for commerce and transportation. The Act sets standards for water quality and limits the types and amounts of pollutants that can be discharged into these waters, thereby ensuring their protection and the overall health of the aquatic ecosystems.

The other options, such as groundwater, storm drains, and wetlands, fall under different regulatory frameworks or may be subject to specific state or local regulations. The Clean Water Act does have provisions that can pertain to wetlands, particularly in their relationship to navigable waters, but the primary regulation is focused on the aforementioned navigable waters.