protect navigable waters from pollution

verb phrase

1. to keep rivers, lakes, coastal waters, or other bodies of water that are deep or wide enough for boats to travel on free from harmful substances or contamination, especially as a legal or environmental duty

   C1

   transitive verb phrase; pattern: protect something from something; formal/legal contextformal, legal, environmental

   • "The new rules are meant to protect navigable waters from pollution."B1
   • "Environmental groups asked the court to make the agency protect navigable waters from pollution."B2
   • "Local groups are working to protect navigable waters from pollution caused by industrial waste."B2
   • "Under the Clean Water Act, federal agencies must protect navigable waters from pollution."C1