CWA

Abbreviation with 2 meanings

CWA
Stands forClean Water Act
Meanings2
CategoriesGovernment & Politics, Organizations & Companies

CWA has two meanings. It stands for Clean Water Act (US law) or Communications Workers of America (professional association and labor union).

Meanings of CWA at a glance

#CWA stands forContext
1Clean Water ActGovernment & Politics › US Law
2Communications Workers of AmericaOrganizations & Companies › Professional Association and Labor Union

1. Clean Water Act

Government & Politics · US Law Abbreviations

Principal federal law on water pollution, which bans discharges into "waters of the United States" without a permit, sets wastewater standards and regulates filling of wetlands through permits from the Army Corps of Engineers.

Example: The factory needs a CWA discharge permit before releasing treated water into the river.

It began as the 1972 amendments to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, passed over President Nixon's veto. Which wetlands and streams count as "waters of the United States" has been fought over for decades; Sackett v. EPA (2023) narrowed federal jurisdiction over wetlands. In labor news, CWA means the Communications Workers of America union.

2. Communications Workers of America

Organizations & Companies · Professional Association and Labor Union Abbreviations

Bargains for workers in telecommunications, media and journalism, airlines, manufacturing, public service, technology and video games in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

Example: CWA members at the phone company walked out over outsourcing of call-center jobs.

It traces its origins to the National Federation of Telephone Workers, formed in 1938, and took its current name in 1947. The NewsGuild and the Association of Flight Attendants are now part of CWA. In recent years it has organized video game workers. In environmental law, CWA means the Clean Water Act.

More US law abbreviations

  • COPPA – Children's Online Privacy Protection Act
  • CRA – Civil Rights Act of 1964
  • CSA – Controlled Substances Act
  • CTA – Corporate Transparency Act
  • DADT – Don't ask, don't tell
  • DMCA – Digital Millennium Copyright Act
  • DOMA – Defense of Marriage Act
  • DREAM Act – Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act

See all 104 US law abbreviations →

More professional association and labor union abbreviations

  • BMA – British Medical Association
  • CLC – Canadian Labour Congress
  • CUPE – Canadian Union of Public Employees
  • DGA – Directors Guild of America
  • FINRA – Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
  • FOP – Fraternal Order of Police
  • GMB – GMB
  • IAFF – International Association of Fire Fighters

See all 95 professional association and labor union abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.