"The Nader Report"--Spine. Introduction by Ralph Nader. Includes bibliographical references and index.

Focusing on the problem of water pollution, the authors critically evaluate the government's limited efforts to prevent the hazardous abuse of this natural resource. Part one. The danger -- Water wasteland -- Part two. Polluters and protectors -- People, profits, and pollution : municipal and industrial pollution -- Plusð ca change, plus c'est la mãeme chose : the federal water pollution control program -- Pollution for sale : detergents -- The forgotten polluters : non-point sources of pollution --Part three. Politics, action, and inaction -- Discretion and dereliction -- Better late than never : the Lake Superior story -- With a little help from their friends -- The squeaky wheel gets the grease : public pressure and pollution control -- Part four. Law and order -- Law and order -- A uniquely local problem -- Private property, keep out : information on pollution -- Time is money -- The rise and fall of a mirage : federal water quality standards -- Hope springs eternal : the refuse act of 1899 -- Part five. The new federalism -- Talk is cheap -- Subsidies abused, sanctions unused -- Janus' other face : the federal government as polluter -- Innovation and obfuscation : the uses and abuses of pollution control research.