EPA | Clean Water Action

Using Water Pollution Permits to Keep PFAS out of Drinking Water

May 2, 2022 | By Jennifer Peters

Last week EPA issued a memo detailing how the agency will use its water pollution permitting program to limit discharges of PFAS to rivers, streams, lakes, and other water bodies. As we’ve written before on our blog, the Clean Water Act has many tools that can be used to keep these toxic fluorinated “forever chemicals” out of our water. Benefits include shifting the burden away from drinking water systems and communities to clean-up PFAS and back on to the industries that financially benefit from using these chemicals. This memo is a welcome step, but more urgent action is needed.

lean water-pollution-discharge water testing_image from canva

The future is unwritten.

October 22, 2020 | By Neil Bhaerman

Neil Bhaerman is a Clean Water Action member and former Clean Water Action phone canvasser and Communications Manager. He currently directs communications for the Ohio Federation of Teachers.

I’m sorry. Four years ago, the week before the 2016 election, I wrote this, a look into a possible future

EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Proposal: Failing to Protect Public Health

February 11, 2020 | By Kim Gaddy

Today, I was honored to testify at the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change Hearing on EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Proposal: Failing to Protect Public Health.

Corroded pipe with lead service fittings. Credit: Mike Thomas / Creative Commons

Denver Water’s Plan to Get the Lead Out While Protecting Our Watersheds

October 4, 2019 | By Jennifer Peters

Denver Water’s Lead Reduction Program Plan is the culmination of a rigorous, 18-month-long stakeholder process that included federal, state, and local agencies, wastewater and drinking water utilities, and environmental and conservation organizations. Clean Water Action staff attended numerous stakeholder meetings and submitted a letter of support for Denver Water’s July 2019 draft plan. We strongly support the revised plan and are pleased that Denver Water incorporated many of our recommendations into its final proposal to EPA.

Trump’s polluter handout threatens your right to clean water – comment by April 15th!

April 12, 2019 | By Jennifer Peters

On April 10th, Trump issued an Executive Order that limits states’ ability to protect their own water resources from harmful pipelines and other dirty energy projects.

Green infrastructure projects like this rain garden in East Baltimore hold rainwater in place until it can soak into the ground and reduce the total volume of water entering the storm drain system. Photo by Jennifer Kunze.

Reducing Stormwater Runoff in the Chesapeake Bay

August 8, 2016 | By Abigail Pearse

Stormwater runoff is one of the leading contributors to pollution in the Chesapeake Bay. After big storms, the water carries whatever is on the ground and in the streets into our waterways. Impervious surfaces, such as the roads and pavement that cover densely populated areas, don’t allow rain to seep into the ground, causing more polluted stormwater to enter the Bay.