Today, Clean Water Action urged aggressive action to prevent pollution in the wake of new information about manufacturers dumping drugs into America's waters.

The Associated Press issued an update on its ongoing PharmaWater investigation of drugs in drinking water. The report found that at least 271 million pounds of pharmaceuticals have been released into our waterways and now contaminate the drinking water of at least 51 million Americans, though "[m]ost cities and water providers do not test."

Today, Clean Water Action urged aggressive action to prevent pollution in the wake of new information about manufacturers dumping drugs into America's waters.

The Associated Press issued an update on its ongoing PharmaWater investigation of drugs in drinking water. The report found that at least 271 million pounds of pharmaceuticals have been released into our waterways and now contaminate the drinking water of at least 51 million Americans, though "[m]ost cities and water providers do not test."

Summer 2009, Volume 37, No. 2

Children's bubble baths should be clean, safe and fun. But No More Toxic Tub, a report published in March 2009 by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics in partnership with Clean Water Action and other organizations, found contaminants and other hazardous ingredients in numerous popular shampoos, soaps and body care products marketed to babies and children. The report lists 38 products that were shown to be contaminated with the carcinogenic chemicals formaldehyde, 1,4-dioxane or both, although neither contaminant appears on product labels.

How the Supreme Court Has Broken the Clean Water Act and Why Congress Must Fix It

Washington, DC - For decades, the Clean Water Act has broadly protected America's lakes, rivers, streams, and drinking water sources from unregulated pollution and destruction, rescuing them from the dire straits they were in during the late 1960s and early 1970s. But because of a concerted effort by polluters and developers, and muddied rulings from the U.S. Supreme Court, up to 60 percent (at least 15,000 important waters) have lost these vital protections and countless other waters (including more than 50 percent of our streams and 20 million acres of wetlands) are at risk of losing protections.

Executive Summary

For decades, the Clean Water Act protected the Nation's surface water bodies from unregulated pollution and rescued them from the crisis status they were in during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Now these vital protections are being lost. This report details the threat to our Nation's waters by examining dozens of case studies, and highlights the urgent need for Congress to restore full Clean Water Act protections to our waters.

In this issue of Clean Water Currents|Online:

For California Woman, Protecting A River Can Cost You A Job
Heather Wylie traded her job for a river. And, given the choice, she'd do it again.

Clean Water Currents|Online, Summer 2009, Volume 37, No. 2

Clean Water Currents|Online, Summer 2009, Volume 37, No. 2

Legislation introduced in the United States Senate April 2 would restore critical Clean Water Act protections lost through six years of confusing and contradictory court and government agency decisions.

The Clean Water Restoration Act was introduced by Sen. Russell Feingold, D-WI, and several co-sponsors.

Clean Water Currents|Online, Summer 2009, Volume 37, No. 2

Surely you've seen the ads. They are scattered around the internet and splashed across our newspapers and magazines. Their commercials interrupt our favorite television shows and invade our local radio station's airspace. Yes, the ads are everywhere. But that doesn't make them true.

No PR campaign, no matter how well executed, can make coal clean. It's simply not possible.

Six-legged frogs may seem a better fit for the Sci-Fi Channel than PBS, but these creatures are no product of the imagination. They are a very real reminder that America's waters are poisoned.