Clean Water Act

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

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.

The Dirty Water Rule would mean more oil and gas wastewater in rivers and streams.

March 28, 2019 | By Andrew Grinberg

New analysis finds big impacts in oil producing states

For decades, oil and gas industry growth has been enabled by slashing protections for water. Some of the most common forms of oil and gas production benefit from federal loopholes and policies that remove water protections in order to streamline

New agreements show slow progress in fixing Baltimore sewer spills

June 6, 2016 | By Jennifer Kunze

One of my favorite places to ride my bike in Baltimore is the Jones Falls Trail between North Avenue and Druid Hill Park. The trail follows the last section of the Jones Falls before it flows underground in pipes underneath downtown on its way to the Inner Harbor, in a narrow stream valley below the

This sign along the Jones Falls Trail warns walkers, runners, and bikers of the sewer pipe that empties into the Jones Falls below the trail. Photo by Jennifer Kunze

Photo by Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, 2004.

Our disconnect with water: Scott Pond and linking individual actions to the health of our waters

May 9, 2016 | By Johnathan Berard

Earlier this month, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and Department of Health released an advisory to avoid contact with Scott Pond in Lincoln, Rhode Island due to the presence of blue-green algae in the water.

Not only should adults avoid contact with the water, it said