Dear ,
EPA has announced plans to revise the definition of 'waters of the United States'—a critical term in the Clean Water Act that determines which waterbodies are protected under federal law. We cannot afford to further weaken these vital safeguards.
There is still time to act!
Will you join us in urging EPA to offer the broadest possible protection for American waterbodies?
If a waterbody is not included in the Clean Water Act definition of “waters of the United States,” then industrial waste and municipal sewage (e.g. toxins, pathogens, carcinogens, and radioactive materials) can be dumped without federal treatment or pollution controls. This can contaminate drinking water supplies, kill fish in rivers and lakes, and make children sick when they go swimming.
Letting pollution flow into our shared water resources without protections will endanger communities and public health by way of contaminated drinking water. We may take safe drinking water for granted, but that luxury was hard fought. And if we are not vigilant, it can all go away.
EPA says they must revise the definition of “waters of the United States” in order to lower the cost of doing business. Yet, eliminating clean water protections would be a disaster for the economy when factoring in higher utility bills, exorbitant cleanup costs, flooding disaster damages, healthcare expenses, reduced agricultural production, and lost business opportunities.
We need EPA to prioritize people over corporate profits.
The deadline is fast approaching. Leave your own personalized comment today in support of fully protecting American waterways!
Sincerely,
Waterkeeper Alliance
