Friend, the Clean Water Act turns 49 next week, and we’re ratcheting up efforts NOW to protect and restore the effectiveness of this vital law by its 50th anniversary.
The Act was visionary legislation in 1972, but in the intervening decades, loud industry voices persuaded politicians to chip away at its scope and ease enforcement. The result? 70% of assessed U.S. lakes and reservoirs are now deemed “impaired” by pollution.
The Clean Water Act established a broad scope to protect the “waters of the United States” — and it was highly effective in addressing the worst pollution crises of its time.
But nearly half a century later, Friend, our waters are still at risk:
Dangerous chemicals that can take thousands of years to break down, called “PFAS,” remain unregulated under the Act.
Industrial factory farms, also known as CAFOs, are not being required to obtain permits or meet protective standards to stop them from polluting waterways.
State and federal agencies are not enforcing the Clean Water Act as Congress intended.
It will take steady support to implement the full suite of activities needed to restore the Act by its Act’s 50th anniversary — and we’re calling on 50 members of this community to step up and start a monthly gift, now.
