Clean Water Laws

Clean Water is an Essential Basic Need

In the 1970s, America passed landmark legislation demonstrating our commitment to healthy rivers and safe drinking water. Since then, the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act have allowed us to make remarkable progress in cleaning up our waters and improving the safety of our drinking water. Alarmingly, attacks on environmental protection at the federal and state level and specific attempts to roll back the Clean Water Act have threatened the health and safety of our waters.

Problem: Our Streams, Wetlands, and Drinking Water are Under Attack

Along with many other attacks on our environmental laws, the previous Administration curtailed the protections afforded to streams and wetlands in the Clean Water Act by illegally narrowing the class of waters that receive protection under the Act. The smaller streams and the wetlands that have been singled out are vital to the health of our larger streams and rivers and also to the health of our drinking water, and we must fight to protect them.

Solution: Fight the Rollbacks

Consider becoming a member of Prairie Rivers Network so you can help our experts continue the fight to protect landmark legislation like the Clean Water Act. We have to speak louder…fight harder…and do everything we can to protect our right to clean water. Take action when called upon. Let your government representatives know how important clean water is to you and your loved ones. Key actions that we are working on to help the public defend the Clean Water Act include:

• Transforming public perception and values, linking human well-being and happiness to nature’s health and diversity
• Educating and empower people to stand up for their local lands, waters, and wildlife