The same four decades that have brought one Clean Water Act success after another have also brought change and accomplishment for Clean Water Action, founded just as the law was getting its start. Clean Water Action has grown from a tiny DC-based operation to become the nation’s largest, most effective grassroots organization active on water, energy and environmental health issues. Clean Water Action has one million members and on-the-ground programs directly reaching people in more than seventeen states and the District of Columbia.

 

What are some of the things that make Clean Water Action so successful? Here are some of the answers offered by organizational staff and leaders from around the country:

“Everyone cares about our water. Clean Water Action brings a “water-first” approach to so many issues. That
makes it easier for people to understand and get involved.
Our work for energy alternatives that protect our water and
move us away from old dirty energy sources is a great example.”

 

“To protect water, you need a democracy that works so the playing field is not
tilted in favor of the polluters. You gotta get people involved, and that’s what
Clean Water Action does best. We’re out there every night, knocking on doors,
on the phones. People talking to people, listening to learn what issues matter most,
and giving people the tools and information they need to make a difference.”

 

“If you only fight for clean water in Washington, DC, you’ll never win. You have to be strategic. 
That means creating solutions at the grassroots community level, in county and city
offices, and in state legislatures, working with businesses and with labor, and not just with environmentalists in the suburbs. Nobody is more strategic and gets more grassroots wins 
than Clean Water Action, and that all adds up to make bigger national changes possible.”

 

“Clean Water Action isn’t afraid to get involved with politics and elections. We run some of
the most ef-fective environmental campaigns out there, and it works. Too many elected officials will vote against clean water and side with the polluters if they think they can
get away with it. We need to hold them ac-countable. They need to know that people 
who care about clean water are watching, and are going to be voting.”

 “Clean Water Action members and volunteers are the real secret to
our success. When our members take action we get results.
Our members are regular people, all kinds of folks. But they’re special, too, because they not only care deeply about our water and our health, they’re doing something about it.”