By now, most people are aware of the devastating impacts coal mining — especially the kind that removes entire mountaintops — can have on water and on the natural landscapes where it takes place. Similarly, the pollution that spews from power plant stacks where coal is burned is widely understood as a major water pollution source and public health threat, to say nothing of the added global warming burden. Mercury from coal plants is one of the main sources of contamination that has made so many fish caught by recreational fishing unsafe to eat.

we can’t live without clean water. it’s that simple.

But sometimes, the people we elect seem to forget that. They’ve been forgetting it a lot lately in Washington, DC and in too many of our state capitols. But with your support, we keep reminding them how important clean water is… to our health, to our quality of life, to our economy and to our jobs!

This fall marked the 39th anniversary of the Clean Water Act — one of our most successful environmental laws ever! The Clean Water Act has restored lakes, rivers and streams around the country to health. Because of this law, the Cuyahoga River doesn’t catch on fire, our Great Lakes have come back to life, and thousands of rivers and streams are healthier now than they’ve been in fifty years! But instead of celebrating our progress, those of us who care about our water find ourselves defending against an all-out assault.

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