Is clean water a right for all or a privilege for some? The U.S. House of Representatives is getting ready to vote on the PERMIT Act (H.R. 3898), a bill disguised as a beneficial infrastructure plan that could reverse decades of protections for our rivers, lakes, wetlands, and drinking water. It’s really a corporate giveaway. Instead […] The post Our Water Is NOT for Sale! appeared first on Waterkeeper.| Waterkeeper
Godfrey Kitimbo is the Kyoga Nile Waterkeeper in Uganda. He was born and raised along the NIle River in Jinja, Uganda. His parents were raised nearby alongside Lake Kyoga in a community that depended on the fresh water source for fishing, farming, transportation, and drinking water. Godfrey’s deep-rooted connection to this ecosystem, along with his […] The post Who Is Waterkeeper, Godfrey Kitimbo, Kyoga Nile Waterkeeper appeared first on Waterkeeper.| Waterkeeper
Despite the world’s worsening plastic pollution crisis, global leaders failed to reach consensus on a legally binding global plastics treaty during the second part of the fifth round of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2), which just concluded in Geneva. While negotiations stalled, Waterkeeper Alliance and our partners were on the ground mobilizing support to demand […] The post Waterkeeper Alliance to World Leaders: The Planet Can’t Wait, Cut Plastic Pollution Now a...| Waterkeeper
Waterkeeper Alliance recently took part in a community cleanup hosted by Hudson Riverkeeper, in partnership with Riverside Park Conservancy and HSBC. We were joined by 100 volunteers and interns to collect discarded bottles, bottle caps, other waste – even bicycles from both the surrounding area and the river. One intern discovered an entire container of […] The post Hudson Riverkeeper Clean-up Event appeared first on Waterkeeper.| Waterkeeper
Ben Ford has only been the Miles-Wye Riverkeeper in Maryland since 2023, but has spent most of his life exploring and enjoying the watershed. Ben grew up boating on the Miles River and tributaries of the nearby Choptank River. Some of his earliest memories include fishing for crabs off of his uncle’s dock or sailing […] The post Who Is Waterkeeper: Benjamin Ford, Miles-Wye Riverkeeper appeared first on Waterkeeper.| Waterkeeper
Waterkeeper Alliance, the Center for Biological Diversity, Friends of the Earth, and Sierra Club have submitted comments strongly condemning the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ proposal to reissue its Nationwide Permit program. Changes proposed by the Trump administration would pave the way for even more harmful and toxic activities in sensitive waters and wetlands across […] The post Army Corps Hands Industry Blank Check to Harm Nation’s Waters appeared first on Waterkeeper.| Waterkeeper
Plastic pollution continues to pose a grave threat to waterways and communities around the world. Unfortunately, delegates at the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee failed in December 2024 to finalize an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution. However, there is a final session scheduled to take place from August 4th to August 14th, 2025 in Switzerland. […] The post Call Upon Secretary Rubio to Negotiate the Strongest Possible Global Plastics Treaty! appeared firs...| Waterkeeper
Waterkeeper Alliance, Lake Erie Waterkeeper, and Food & Water Watch have been approved to intervene in a federal lawsuit in Ohio District Court, Board of Lucas County Commissioners et al. v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The groups filed their complaint today. The groups will join the City of Toledo, Lucas County, and Environmental Law […] The post Federal Judge Approves Intervention in Lawsuit Challenging Deficient Lake Erie Clean Up Plan appeared first on Waterkeeper.| Waterkeeper
Earlier this month, thousands of government delegations, environmental advocates, scientists, philanthropies, and businesses descended on Nice, France, for the third ever United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC). United around the conference theme, “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean,” a diverse group of international stakeholders debated, presented new findings, and […] The post Recapping the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference appear...| Waterkeeper
A new report released today by Waterkeeper Alliance, in partnership with local Waterkeeper groups and the Hispanic Access Foundation, reveals that toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have contaminated 98% of tested U.S. waters, with elevated levels found at 95% of sampled sites downstream from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and 80% downstream from biosolids land […] The post New Analysis Finds PFAS in 98% of Tested U.S. Waterways Across 19 States appeared first on Waterk...| Waterkeeper
Waterkeeper Alliance’s Advocacy Director, Jacki Esposito, Pure Farms, Pure Waters Campaign Manager, Patience Burke, and Pure Farms, Pure Waters Coordinator for North Carolina, Larry Baldwin, recently met with local Waterkeepers and community organizations to discuss the pervasive pollution caused by industrial animal agriculture, including Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), poultry farms, and slaughterhouses. The discussions […]| Waterkeeper
As the Nantucket Waterkeeper, RJ Turcotte faces many challenges—from balancing renewable energy and coastal erosion to local conservation efforts. Driven by a lifelong passion for the water, he’s navigating the complexities of environmental advocacy and protecting Nantucket’s fragile ecosystem.| Waterkeeper
Waterkeeper Alliance recently joined Utah Rivers Council in Park City, Utah, to announce and officially launch the Great Salt Lake Waterkeeper. This critical initiative underscores the urgent need to protect the largest remaining wetland ecosystem in the Western United States, a vital habitat for 10–12 million migratory birds spanning 338 species that travel from every […]| Waterkeeper
Today, the House and Senate introduced Congressional Review Act resolutions to eliminate a commonsense methane emissions fee targeting the largest industry emitters. Waterkeeper Alliance opposes these resolutions, emphasizing that the fee reduces waste, creates jobs, applies to less than 15% of sector emissions, and is avoidable through cost-effective technologies. These technologies not only create jobs […]| Waterkeeper
The Eastern hellbender, one of North America’s most ancient and fascinating creatures, is facing a serious crisis. Growing up to 2 feet long, these incredible salamanders have ruled the rocky river bottoms of the Eastern U.S. for 65 million years—but they’re now in danger. Hellbenders need clean, cold, flowing water to survive. Unfortunately, the impacts […]| Waterkeeper
Today, in response to the U.S. Senate’s confirmation of former Congressman Lee Zeldin as the next Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Marc Yaggi, CEO of Waterkeeper Alliance, issued the following statement: “This is a make-or-break moment for clean water, and the American people deserve leadership that puts their needs above the influence of corporate […]| Waterkeeper
Immediately following his inauguration on January 20, 2025, President Trump issued a series of dangerous executive orders that attack the critical clean water protections, environmental justice programs, and sensible energy policies that we need to safeguard our communities from dangerous pollution and aging infrastructure. On day one, President Trump already broke his promise to ensure […]| Waterkeeper
Following the inauguration, President Trump issued executive orders that shield polluting industries and threaten clean water protections, environmental justice programs, and sensible energy policies. These actions undermine efforts to safeguard communities from pollution and compromise the clean water American families and businesses rely on, loosening restrictions on industrial pollution in our environment and waterways. The […]| Waterkeeper
In 2022, Riley Lewis accepted her dream job as the White Oak Waterkeeper in North Carolina, a position that allowed her to apply her education and experience in coastal and ocean policy to protect the region’s vital water systems. The path to this role wasn’t easy or expected. After earning a master’s degree in Coastal […]| Waterkeeper
Invisible, unbreakable, and unnatural, a class of manufactured organic chemicals linked to severe health impacts are now pervasive in our environment.| Waterkeeper