Clean Water and Rivers
No matter who you are or where you live, we all need clean, safe, reliable drinking water. And most of our drinking water comes from rivers and streams. But pollution threatens our rivers, and our water supplies are becoming more stretched each year. Our country is a nation of rivers — and we need healthy rivers that can provide clean water to our communities.
All water is connected, from remote mountain streams to urban waterways. Pollution anywhere risks the rivers we rely on for our drinking water.
Pollution can come from a variety of sources — contaminated runoff from city streets and farm fields, sewage overflows, “forever chemicals” or PFAs, as well as toxic waste from industrial activities.
Pollution is not patriotic. The health of our communities depends on clean water.
Yet, according to the EPA, only 28 percent of America’s streams and rivers are clean enough to support healthy ecosystems that in turn provide clean water. Close to 50 percent of our rivers are in poor condition due to polluted water.
The water infrastructure in many communities is crumbling, unable to handle the more frequent and severe storms that come with climate change. This results in urban rivers and streams that are unhealthy and polluted. In some cases, cities use more water than the local river can provide, or infrastructure fails, leaving communities without clean drinking water for days.
American Rivers leads actions our rivers need so they can provide clean water to our communities.
What we do
1. Champion smart policy
We work to protect clean water for people and wildlife through state and federal policies. This includes advocating for investment in infrastructure that keeps rivers flowing with the clean water our communities need.
2. Keep pollution out of our rivers and drinking water
We drive high-impact river restoration projects in cities — including Atlanta, Philadelphia, Tucson, Sacramento, and others — to ensure healthy, clean waters flow through communities.
3. Protect 1 million miles of rivers
We safeguard waters flowing across our public lands, which are home to hundreds of thousands of miles of the healthiest, cleanest rivers and streams in the country. Keeping waters on our public lands healthy is a powerful clean water solution.
4. Restore damaged rivers
We restore health to rivers that have been damaged. Because rivers that flow freely without old, outdated dams and unnecessary diversions are cleaner, colder, and more reliable sources of clean water.
Tell Conress to support a blueprint for clean water and healthy rivers
America cannot be a world leader if we don’t take care of our water. Call on Congress to develop and implement a clean water blueprint.
