We’re campaigning for Microplastic Free Waters
Tiny plastic pellets, called “nurdles,” are being dumped into our waterways. A new bill could make this microplastic pollution illegal.
Clean water
Together we can protect the waterways that sustain our communities and our health.
Our waterways should be safe for swimming, fishing and drinking. But weak regulations and lax enforcement allow many of our rivers, lakes and streams to become so polluted they are no longer safe. This pollution, along with outdated infrastructure – like lead pipes in our schools – puts our health at risk. We need to work together to make sure our water is treated like the life-giving resource that it is.
The Latest on Clean water
Statement: New rule will aid PFAS clean-ups
Statement: New bill will tackle large threat posed by tiny plastics
Updates
Lobby day secures bipartisan support for the Plastic Pellet Free Water Act
We’re making your voice heard on mercury pollution
U.S. House takes crucial step toward cleaning up toxic ‘forever chemicals’
Featured Resources
The Threat of “Forever Chemicals”
Who are the top toxic water polluters in your state?
Green schools guide
Get the Lead Out
The Latest
Type
Reinstated ‘polluter pays’ tax goes into effect, protecting Americans from toxic waste
A chemical excise tax to fund Superfund toxic waste site cleanups nationwide will go into effect on Friday, reinstating one of several “polluter pays” taxes that had been allowed to lapse 26 years ago. The EPA’s Superfund program is responsible for cleaning up the country’s most hazardous waste sites.
Statement: EPA advises stronger limits on levels of toxic PFAS chemicals to protect Americans’ health
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unveiled on Wednesday new health advisories for four of the most common toxic PFAS chemicals that pollute drinking water nationwide. These official EPA actions “provide technical information to drinking water system operators, as well as federal, state, Tribal, and local officials, on the health effects, analytical methods, and treatment technologies associated with drinking water contaminants.”
Statement: Congress should pass legislation to protect drinking water from PFAS contamination
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Rep. Chris Pappas of New Hampshire introduced the Clean Water Standards for PFAS 2.0 Act into the Senate and the House this week. The bill would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish limits on how much PFAS chemicals producers can dump into waterways and to set water quality criteria to protect human health.
Consumer advocacy groups launch campaign to get Columbia Sportswear to phase out toxic ‘forever chemicals’
U.S. PIRG Education Fund and NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) launched a campaign on Tuesday calling on outdoor gear and apparel brand Columbia Sportswear to phase out the use of PFAS in its products and supply chains. Last month, the company received low marks in a scorecard report released by the advocacy groups. The report found that Columbia Sportswear has failed to adopt policies that ban PFAS chemicals or provide up-to-date, publicly available information on any ongoing efforts to phase out these toxic chemicals from their products.
Campaign for Columbia Sportswear Commitment to Eliminate PFAS Launched Today
Today U.S. PIRG Education Fund and NRDC launched a campaign to urge Columbia Sportswear to eliminate toxic PFAS in their products and supply chain by 2024. The campaign will engage everyday consumers through a petition drive and mobilize the public impacted by PFAS contamination.
