Clean Water
Clean Water
Access to clean, safe, reliable water is a fundamental human right
Water is basic to all life and is a finite resource
Sierra Club is working to address the widespread pollution of our waterways and drinking water across the country. We are focused on upholding and strengthening bedrock environmental protections like the Clean Water Act while empowering communities to protect their water.
We lead outings into nature where people can connect to their local waterways’ histories, current issues, and opportunities for deeper involvement.
PFAS are known as “forever chemicals” because they never break down in the environment. It is estimated that more than 100 million people have these toxic chemicals in their drinking water.
5M
117M
in US have unprotected drinking water
The Supreme Court’s ruling in Sackett v. EPA in 2023 gutted clean water protections
Sackett decision has endangered the drinking water sources of at least 117 million Americans by stripping protections from over half of the nation’s wetlands and 5 million miles of rain-dependent and seasonal streams that feed into rivers, lakes, and estuaries.
Victory!
North Carolina Gives Critical Support for Wetlands Resiliency
In North Carolina, Governor Cooper recently signed an executive order to conserve and restore 1 million new acres of forests and wetlands and plant 1 million new trees in urban areas.
What We Are Doing
Strengthening Water Protections
In May 2023, the Supreme Court’s ruling in Sackett v. EPA gutted clean water protections for millions of Americans. In response to this decision, the Sierra Club and Clean Water for All Coalition are focused on re-establishing strong protections for all waters at the federal level.
We are also working to bolster state-level policies to protect waterways that are losing federal protections and to make sure that communities and families can continue to benefit from the resources these waters provide – such as clean drinking water, supporting ecosystems and wildlife, outdoor recreation, and protecting against flooding impacts.
What You Can Do
Tell Congress: Restore Critical Water Protections!
The Supreme Court's ruling on Sackett v. EPA last year rolled back decades of protections for wetlands and waterways. Now, our waterways across the country are vulnerable to pollution and degradation. We must restore these protections for wetlands that feed our drinking water and protect against flooding.
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