Waterkeeper Alliance, Lake Erie Waterkeeper, and Food & Water Watch have been approved to intervene in a federal lawsuit challenging the EPA’s approval of a flawed cleanup plan for western Lake Erie. The plan aims to reduce harmful algal blooms but ignores factory farm waste and runoff, a major driver of the problem. The groups are joining the City of Toledo, Lucas County, and the Environmental Law and Policy Center to demand a lawful cleanup plan to restore polluted waterways.

A new report by Waterkeeper Alliance, in partnership with local Waterkeeper groups and the Hispanic Access Foundation, reveals that toxic PFAS have contaminated 98% of tested U.S. waters, with elevated levels found at 95% of sampled sites downstream from wastewater treatment plants and 80% downstream from biosolids land application sites. We’re calling on the U.S. EPA and all lawmakers to take urgent action to stop ‘forever chemicals’ at the source.

Our new PFAs report reveals a harsh truth: 98% of U.S. surface waters tested contain PFAS—often above health guidelines. And there are still no federal standards to protect people from this toxic pollution. In our latest episode of ‘Equity In Every Drop’, listen to Upper Potomac Riverkeeper Brent Walls and Luis Cruz of Hispanic Access Foundation break down the fight against these persistent pollutants and why protecting vulnerable communities can’t wait. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.

A lifelong lover of water and dedicated environmentalist, Dr. Venkatesh Dutta, Gomti River Waterkeeper, has spent years protecting the 960-kilometer Gomti River from pollution and encroachment. His work has led to major wins—like securing a protected 100-meter floodplain—and inspired efforts to restore rivers across India. For Venkatesh, being a Waterkeeper is more than a role; it’s a calling rooted in memory, community, and a deep respect for the rivers that sustain life.