ISSUE

Navigating the wide range of actions states take to protect and manage clean water can be dizzying. Which states have passed laws regulating the pervasive PFAS that contaminate our drinking water? What does a human right to water resolution include? How are states advancing the removal of lead service lines and reducing the risks of lead exposure from the water coming out of our taps? With support from the Water Foundation, River Network addresses these questions and more with the launch of our State Policy Hub.

STRATEGY

Regardless of who is at the helm at the federal level, states are innovating and leading on multiple aspects of water policy. River Network’s State Policy Hub helps anyone interested in advocating for progressive water protections at the state level by providing a useful one-stop-shop on key policy language, lessons from advocates, and additional resources. The State Policy Hub includes examples of policy language and effective advocacy efforts around issues of water data accessibility and transparency, drinking water affordability and access, regionalization and consolidation, and water quality issues such as lead and PFAS contamination. The online database offers an organized inventory of policies, resolutions, and plans, with the ability to search the Hub by focus area, state, and relevant keywords.

Beyond the database of state policies, the State Policy Hub provides helpful synopses of each issue area, relevant lessons from water advocates across the network, and deep dives highlighting policy language and providing context for how organizations strategize and advocate for policy change and ensure implementation is a success. The Hub is a tool for advocates to use and learn from; drinking water advocates share how they center their communities for change, build partnerships and coalitions, and leverage the lived experiences of those affected by a myriad of issues related to clean water to achieve meaningful policy solutions.

WHAT’S NEXT

While the Hub currently focuses on drinking water issues, River Network intends to continue to expand the scope of the State Policy Hub to serve the needs of clean water advocates working across other pressing issue areas. Explore the Hub and use this form to let us know what additional policy topics you’d find helpful – whether it’s drought planning, nutrient pollution control, protection of rivers and ecosystems, or other pertinent issues facing your state.