In communities across the United States, residents are learning that the water flowing to their houses contains dangerous chemicals once thought to be miracles of modern industry. Known as PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, these synthetic compounds have been used for decades in everything from non-stick cookware and food wrappers to firefighting foam and waterproof clothing.
A 2023 study by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that Black, Latinx, and Indigenous communities are more likely to live near watersheds that are contaminated by PFAS, especially in the Southeastern United States. The same study noted that these communities often lack the political power or resources to hold polluters accountable.
In 2023, the Potomac Riverkeeper Network launched a PFAS monitoring initiative throughout the Potomac River watershed, where they collected over 150 water samples to identify the scope of contamination. Their findings were striking: PFAS were detected in every single sample, including those near drinking water intake points.
In 2022, in collaboration with Earth Law Center and UCLA's Luskin Center, the Waterkeeper Alliance launched a global initiative to stop PFAS contamination and clean up existing pollution. Their campaign included over 113 waterkeeper groups in 29 countries with the goal of both pressuring governments and empowering local communities.