#GivingTuesday Next Week – A Day of Giving, Sharing, and Caring!
At Freshwater Future, we are dedicated to protecting the people and the waters of the Great Lakes region and helping to ensure everyone has clean, safe, and affordable freshwater. You can ensure a brighter future and help make lasting change for our region through your financial support. Please support our efforts on #GivingTuesday on November 28th by making a financial gift, no matter the size. To give an early gift, click HERE. Thank you for all you do to help protect the Great Lakes region!
Freshwater Voices Newsletter Available Online!
Check out our latest issue of the Freshwater Voices Newsletter, where we reflect on the water justice victories and challenges in the Great Lakes and highlight how Freshwater Future grant recipients are protecting waters around the region. Click this link to view the online version.
Staying Vigilant: Freshwater Future Watches for Lead in your Drinking Water
NO lead is safe in drinking water. Yet every year communities around the Great Lakes find high lead levels in drinking water, harming public health. Freshwater Future remains vigilant in finding communities across the region that are not in compliance with the Lead and Copper Rule or are using unsafe lead service line replacement practices. When we find out there is an issue, we take steps to alert residents and share ways to keep their households safe from lead poisoning. We recently updated our lead testing resources for each state (see here) – and don’t forget that you can test your water for lead with Freshwater Future and receive a free bag of coffee from Superior Coffee Roasting Co!
Thousands of Minnesotans’ Drinking Water Contaminated with Nitrate
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared an emergency regarding nitrate contamination in the Southeast Karst Region of Minnesota. High levels of nitrogen are unsafe in drinking water and can affect how blood carries oxygen in our bodies. The porous geology in the Karst Region makes it susceptible to contamination from agricultural runoff. Minnesota is mandated to develop a plan within 30 days, addressing testing, education, outreach, and alternative water for over 9,000 residents at risk of consuming water with elevated nitrate levels.
Public Meeting About Barrier to Prevent Grass Carp from Migrating to Lake Erie
Preventing grass carp in the Sandusky River from moving into Lake Erie was the topic of a meeting last week that discussed a feasibility study to assess different types of barriers. The $953,500 project aims to impede grass carp movement from Lake Erie to potential spawning habitats in rivers. These invasive species threaten native habitats and fishery resources, particularly aquatic vegetation crucial for waterfowl and native fish habitat. Learn more about the Lake Erie Grass Carp response strategy here.
