Effective Advocacy & Policies

Well-equipped and engaged advocates and communities are critical in the fight for strong water laws and policies at the local, state, and federal levels. They are essential to holding decision makers at all levels accountable for protecting public health and key to safeguarding our environment in a way that equitably protects all people.

Below, learn about River Network’s work related to water laws and policies, and connect with our staff working on these issues.

Helping Groups Implement Federal and State Law

The Clean Water Act (CWA)

River Network has developed and deployed many resources to train water leaders throughout the US on how to use the Clean Water Act to fight for stronger clean water protections. 

See our Clean Water Act webpage for a full list of resources, including how YOU can get involved.

Boy is drinking water in the morning.

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)

The Safe Drinking Water Act is our nation’s main law to protect the quality of our drinking water at the tap. River Network has developed resources to guide the national network in advocating for clean and safe drinking water for their communities.

More Opportunities to Have Influence

  • Equitable Water Infrastructure: If you’ve ever wondered how funding decisions about drinking water, wastewater and stormwater are made, our Equitable Infrastructure Toolkit was created for you. Broken into sections on utilities, affordability, infrastructure, and how to influence the decision-making process, it offers education and practical advice for advocates to get involved at the local, state, and federal levels, whether you’re a seasoned advocate or just starting to get involved for your water.
  • Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: Learn about historic investments and how to impact implementation efforts on this page.
  • Join the SRF (State Revolving Fund) Forum convened by River Network, PolicyLink, Alliance for the Great Lakes, and Environmental Policy Innovation Center (EPIC) to discuss how SRF funding will impact water infrastructure projects in your state.

Connecting Our Network to Federal, State, and Regional Policy

Federal

  • Monthly Federal Policy Calls: nonprofit clean water advocates can stay up-to-date on key federal policy issues and join with other local and statewide water protection groups on monthly Water Policy Update and Exchange calls. Register here.
  • Action Alerts: Opportunities for the public to take action on high priority water-related issues. Have a need for an action alert? Members can fill out this submission form and our team will help you create and share your alert.
  • Action Days: We teamed up with our friends at American Rivers to provide training on the how-tos of effective lobbying, details and talking points on current policy issues, and virtually connected over 70 individuals to their representatives in 2021. In 2022, we took advocates to DC for in-person connection and advocacy following River Rally, meeting with ~80 offices.

State

National & Regional Coalitions

Coalition involvement leads to collective action. River Network is involved in many water policy-focused coalitions throughout the country:

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Read the latest from our staff and partners on our law and policy-related work and what’s happening across the network:

Civic & Community Engagement

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River Network highlights opportunities and avenues for communities to elevate their voices for clean, safe, and accessible water. 

Meet Our Team