Clean Water Victory: A Lesson in Making Democracy Work

By Hilary Marcella, Assistant Canvass Director, Pittsburgh - Follow Our Pennsylvania Team on Twitter (@CleanH2OPA) When I started my Clean Water Action journey in 2006, the first campaign I worked on aimed to restore Clean Water Act protections to small streams and wetlands. It was the era of George W. Bush, and policy decisions made by his administration left many bodies of water vulnerable to pollution. At first it seemed hard to believe that such basic water protections were not being provided. After all, water is an invaluable resource, and I understood that because ALL water is connected through the hydrological cycle, protecting only some waterways really means not protecting any at all. Unfortunately, big polluters spend millions of dollars to influence elected officials. So despite the fact that science was on our side, money was not. That fact makes fighting for environmental justice a constant uphill battle. So to celebrate this victory – a restoration of protections for water bodies that provide drinking water for 1 in 3 Americans – seems both awesome and fragile. It’s awesome that despite millions of dollars spent by big polluters, after 12 years of tireless advocacy the environmental community won. We couldn’t beat them dollar for dollar, but we beat them with our voices and our votes. Nevertheless, money is powerful, and big polluters still have plenty of it. So I know any victory is fragile. But this victory gives me confidence that public education, advocacy, and organizing still makes democracy work. Nine years and many victories since my Clean Water journey began, I am both thankful for and dedicated to that process of making democracy work for people, for our health, and for the environment.