Is Our Water Safe? Potomac Conservancy President, Hedrick Belin, helps answer that question in Potomac Almanac's recent January 22 issue.

Most of the 5 million residents in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area have no idea that their drinking water comes from the Potomac River, said Hedrick Belin, president of the Potomac Conservancy. “Until last week, the same could have probably been said for 300,000 residents in Charleston, W. Va.,” Belin added.

“The greatest threat to the region’s water quality is polluted runoff,” said Belin. “This growing source of pollution is water that washes off the land after a rain storm, carrying sediment, excess nutrients and other toxins and contaminants directly into streams and rivers.”

“Polluted runoff can severely degrade water quality, wildlife habitat and fish populations in the Potomac’s tributaries and the main stem,” said Belin. “Keeping our lands and waters safe is most importantly about our right to safe drinking water, clean air and the legacy that we leave for our children and grandchildren.”

Read the full article here >

Potomac Conservancy's 2013 State of the Nation’s River  report demonstrates how problems on the land translate into problems in the Potomac.  

As the region's leading clean water advocate, Potomac Conservancy works hard each and every day to ensure the Potomac's waters are clean and safe. We drive a local clean water movement of 10,000 members and online activists to help us impart change at the local level.  Learn how we're fighting for clean water through our core initiatives:

Saving Healthy Lands >

Clean Water Advocacy >

Community Conservation >