The Great Lakes provide drinking water for more than 30 million people—we can’t afford to stop our efforts to protect and restore them.
The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition is a coalition of local, state, and regional advocates working together to establish Great Lakes restoration and protection as a national conservation priority.
Latest News
Read the latest news from the Coalition, including stories of restoration successes, profiles of ongoing clean water issues, policy updates, and press releases.
Priority Areas
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![a water faucet with clear blue water flowing out of it at a fast pace]()
Water Infrastructure
The Great Lakes provide drinking water for more than 30 million people in the region, yet the pipes and other infrastructure delivering and treating our water is in dire need of repair.
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Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is producing results, but serious threats remain and this program needs continued federal funding.
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Invasive Species
Invasive species have fundamentally altered the Great Lakes ecosystem. Millions of dollars are spent each year to control them and reduce their spread.
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![a sign indicating that people shouldn't fish; there's a hook in front of a fish with a big red circle with a slash through it overlaid on top]()
Clean Water Protections
Toxic hot spots, pollutants like PFAS and microplastics, and decreased federal protections of waterways are putting the waters of the Great Lakes region at risk.
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![green sludge coming out of a pipe and into water]()
Polluted Runoff
Each year, polluted runoff from farms flows into the Great Lakes, feeding toxic algae outbreaks which poison drinking water, close beaches, and hurt tourism.
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Climate Change
Climate change is causing more extreme weather, and these changes are exacerbating existing threats to the Great Lakes, impacting people, wildlife, and the economy.
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Environmental Justice
Low-income communities, Black people, People of Color, and Indigenous Peoples are more likely to experience the serious health impacts of water pollution.
