Upholding Clean Water Standards
The Clean Water Act is a powerful tool for protecting our waters. Part of Puget Soundkeeper’s mission is to ensure that protections are not weakened by national and regional rulemaking processes.
Our Priorities
These are the most crucial problems affecting the health of our communities and our shared waterways. By tackling these problems, we can restore Puget Sound and have a thriving watershed that will support everyone living here for generations to come.
Polluted Stormwater Runoff
Polluted stormwater – the rainwater that runs off our streets – is the number one toxic threat to Puget Sound. Puget Soundkeeper works to create policy, enforce pollution permits, and educate the public about best practices to reduce stormwater pollution.
Fossil Fuel Transport
Oil and coal companies would like to make the Pacific Northwest a hub for importing and exporting fossil fuels, but a single oil spill could wipe out our Southern Resident Killer Whales and devastate the region. Puget Soundkeeper works to protect the public and Puget Sound from oil spills and dirty fuel projects.
Agricultural Pollution
Agriculture is the leading cause of pollution to streams and rivers nationwide, and a major cause of water pollution, closure of shellfish beds and closure of swimming beaches in Washington. Puget Soundkeeper works to strengthen policies addressing nutrient pollution and agricultural stormwater runoff at the State level.
Vessel Pollution
Vessel pollution has serious repercussions for the health of Puget Sound. Oil, sewage and chemicals leaching from paint and varnish can poison marine life and damage water quality. Puget Soundkeeper is committed to clean boating practices that protect the health of our waterways.
Marine Debris
Our waterways are full of trash. Plastic, metal, rubber, textiles, fishing nets, and other items enter rivers, lakes, streams and oceans in huge amounts every day, harming human health, wildlife, and habitat. Soundkeeper hosts cleanups, performs microplastic monitoring, and works to implement policy solutions to stop the flow of plastic and other litter into our marine waters.
Toxic Cleanup
Historic pollution has contaminated many sites in Puget Sound. Cleaning up sites that harbor lingering toxic pollution is an important step to protect waterways and communities.
Wastewater Pollution
Wastewater is used water that has been affected by domestic, industrial and commercial use. Wastewater pollution is a major source of contamination to Puget Sound. With increased population growth, industrial activity, and climate change; strong improvements for wastewater treatment are critical if we want to protect our waterways.