Sewage doesn’t belong in our streets – or our homes. When it rains in Baltimore, millions of gallons of sewage flow into our streams, rivers, Inner Harbor, and even our homes. Sewage backups in homes and buildings are a big problem in Baltimore. Heavy rainfall coupled with the city’s crumbling infrastructure causes toxic sewage to back…
Baltimore is trying to ban plastic bags…again. This time, the ban has a big chance of becoming law…with your help. In Baltimore, plastic bags are everywhere. They fly down our streets, get caught in trees, clog our waterways, and harm our wildlife. A bill to ban plastic bags in Baltimore City has been over a…
Blue Water Baltimore plays a critical role in identifying pollution in our waterways and taking action to stop it. Thanks to key provisions in the Clean Water Act that give the public the right to directly enforce against polluters, we can hold them accountable and stop pollution at its source. There is no shortage of water pollution…
How’s the Water, Hon? Blue Water Baltimore is thrilled to announce the launch of our new water quality mapping platform: www.baltimorewaterwatch.org! We worked with the experts at Chesapeake Commons for our new innovative approach to data visualization. For the first time ever, we are able share in-depth information about the specific measurements of water health…
A federal district court in Maryland ruled last week that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wrongfully denied our petition to regulate stormwater runoff from commercial, industrial, and institutional sites in the Back River watershed. Blue Water Baltimore and its allies took this fight against dangerous stormwater discharges to court so that polluters who contribute…
Blue Water Baltimore’s advocacy efforts resulted in some major wins, some disappointments, and some hopeful signs for the future this legislative season. As always, we are deeply grateful to all our members, supporters, and community partners who wrote letters, made phone calls, came to our rally days, and made donations to help support our efforts….
The 2017 Maryland General Assembly session has come to a close. Throughout, Blue Water Baltimore was on the ground in Annapolis, collaborating with fellow environmental advocates ensuring our local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay are protected. This session brought a strong showing of bi-partisan support and a commitment to protecting Maryland’s citizens from the health…
Blue Water Baltimore and its allies are taking the fight against dangerous stormwater discharges to court so that polluters who contribute to the runoff of hazardous contaminants into our waterways are made to clean up their own mess. Along with co-plaintiffs Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and American Rivers, Blue Water Baltimore is suing the…
Did you know polystyrene (commonly known as Styrofoam) is the second most common type of litter collected by the Baltimore Harbor Water Wheel, known as Mr. Trash Wheel? In Baltimore City, we recognize the need to address our pervasive litter issue yet many of us find ourselves unsure of where to start. As expanded polystyrene…
It has been three weeks since the beginning of the 2017 General Assembly session and our push for a polystyrene phase out is in full swing! Overall, we have received positive feedback regarding SB186/HB229 to eliminate the use of polystyrene to-go packaging. We have been working hard alongside our partner Trash Free Maryland and champions…