PETITION TO RECOGNIZE CLEAN DRINKING WATER AS A FUNDAMENTAL AMERICAN RIGHT AND RESTORE FULL PROTECTIONS UNDER THE SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT

Submitted by: Latavia Conway Kannapolis, North Carolina 

United States Citizen & Community Advocate

I. INTRODUCTION

This petition respectfully urges the United States Congress, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the North Carolina General Assembly, and local officials within the Kannapolis–Charlotte region to formally recognize clean, safe drinking water as a fundamental American right and to restore, strengthen, and enforce protections under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).

Recent federal actions and judicial rulings have weakened critical water protections and exposed millions of Americans to unsafe drinking water. This petition seeks immediate corrective action.

II. PURPOSE OF THE PETITION

The purpose of this petition is to:

 1. Establish clean drinking water as a recognized right at the federal and state levels.

2. Restore and strengthen PFAS regulations and other protections weakened in 2026.

3. Mandate transparent reporting, emergency protocols, and infrastructure upgrades.

4. Protect vulnerable communities disproportionately affected by contamination.

5. Ensure safe drinking water for all Americans, now and for future generations.

III. BACKGROUND & JUSTIFICATION

A. Clean Water Is Essential to Life and Public Health

Access to safe drinking water is foundational to human health, economic stability, and community well‑being. Contaminated water contributes to cancer, reproductive harm, immune suppression, developmental delays, and chronic illness.

B. The Safe Drinking Water Act Remains Law but Has Been Weakened

The SDWA, enacted in 1974, remains the primary federal law protecting drinking water. However, in 2026, the EPA proposed rescinding several PFAS limits established in 2024, reducing federal oversight and enforcement.

C. A Federal Court Ruled the Constitution Does Not Guarantee Clean Water

In 2026, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the U.S. Constitution does not guarantee a right to clean drinking water or truthful information about water safety. This ruling exposes a dangerous gap in legal protections.

D. Environmental Injustice Is Widespread

Communities such as Flint, Michigan, Jackson, Mississippi, rural towns, tribal lands, and low‑income neighborhoods continue to face unsafe water due to aging infrastructure, industrial pollution, and inadequate enforcement.

E. Clean Water Is a Moral, Civic, and Spiritual Obligation

Protecting water aligns with principles of stewardship, justice, and care for vulnerable populations. Ensuring safe water is both a public duty and a moral imperative.

IV. ACTIONS REQUESTED

A. Federal Actions (Congress & EPA)

• Recognize clean drinking water as a fundamental American right.

• Restore all PFAS limits rescinded or weakened in 2026.

• Strengthen SDWA enforcement and penalties for violations.

• Increase federal funding for water infrastructure modernization.

• Require transparent public reporting of contamination events.

• Establish national emergency protocols for water crises.

B. State Actions (North Carolina)

• Adopt a state constitutional amendment recognizing clean water as a right.

• Mandate statewide PFAS, lead, and contaminant testing.

• Fund rural water system upgrades.

• Require immediate public notification of contamination.

C. Local Actions (Kannapolis / Charlotte Region)

• Conduct regional water quality audits.

• Publish quarterly water safety reports.

• Create a community water advisory board.

• Prioritize water infrastructure in city planning.

V. COMMUNITY IMPACT

Recognizing clean water as a right will:

• Protect children’s health

• Reduce long‑term medical costs

• Strengthen community trust

• Improve economic stability

• Support environmental justice

• Prevent future water crises

• Ensure safe water for future generations

VI. FAITH‑FORWARD STATEMENT 

As stewards of God’s creation, One nation, under God, we are called to protect the resources that sustain life. Clean water is a blessing, a necessity, and a moral responsibility. This petition stands on the principles of justice, compassion, and care for the vulnerable.

VII. CONCLUSION

Clean drinking water is not a privilege. It is not optional. It is not negotiable. It is a human right, and it must be recognized as an American right. This petition calls upon federal, state, and local authorities to act immediately to protect the health, dignity, and future of all communities.

VIII. SIGNATURE

Petitioner:

Latavia Conway

Kannapolis, North Carolina

Date: September 7, 2026

IX. FULL CITATIONS (Authoritative Sources)

Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Overview.

• Federal Register. National Primary Drinking Water Regulation: PFAS Proposed Rule (2024).

• EPA Regulatory Announcement (2026). Proposed Rescission of PFAS Limits.

PFAS Health Risks

• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Toxicological Profile for Perfluoroalkyls.

• National Institutes of Health (NIH). PFAS Exposure and Health Outcomes.

Fifth Circuit Ruling

• Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals (2026). Jackson, Mississippi Water Rights Case.

(Opinion holding that the U.S. Constitution does not guarantee a right to clean drinking water.)

Water Crises

• Michigan Civil Rights Commission. Flint Water Crisis Report.

• EPA Emergency Response Reports: Jackson, Mississippi Water System Failure.

Environmental Justice

• EPA EJSCREEN. Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool.

• NAACP. Environmental Justice & Water Access Report.

Infrastructure Needs

• American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). 2025 Water Infrastructure Report Card.

• EPA. Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey & Assessment (DWINSA).