We, Lindblom Math and Science Academy High School students located in Chicago, are trying to bring awareness to water pollution, focusing on our lovely Lake Michigan. In order to protect our main water source, we want to bring to light issues that challenge the well-being of our lake. Some of these issues include the contamination and unjust distribution of our water. We are in the process of cleaning up our beaches, educating our peers, and conserving water, but we need your help to persuade politicians to update the Clean Water Act, which has not been done since 1972.

Lake Michigan is the largest public drinking water supply in Illinois and provides more than 6.6 million people in the state of Illinois with drinking water.

The Clean Water  Acts regulates pollution from the water in the United States and the regulation quality standards of surface waters. It was created in 1948, and it was last reorganized and expanded in 1972. 

The Clean Water Act isn’t protecting our water source. We are losing a lot of water to big companies like Nestle and Foxconn. If the Clean Water Act was to be changed or made a priority, then we can help protect our water.  Water pollution is a result of companies creating clothing with plastic microfibers that contaminate our water. This affects one of our largest natural resources as it releases millions of tiny pieces of plastic into the water. These pieces of plastics are sometimes too small to be filtered out, and so we end up consuming the plastic fibers through our drinking source. Water pollution is also a result of littering. This pollution in our water resource could result in a shortage of water and increase water costs. After all, we seem to already be struggling in terms of water distribution.

Flint, Michigan suffered greatly. They faced a large water crisis, where they didn't have access to clean water even though they neighbor a great lake. On the other hand, during Flint's crisis, Nestle was permitted by Michigan to withdraw up to 400 gallons per minute. Foxconn, a Taiwanese company, was also allowed to drain Lake Michigan by Wisconsin.

In order to prevent the contamination and the unjust distribution of our water source, the Clean Water Act is a key element as it has the power to protect our water.

With your help, we can persuade politicians to update the Clean Water Act.