For more than 15 years, the Healing Our Waters–Great Lakes Coalition has been working to protect and restore the Great Lakes, which provide drinking water to more than 30 million people in the eight-state region of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The Coalition consists of more than 200 environmental, conservation, outdoor recreation, and community-based organizations. By harnessing the collective talent, knowledge and passion of our members, the Coalition has made Great Lakes restoration a top bipartisan priority in the U.S. Congress and with presidential administrations.
The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition’s mission is to secure a sustainable Great Lakes restoration plan and the federal funding to implement it. To date, federal investments have produced results, but serious threats remain, and our job is not done until we’ve put an end to drinking water restrictions, fish consumption advisories, and beach closures. Further, data from the EPA says that some communities—especially low-income, Black, Latino, and Indigenous communities—are more likely to be dealing with serious health threats from pollution. We are working to ensure that the communities that have been harmed the most by pollution are prioritized when it comes to cleanup, and that the people who live in those communities have a voice in the solutions.
To achieve our goals, the Coalition convenes our members, partners, and allies to discuss regional clean water priorities, provides tools, resources, and trainings on these issues, and brings together Great Lakes advocates at several events throughout the year, including Great Lakes Day in Washington, D.C., to educate and inform public officials, and an annual Great Lakes Conference.