![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_514085421f2c4403bac2e3c2329d369e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_1920,h_1268,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_514085421f2c4403bac2e3c2329d369e~mv2.jpg)
Fresh water. Imagine a day without it...
We drink it, bathe in it, swim in it. We use it to grow food, transport goods, generate power, support industry, and provide sanitation. We use it for vacations and recreation. Clean fresh water is vital to keeping our ecosystems healthy and sustaining our human civilization. Yet nearly half of U.S. streams, rivers and lakes are so polluted that they are no longer safe for fishing, swimming or aquatic life.
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"Upstream, Downriver" takes viewers into the heart of the battle for water justice. Powerful stories with frontline community activists are interwoven with historical context about landmark regulations that significantly reduced water pollution in the U.S. but failed to serve disadvantaged communities that are hardest hit by today’s climate crisis.
![LakeMichigan_AdobeStock_222897250.jpeg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_f7e9987d01c94bf29ed7015c1838f245~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_490,h_653,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_f7e9987d01c94bf29ed7015c1838f245~mv2.jpeg)
History of the clean water act
![Cuyahoga River on fire in 1952.](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_a825d8004e974b66b148f16ee09498c6~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_980,h_747,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_a825d8004e974b66b148f16ee09498c6~mv2.jpeg)
![San Juan River oil spill](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_970f9ea0e121449082cec32d1fcf63d4~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_659,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_970f9ea0e121449082cec32d1fcf63d4~mv2.jpg)
![epa supervised clean san juan river oil spill](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_9f3463eb6b01494f864883e2556d8c37~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_654,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_9f3463eb6b01494f864883e2556d8c37~mv2.jpg)
![Oil spill on the San Juan River from more than 200 miles away](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_fa60fab9fbb4414f848bcbaebe2edab6~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1463,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_fa60fab9fbb4414f848bcbaebe2edab6~mv2.jpg)
![Colstrip Water Pollution Control Facilities](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_2d3c74e71c334d53be7a65e15ec55976~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_663,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_2d3c74e71c334d53be7a65e15ec55976~mv2.jpg)
![terminal area salmon fishing pipeline](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_bc32cfbc78a14aac8456ad8c713db435~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_669,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_bc32cfbc78a14aac8456ad8c713db435~mv2.jpg)
![Contaminated water in drainage ditch behind Pittsburg Glass Company](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_bef852c0f6864eac99902bb2b34c722e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1442,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_bef852c0f6864eac99902bb2b34c722e~mv2.jpg)
![Rafting Wild Sheep rapids on the Snake River](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_d966b43c3c764ce0b27953c6f824c159~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_651,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_d966b43c3c764ce0b27953c6f824c159~mv2.jpg)
![Strip mine pit filled with water in an apparent violation of Ohio law.](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_4f73702f69f1495d95cc17384d3be903~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_661,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_4f73702f69f1495d95cc17384d3be903~mv2.jpg)
![Polluted waters at Staten Island beach](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_840edf660da248f880e9897311e5cd32~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_668,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_840edf660da248f880e9897311e5cd32~mv2.jpg)
![Roaring Mountain, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_f5f3ba86769541afbfcb17aa32ff71ec~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_791,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_f5f3ba86769541afbfcb17aa32ff71ec~mv2.jpg)
![Polluted lake outside of Kodak plant](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_f31e99c510c24d1c9a9df14021864847~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1449,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_f31e99c510c24d1c9a9df14021864847~mv2.jpg)
![Impact of contaminated water on wildlife](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_e134622a472b475d89a44b227e4a9f02~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1439,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_e134622a472b475d89a44b227e4a9f02~mv2.jpg)
![The Contaminated Water of Mill Creek](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_fdbadf15123d4f56bed359b7ca239d80~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1454,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_fdbadf15123d4f56bed359b7ca239d80~mv2.jpg)
![Marco Island land development on the southwest Florida coast](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_e82b33e40cd447e39b0d2d301b409119~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_653,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_e82b33e40cd447e39b0d2d301b409119~mv2.jpg)
![jamaica bay waters breezy point](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_2fb5be2319b24849a66d5eae065c62d4~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_637,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_2fb5be2319b24849a66d5eae065c62d4~mv2.jpg)
![Two Worlds](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_eeb352e281b149e78a45853d786af8a3~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1447,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_eeb352e281b149e78a45853d786af8a3~mv2.jpg)
![Fishing in an abandoned strip mining pit](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_bd59561fd81446b89f2a85961d7c8466~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_668,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_bd59561fd81446b89f2a85961d7c8466~mv2.jpg)
![Coeur D'alene Lake motel construction impacts water](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_788bf96bfcb14034b4766e2931b59f76~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1473,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_788bf96bfcb14034b4766e2931b59f76~mv2.jpg)
![Dredging land under development at Big Pine Key](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_b71bbcf915644681a1f52fe6aea438e4~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_653,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_b71bbcf915644681a1f52fe6aea438e4~mv2.jpg)
![Botaquito Lagoon, is one of the last few bodies of water of this type in the southern part of the st](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_893540f3e2cb4a89a4f8a9ea70f1d77f~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1452,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_893540f3e2cb4a89a4f8a9ea70f1d77f~mv2.jpg)
![International Paper Company Mill at Jay on the Androscoggin River 06/1973](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_34206986ce714cb78966b3ccd6b34378~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_656,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_34206986ce714cb78966b3ccd6b34378~mv2.jpg)
![Cuyahoga River on fire in 1952.](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_a825d8004e974b66b148f16ee09498c6~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_980,h_747,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_a825d8004e974b66b148f16ee09498c6~mv2.jpeg)
![San Juan River oil spill](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_970f9ea0e121449082cec32d1fcf63d4~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_659,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_970f9ea0e121449082cec32d1fcf63d4~mv2.jpg)
![epa supervised clean san juan river oil spill](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_9f3463eb6b01494f864883e2556d8c37~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_654,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_9f3463eb6b01494f864883e2556d8c37~mv2.jpg)
![Oil spill on the San Juan River from more than 200 miles away](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_fa60fab9fbb4414f848bcbaebe2edab6~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1463,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_fa60fab9fbb4414f848bcbaebe2edab6~mv2.jpg)
![Colstrip Water Pollution Control Facilities](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_2d3c74e71c334d53be7a65e15ec55976~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_663,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_2d3c74e71c334d53be7a65e15ec55976~mv2.jpg)
![terminal area salmon fishing pipeline](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_bc32cfbc78a14aac8456ad8c713db435~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_669,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_bc32cfbc78a14aac8456ad8c713db435~mv2.jpg)
![Contaminated water in drainage ditch behind Pittsburg Glass Company](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_bef852c0f6864eac99902bb2b34c722e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1442,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_bef852c0f6864eac99902bb2b34c722e~mv2.jpg)
![Rafting Wild Sheep rapids on the Snake River](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_d966b43c3c764ce0b27953c6f824c159~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_651,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_d966b43c3c764ce0b27953c6f824c159~mv2.jpg)
![Strip mine pit filled with water in an apparent violation of Ohio law.](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_4f73702f69f1495d95cc17384d3be903~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_661,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_4f73702f69f1495d95cc17384d3be903~mv2.jpg)
![Polluted waters at Staten Island beach](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_840edf660da248f880e9897311e5cd32~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_668,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_840edf660da248f880e9897311e5cd32~mv2.jpg)
![Roaring Mountain, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_f5f3ba86769541afbfcb17aa32ff71ec~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_791,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_f5f3ba86769541afbfcb17aa32ff71ec~mv2.jpg)
![Polluted lake outside of Kodak plant](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_f31e99c510c24d1c9a9df14021864847~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1449,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_f31e99c510c24d1c9a9df14021864847~mv2.jpg)
![Impact of contaminated water on wildlife](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_e134622a472b475d89a44b227e4a9f02~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1439,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_e134622a472b475d89a44b227e4a9f02~mv2.jpg)
![The Contaminated Water of Mill Creek](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_fdbadf15123d4f56bed359b7ca239d80~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1454,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_fdbadf15123d4f56bed359b7ca239d80~mv2.jpg)
![Marco Island land development on the southwest Florida coast](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_e82b33e40cd447e39b0d2d301b409119~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_653,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_e82b33e40cd447e39b0d2d301b409119~mv2.jpg)
![jamaica bay waters breezy point](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_2fb5be2319b24849a66d5eae065c62d4~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_637,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_2fb5be2319b24849a66d5eae065c62d4~mv2.jpg)
![Two Worlds](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_eeb352e281b149e78a45853d786af8a3~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1447,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_eeb352e281b149e78a45853d786af8a3~mv2.jpg)
![Fishing in an abandoned strip mining pit](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_bd59561fd81446b89f2a85961d7c8466~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_668,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_bd59561fd81446b89f2a85961d7c8466~mv2.jpg)
![Coeur D'alene Lake motel construction impacts water](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_788bf96bfcb14034b4766e2931b59f76~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1473,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_788bf96bfcb14034b4766e2931b59f76~mv2.jpg)
![Dredging land under development at Big Pine Key](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_b71bbcf915644681a1f52fe6aea438e4~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_653,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_b71bbcf915644681a1f52fe6aea438e4~mv2.jpg)
![Botaquito Lagoon, is one of the last few bodies of water of this type in the southern part of the st](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_893540f3e2cb4a89a4f8a9ea70f1d77f~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1452,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_893540f3e2cb4a89a4f8a9ea70f1d77f~mv2.jpg)
![International Paper Company Mill at Jay on the Androscoggin River 06/1973](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/87a392_34206986ce714cb78966b3ccd6b34378~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_656,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/87a392_34206986ce714cb78966b3ccd6b34378~mv2.jpg)