CHICAGO, IL, Nov. 14, 2014 -- Weighing in on the national debate over clean water protections, 32 members of the "Brewers for Clean Water" campaign today signed onto a comment letter in support of safeguards under the Clean Water Act (CWA).
The campaign is a partnership between the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and beermakers aimed at protecting America's bedrock water law and helping to advance the Clean Water Protection Rule that would return protections to American streams, wetlands and headwaters, which in turn impact larger waterbodies.
Few small businesses depend on clean water as much as craft brewers. While hops and malt can be sourced elsewhere, breweries are reliant on their local water supplies. Whether drawn from lakes, rivers, groundwater, or a local water system, breweries rely on CWA protections to ensure the quality of their main ingredient.
Today's comment letter states support for the new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) draft policy, noting the importance of strong clean water protections for their businesses and communities, as well as other significant benefits to the environment and flood control.
NRDC announced the Brewers for Clean Water partnership last year to leverage the compelling business voice of dozens of the nation's most respected craft beer makers in advocacy around water protections (see "Campaign brews up support for strong clean water safeguards in Maine").
In addition to the 32 breweries signing onto the comment letter, New Belgium Brewing Company, another Brewers for Clean Water campaign member, also submitted its own supportive comments on the rule.
See also:
"Brewing Up Change in Water Treatment Technology"
"Brewer's water stewardship grant competition activates consumers, communities"
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