MEDIA ALERT
January 20, 2022
Contact: Rachel Bartels, Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper, rachel@mowaterkeeper.org, 314-884-1473
Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper Announces Multi-Year Grant to Fund Clean Water Initiative in St. Louis
Funding comes from a $584,000 Opportunity Fund grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health
Three-year project will test both drinking water and source water
Grassroots project to inform Missouri Waterkeeper policy recommendations for clean water investments and regulations
WHAT
Today, Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper has announced that it received a $584,000 Opportunity Fund grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health. The 36-month grant will support a community-led research project to sample and test water quality throughout St. Louis City and County and understand the prevalence of emerging contaminants.
The grant will be further applied to a strategic communications campaign targeted to Missouri lawmakers and policy decision-makers to promote environmental justice and achieve health equity in St. Louis.
Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper has outlined four key phases for this new project:
Phase 1: Collect and analyze tap water samples from randomly selected households identified through grassroots outreach.
Phase 2: Test for inequities in water systems by collecting samples of targeted source water near water treatment plants throughout the North St. Louis region, and collect samples of surface water near the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers and certain tributaries.
Phase 3: Produce a report including university-led analysis of collected samples.
Phase 4: Amplify research findings via strategic communications campaign targeting local, state and federal policymakers.
WHY
As both state and federal policy lags in protecting people from emerging contaminants, research findings throughout the country reveal a catastrophic, pervasive picture of emerging contaminants in our environment and our bodies. While the Toxic Substances Control Act Chemical Substance Inventory lists over 85,000 chemicals and microbiological contaminants, only 91 are currently regulated and regularly tested in local drinking water.
Early testing conducted by Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper confirms the presence of emerging contaminants in tap water and Missouri’s waterways — the source of most local drinking water. Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper will advocate for equitable investments in clean water infrastructure, shift power dynamics, and lay the foundation for lasting community change.
FUNDING
Missouri Foundation for Health’s Opportunity Fund offers the chance for organizations to share game-changing ideas with the hope of making them a reality. By working in collaboration, the Foundation helps nonprofits test projects that have the potential to reduce health inequities and build communities where everyone can thrive. The Foundation granted Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper a total of $584,000 to support its three-year phased approach.
QUOTE
“Water is essential to life. And clean water is vital for healthy people and communities,” says Rachel Bartels, Director of Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper. “We are excited for the opportunity to collaborate with the Missouri Foundation for Health as changemakers to advance environmental justice and equitable investments in clean water infrastructure. This funding will serve as a catalyst for our organization’s mission to protect fishable, swimmable, drinkable water for all Missourians.”
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Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper: Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization focused solely on clean water and dedicated to protecting the right to fishable, swimmable, drinkable water for all Missourians. To learn more please visit mowaterkeeper.org or @mowaterkeeper on social media.
