Katherine Baer
Senior Director, Clean Water Program

Blog Posts By This Author

Cities Should Go Green to Address Crumbling Infrastructure

January 25, 2012 | Clean Water, Greening Water Infrastructure, Stormwater & Sewage, Water Supply, Water Efficiency

Sewer overflows, leaky pipes and flooded streets. Many of us have been snarled in traffic due to a water main break or had to stay out of the water due to sewer spills.

Testifying on Green Infrastructure

December 22, 2011 | Clean Water, Water Supply, Greening Water Infrastructure, Stormwater & Sewage, Water Efficiency

Last week I had the opportunity to testify at a House hearing about a new EPA initiative called “integrated permitting.” The Agency’s idea is to look at ways to evaluate various Clean Water Act requirements together to see how they could be integrated. For example, if a city has pollution problems from urban stormwater runoff and sewer overflows, are there a set of solutions to address both of these together that might be more cost effective and sustainable?

Say No to Fracking for North Carolina

December 2, 2011 | Fracking, Clean Water, Water Supply, Most Endangered Rivers

With a recent victory to postpone a vote to open up the Delaware River Basin to fracking (hydraulic fracturing for natural gas), it looks like there is some understanding of the potential adverse impacts of fracking on our clean water supplies. Our listing of the Susquehanna River as number one on the list of the Nation’s Most Endangered Rivers highlighted the threat of contamination to our rivers from fracking.

Giving Thanks – for Fresh Food and Clean Water

November 29, 2011 | Clean Water, Greening Water Infrastructure, Floods & Floodplains, Stormwater & Sewage, Water Supply

The holidays  are a good time to pause to consider all the things for which we’re thankful.  For me, all of the people in my life who keep me laughing and inspired, for family,  and for good food (my husband made three different pies this year!) and access  to clean and safe water.

Dirty Politics Spilling into Your Clean Water

November 14, 2011 | Clean Water

Even as we’re set to celebrate clean water in anticipation of the 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, clean water is under attack.

Celebrate Clean Water

October 18, 2011 | Clean Water

As we approach the 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, it’s time to celebrate clean water. Instead, we’re fighting against rollbacks to clean water protections, putting our swimming holes and health at-risk.

Cities Go Green for Clean Water

October 18, 2011 | Clean Water, Greening Water Infrastructure

In Milwaukee and around the country, cities are investing in sustainable water management approaches like green roofs to achieve clean water and create more livable communities.

Survey Supports Smart Stormwater Rules

September 16, 2011 | Clean Water, Greening Water Infrastructure, Stormwater & Sewage, Global Warming

Communities are using rain gardens, green roofs and other practices to cost-effectively reduce polluted stormwater runoff, flooding and sewer overflows. A new report highlights some of the solutions to removing remaining barriers to more fully adopting these “green infrastructure” practices.

Swimming in Slime Underscores Need for Smart Clean Water Protections

August 31, 2011 | Clean Water, Greening Water Infrastructure, Global Warming, Protecting Rivers, Stormwater & Sewage

Green slime covering up your local swimming hole? Seems that Senator Inhofe (R-OK) found his own Grand Lake covered in algae. After swimming in the muck, the Senator became really sick. Blue-green algae are known to cause respiratory illness, skin irritation and diarrhea and tend to flourish in times of drought when water is warm and polluted with excess nutrients. As droughts become more frequent and intense, we’re likely to see more of these algal blooms that plague our favorite swimming spots...

Clean Water and Livable Communities: New Report Shows How Communities Support Clean Water and Redevelopment

August 2, 2011 | Clean Water, Global Warming, Greening Water Infrastructure, Floods & Floodplains

Where would you rather live – community A in vibrant, thriving area but one that is hot and floods every time it rains, or community B in a vibrant, thriving area that is cooled by trees and green roofs where pocket gardens and green streets soak up water to help reduce local floods and sewer overflows?