From SweetWater:
A lot of folks ask us “why is that ‘W’ in SweetWater capitalized?”
Well… water is pretty damn important to all of us. Water is in our name and in our DNA, and our brewers know that quality upstream water makes quality downstream beer. “When we arrived in Atlanta to start the brewery, we sought some cool relief in the local rivers,” says our Big Kahuna and CEO Freddy Bensch. “These waterways were, and still are, our community’s backyard where we swim, kayak, paddle board, fish, and drink. We wanted to use the brewery to make a positive impact on the community, and working with Waterkeeper Alliance was one of the most logical ways to give back.”
Waterkeeper Alliance is the largest and fastest growing nonprofit solely focused on clean water, working to preserve and protect water by connecting over 300 local Waterkeeper groups worldwide. Since 1999, they’ve collectively protected 2.5 million square miles of waterways, including the Chattahoochee River, which we use to brew our heady beers.
We sat down with Mary Beth Postman, Deputy Director at Waterkeeper Alliance, for an in-depth chat about what they’re doing to continue protecting our most precious resource, and hear more about how they’re celebrating the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act.
“Waterkeeper Alliance plays a crucial role in advocating for drinkable, fishable, swimmable water,” Postman explains. “Whether you’re an activist, volunteer, community member or brewer…. Clean water is for everyone.”
As folks are getting back outside to re-up their summers, Waterkeeper Alliance is ensuring there’s plenty of opportunities to engage with a cleanup or volunteer event locally. “As people are reconnecting with their local waterways, they have this deeper appreciation for those resources. This summer we’re hoping our Waterkeeper groups can get folks back out and engage with the importance of preserving and protecting waterways for generations to come.”
Next year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act, a landmark legislation that was one of the USA’s first and most influential environmental laws. “We’re excited to celebrate the successes from the Clean Water Act and the effect it’s had on mitigating water pollution. We’ll be telling our 50 successes of the Clean Water Act and hosting 50 events around the country. We want to bring people together to celebrate, but also make sure we’re strengthening this act for the next 50 years.”
How can you help? According to Postman, “drink a beer with your friends, support your local Waterkeeper groups, volunteer at an event, complete an action alert to send to your elected officials, and stay informed. One thing not to do is get discouraged. You can make a difference!”
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