Looking for resources on fracking? Visit our fracking resources page.
Online resources – Organizations
Online resources
The Right-to-know Network is a large collection of databases of various polluters.
North Carolina’s Source Water Assessment Program map tool allows you to see potential contamination sources in your area.
Search for certified water laboratories in NC at the NC Division of Public Health.
If you receive drinking water from a public water supply (anything other than a private well), you should receive a water quality report once per year noting any contaminants. To search for your water quality report, visit the website of NC Public Water Supply. For information about testing your private well, contact your county health department’s well program. More advice on testing or reporting your drinking water.
Government Agencies
In North Carolina, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) handles most issues related to water quality, air quality, land use regulations, dump sites, and hazardous chemicals. The Division of Water Quality is the section of DENR responsible for statewide regulatory programs in surface water and groundwater protection.
The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a place to turn for information, or when state regulators are not helpful.
Specific community resources and issues
Asheville Water System blog – News and information about 2011 legislation that could affect the ownership of Asheville, NC’s drinking water system.
Organizations
Environmental Justice Organizations
The Environmental Justice Network .
The NC Justice Center has a mission to end poverty in North Carolina by ensuring that every household has access to the resources, services and fair treatment it needs to achieve economic security.
The Granville Nonviolent Action Team.
Stop Titan is a citizen group which formed around the proposed construction of a Titan Cement plant in the Cape Fear River Basin.
Participatory and Community Organizations
The Center for Participatory Change works in partnership with people across Western North Carolina as they recognize their own power, work together and transform their communities.
The Coalición de Organizaciones Latino-Americanas (COLA) is a regional network connecting and strengthening organizations that empower Latino communities in Western North Carolina. COLA strives for just and inclusive Western North Carolina communities.
El Pueblo is a North Carolina non-profit statewide advocacy and public policy organization dedicated to strengthening the Latino Community.
Green Opportunities (GO) is an Asheville-based, community-based development organization dedicated to improving lives, communities and the health of the planet through innovative green collar job training and placement programs.
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Pigeon River Allies
The Western North Carolina Alliance empowers citizens to be advocates for livable communities and the natural environment of Western North Carolina. As part of their work, WNCA employs the French Broad Riverkeeper, who works to protect and defend the water quality in the French Broad River.
Wild South is a non-profit grassroots organization whose mission is to inspire and empower people to protect and restore the native ecosystems of the Southeast.
The Sierra Club – Tennessee Chapter shares the national organization’s mission to explore, enjoy and protect the planet.
Clean Water Expected in East Tennessee (CWEET) formed around the injustice to downstream TN communities of paper mill pollution in the Pigeon River coming from North Carolina. CWEET promotes clean water and sustainable living practices through education, action, and outdoor recreation.
Tennessee Clean Water Network works to protect water resources in Tennessee.
Riverkeeper and Watershed Organizations
These organizations patrol our state’s waters and defend their communities against anyone who threatens their right to clean water.
Pamlico-Tar River Foundation
Neuse RiverKeeper Foundation
White Oak-New Riverkeeper Alliance
Haw River Assembly
National Groups
The Clean Water Network is a coalition of more than 1,200 public interest groups across the country working together to strengthen and implement federal clean water and wetlands policy.
The River Network works together to empower and unite people and communities to protect and restore rivers and other waters that sustain the health of our country.
The Center for Health, Environment, and Justice works to build healthy communities, with social justice, economic well-being, and democratic governance.
Food and Water Watch is a national nonprofit dedicated to ensuring the food, water and fish we consume is safe, accessible and sustainably produced. They are a wonderful resource for drinking water research and policy.
Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI) works to build strong family farms and rural communities, close connections between consumers and producers of food, environmentally sound farming, and safeguarding of agricultural biodiversity.
Gasland is a film by Josh Fox about the dangers of hydraulic fracturing for natural gas. “Hydrofracking” hasn’t come to NC yet, but gas companies have their eyes on shales. Learn more about hydrofracking in NC.
