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About Alabama's rivers
Your guide to your rivers.
Alabama has over 77,000 miles of rivers and streams with more freshwater species living in them than in any other state in the nation.
This is your place to learn about those rivers.
Table of Contents:
(Click links below for more information.)
Your Rivers
About Alabama's Rivers
Your Health
Your Drinking Water
- Drinking Water Basics
Do you know where your drinking water comes from? Or how it's treated before it gets to your tap? If not, read this primer from the National Academies, which also has reports on drinking water contamination, water pollution and other topics. - Annual drinking water quality reports for AL: Find out where your water's from and what's in it.
- EPA's Safe Water Query Form for AL: Ask the officials what's in your water.
- Deciphering Your Water Report
So you've read the EPA Consumer Confidence Report on the water in your area -- want to know what it means? This page from Consumer Reports will help you translate. - Bottled Water
Thinking about switching to bottled water instead of tap? Check out this Q&A from the Natural Resources Defense Council to learn more about the safety and environmental effects of bottled water. - Drugs Found in Drinking Water
Here are the results of a five-month Associated Press investigation that found pharmaceuticals in the drinking water of 24 major metropolitan areas. A sidebar lists what was found where, and related stories look at contamination in fish and why water quality tests are rarely released to the public. (March 10, 2008)
Your food sources
- Fish Consumption Advisories: U.S. state departments of health issue advisories on which fish to avoid. The lists are aggregated here on this EPA site.
- Seafood Selector
The Environmental Defense Fund recommends which fish are good for you and for the oceans. The site includes portable pocket guides for seafood and sushi (PDFs), and a mobile phone application for its seafood and sushi selectors. - FishWatch
This site, from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), offers detailed information on the sustainability of various species and tips on shopping for and/or catching your own seafood.
Threats to Alabama's Rivers
Not Enough Water
Polluted Water
- Drugs Found in Drinking Water
Here are the results of a five-month Associated Press investigation that found pharmaceuticals in the drinking water of 24 major metropolitan areas. A sidebar lists what was found where, and related stories look at contamination in fish and why water quality tests are rarely released to the public. (March 10, 2008) - Pollution from Coal: TheDirtyLie.com
- Ten Facts About Fishing Lures and Water Quality
Protect Your River
Learn how to protect Your River
-
River Protection Essentials: ARA's series of publications with helpful information that empowers citizens to protect their right to clean, healthy water.
Get Involved
- Find a watershed group in your neighborhood: view a statewide directory of grassroots groups organized by watershed
University of Alabama PR Student Earns Prestigious Grant to Intern with Black Warrior Riverkeeper
Huntsville Water Management Planning Symposium