The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) is celebrating 50 years! The act was signed into law in 1974 to protect public health by enforcing national standards for drinking water quality. Clean water is a basic human right and is essential to all life. Even still, American clean water supplies are becoming increasingly stretched each year—the pressures of rising population, agricultural and energy demands, and the growing effects of climate change all have a major impact on rivers and water resources. Communities across the nation are without access to safe, clean drinking water. Most recently, Hurricane Helene devastated the Southeast and left millions without clean water for weeks. If we do not embrace innovative solutions, delivering clean drinking water will become more and more difficult.