Waterkeepers Florida is a regional entity composed of all 15 Waterkeeper organizations working in the State of Florida to protect and restore our water resources across over 50,000 square miles of watershed, which is home to over 15 million Floridians. Part scientist, teacher, and legal advocate, Waterkeepers combine firsthand knowledge of their waterways with an unwavering commitment to the rights of their communities and to the rule of law. Whether on the water, in a classroom, or in a courtroom, Waterkeepers speak for the waters they defend – with the backing of their local community and the collective strength of Waterkeeper Alliance.
After years of advocacy by the Environmental Defense Alliance, Waterkeepers Florida, and our partners, a federal court has ordered the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to finalize water quality protectionsconcerning 73 toxic and cancer-causing chemicals in Florida’s waters on orbefore December 1, 2026. This rule change will finally revise toxic limits for Florida that have languished without update for over 30 years.
Water quality standards for dozens of toxic chemicals that affect human health, called “Florida’s Human Health Criteria for Priority Toxic Pollutants” are supposed to be reviewed and updated by state environmental protection agencies, like the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), every three years in order to keep pace with updates in scientific research and technology. These toxic pollutants include known carcinogens like benzene and other chemicals found in fumigant pesticides and industrial solvents. However, many of Florida’s water quality standards have remained woefully outdated since the 1990s and many morewere never even adopted.
Read the press release HERE.