Founded in 1999, Waterkeeper Alliance’s mission is rooted in the belief that water is a basic human right, and they actively use legal tools like the Clean Water Act to combat pollution threats globally​.

Waterkeeper Alliance leads a network of over 300 Waterkeeper groups worldwide, all committed to protecting clean water and healthy ecosystems. The alliance safeguards rivers, lakes, and coastal waterways, ensuring that communities have access to drinkable, fishable, and swimmable water. Waterkeeper organizations work at the grassroots level, patrolling local waterways, advocating for stronger environmental laws, and holding polluters accountable. They are also involved in larger environmental campaigns, such as climate change, clean energy, and pollution from industrial agriculture​. They also work closely with the United Nations to support the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly related to water security and environmental sustainability.​