Eastern Shore residents of Mobile Bay have launched efforts to raise awareness on the importance of protecting Alabama’s abundant water resources. The non-profit organization Clean Water Alabama (CWA) was formed last year due to concerns over Weeks Bay but has broadened its purpose to address the issue statewide. CWA is a non-profit organization whose mission is to engage the citizens of Alabama to take the necessary actions to ensure that our water resources (rivers, streams, lakes, bays, and coast) are protected from those items that make them unsafe to its citizens, and the plant and animal life that live within and around.

CWA President John Manelos said the group has made significant progress on a number of key projects thanks to the community support that the Fairhope-based water preservation group has received.

"As an all-volunteer non-profit organization, we rely on the financial support of donors to sustain our efforts,” Manelos said. “We are extremely grateful for the generosity and impassioned response we have received from our community. Their contribution will go a long way in helping us advance our goal of cleaner Alabama waterways.”

Current CWA sponsors include Piggly Wiggly, Baldwin County Realtors, Fairhope Soap Company, Streamline Environmental, Fairhope Sunset Rotary Club and Daphne Rotary Club.

“If you look at the impact of pollution on our waterways in totality, the task at arriving at better water quality may seem overwhelming and thus turn people away from trying to do something about it. But not us,” Manelos said. “Our mission is to educate the public on the threats to our waterways and to support and promote best practices designed to mitigate these threats. Over time, step by step, we all can make a difference in reaching our goal of cleaner water in Alabama’s beautiful and abundant waterways.”