Millicent Olal Muchilwa is more than an activist; she is the North Basin Lake Victoria Waterkeeper in Kenya, a civic educator, a human rights defender standing at the intersection of ecological and historical land injustices, and a mother. While Lake Victoria serves as a lifeblood for millions, it has become a battleground for untreated industrial effluent, illegal sand harvesting, and a lack of governmental transparency.

In this episode, Millicent discusses the "long haul" of environmental litigation and the danger of speaking truth to power in a region where dissent is often met with force. While her children provided the final spark that pulled her back into the front lines, it is Millicent’s decades of community organizing and legal due process that are turning local challenges into systemic opportunities for restoration.

Justinn Overton of Coosa Riverkeeper joins to discuss how growing up outdoors in Alabama on Logan Martin Lake and the Coosa River shaped her love for waterways and led her into advocacy and Waterkeeper work, beginning with volunteering for Black Warrior Riverkeeper in exchange for concert tickets. She describes the challenge of protecting rivers across 12 Alabama counties with limited funding and staff, and the emotional toll of slow progress, regulatory capture, and issues like PFAS, PCBs, coal ash, and a proposed graphite mine near her rural community. Overton shares burnout tools including reframing “I have to” into “I get to,” setting boundaries to be accessible but not always available, relying on therapy and Waterkeeper peers, staying connected to nature, visiting other Waterkeepers with her team, and finding “joy” after her mother Joy’s death by enjoying the river she protects.

In the fifth season of Equity in Every Drop, we continue our journey alongside Waterkeepers across the globe—bringing you closer to the people working every day to defend our most vital resource.

This season, we explore the ever-changing nature of water advocacy. From emerging threats to new opportunities, these stories reveal a movement that is constantly evolving—just like the rivers, lakes, and coastlines these advocates work to protect.

There is no such thing as a typical day for a Waterkeeper. Through these episodes, we’ll uncover the many ways they respond to challenges on the ground, adapt to shifting environmental realities, and fight to safeguard clean water for their communities.

Whether you’re a long-time environmental advocate or just beginning to learn about the movement, join us as we continue to amplify voices from around the world—and push forward the mission to protect everyone’s right to clean water.

Host Thomas Hynes speaks with Laura Reinsborough of Ottawa Riverkeeper about the Ottawa River’s swimmability and watershed protection. Reinsborough outlines her background in environmental studies, founding an urban fruit tree nonprofit in Toronto, and leading Food for All New Brunswick. She describes the Ottawa River as a 1,200+ km river with a vast drainage basin, the largest tributary to the St. Lawrence within the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence freshwater system, and notes it runs through unceded Anishnabe Algonquin territory across Ontario and Quebec. Ottawa Riverkeeper began in 2001 in response to untreated sewage from combined sewer overflows across a fragmented watershed of over 300 municipalities. She reports that the City of Ottawa’s overflows have been reduced by over 90% through transparency, monitoring (including real-time public maps and email notifications), and major infrastructure, including a sewage storage tunnel completed in 2021.

Despite improved water quality, public perception lags; a 2020 survey found most believed the river unsafe. Reinsborough says people do swim (herself included), and urban beaches test safe about 85% of the time, with results aggregated on Swim Guide and advice to wait 24–48 hours after heavy rain. She discusses the Swimmable Cities Alliance and swimming as human “rewilding.” Additional priorities include road salt, 85+ fish species, American eel decline due to 50+ dams, PFAS and microplastics, and nuclear waste concerns. She also describes River School (launched 2023 at River House), reaching about 4,000 students with hands-on watershed, biodiversity, and water-quality education, including a birchbark canoe module.

In this episode of Equity in Every Drop, host Thomas welcomes Nabil Musa of Waterkeepers Iraq Kurdistan. Nabil’s unconventional background in the arts, rather than science, has uniquely positioned him to protect Iraq’s waterways through creativity and passion. Growing up by a river during the tumultuous Iran-Iraq war, Nabil found solace and developed a deep love for nature, which he now channels into his work. Nabil shares experiences from his childhood, the impact of ongoing conflict on the environment, and his creative initiatives, like making giant dragonfly lanterns to raise environmental awareness. He discusses moving to England, working with climate activists, and eventually returning to Iraq to find his beloved river destroyed. Despite numerous challenges, including armed conflict and environmental degradation, Nabil continues to fight for the restoration and protection of Iraq’s natural resources. The episode concludes with a heartfelt appeal for support to aid in his mission to revive Iraq’s rivers and biodiversity.

In this episode of 'Equity in Every Drop,' host Thomas Hynes sits down with Dr. Rosalia Arteaga, a leading environmental advocate and education leader. The discussion covers Dr. Arteaga's distinguished career, including her roles as the former President and Vice President of Ecuador, and her involvement with Waterkeeper Alliance. Dr. Arteaga shares her early influences, her passion for integrating environmental stewardship with education, and her efforts in promoting conservation practices. They also discuss the importance of youth involvement, the potential of science and technology in environmental conservation, and the upcoming global Waterkeeper meeting in Quito, Ecuador. Dr. Arteaga also introduces her project to establish an Eco museum and library in Quito. This in-depth conversation offers valuable insights into the interconnectedness of education, government, and environmental work.

In this episode of Equity in Every Drop, host Thomas Hynes speaks with Dr. Michelle Ryan, senior lecturer in ecology and environmental science at Western Sydney University and the Hawkesbury Nepean Waterkeeper. Dr. Ryan shares her journey from an early fascination with freshwater turtles to her current focus on the ecological health of freshwater systems and the part the iconic platypus plays in this endeavor. She discusses the innovative use of environmental DNA to confirm platypus presence in urbanizing areas, the significant impacts of urban development on platypus habitats, and effective measures to mitigate these impacts. Additionally, Dr. Ryan highlights the resilience of the platypus and the importance of community and governmental collaboration in preserving waterway health. Join them as they explore the challenges and triumphs of protecting this enigmatic and fascinating species.

In this episode, host Thomas Hynes interviews Sharif Jamil, the Buriganga Riverkeeper and coordinator of Waterkeepers Bangladesh. Sharif, a global environmental leader, shares his journey from personal connection to Bangladesh's rivers to becoming an activist and leader in water protection. He discusses the challenges faced by rivers in Bangladesh, such as industrial pollution and urban encroachment, and celebrates the victories, including raising awareness and securing legal recognition for rivers. Sharif reflects on the value of being part of the Waterkeeper Alliance, emphasizing the strength of the network and the shared passion among waterkeepers worldwide.