Book excerpt: We need the fresh water found in rivers, lakes, and streams to survive, to drink, for sanitation, to help food grow, as power, and for recreation. How did our small supply of fresh water get so polluted? What are the biggest threats to the safety of our freshwater, and why? Complex biology, earth science, and chemistry are all presented to the reader in a way that is both age-appropriate and exciting. This book is an intersection between environmental science and environmental responsibility that empowers readers to learn more, think more, and do more.