Brockovich: It takes upset mothers to upgrade water quality

Superheroes don’t solve community water pollution problems, mothers do, activist Erin Brockovich told a National Press Club Virtual Book Rap on Friday, Oct. 30, while promoting her new book, "Superman’s Not Coming: Our National Water Crisis and What We the People Can Do About It."

“Upset mothers are real good at turning their anger into action,” Brockovich said. “When they get organized, listen I’m just there to cheerlead because they are going to come right through until they get accomplished the thing they need to do.”

Water problems are not created overnight and they aren’t solved overnight. It takes “stick-to-itiveness,” Brockovich said, reminding the audience this was the same message she delivered when she appeared at the Club in person in 2001.

For example, in Hannibal, Missouri, a group of community activists fought to get ammonia removed from the local drinking water after it was discovered that there was high levels of lead contamination in the city’s water distribution system.

“This was a group of moms that was oh-hell-to-the-no,” Brockovich said.

After successfully filing a petition, one of the activists ran for city council and won. That was 2016 but Brockovich said it wasn’t until March 2020 that the law prohibiting the chemicals was passed.

“It’s mind-boggling really how long it takes,” Club Secretary Emily Wilkins said. Wilkins participated in the conversation with Brockovich.

Brockovich became famous after she helped the town of Hinkley, California, successfully sue Pacific Gas & Electric, garnering a $333 million settlement and the attention of Hollywood. Julia Roberts won an Oscar for portraying her in a blockbuster movie. She began her quest in Hinkley when she was 30 years old. “I’m now 60 and the grandmother of four.”

In addition to writing the book, Brockovich is co-hosting a podcast and revamping her website Community Healthbook, which allows citizens to report when they believe there is an environmental problem in their hometown.

“We miss a lot of datasets when we don’t have a place for people to self-report to,” Brockovich said.

In a moment of self-deprecation, Brockovich said she is not invited to cocktail parties because she cannot talk about water issues succinctly. “It is not a soundbite,” she said. “I can’t answer it in one sentence.”

Brockovich urged everyone to work collectively to prepare for and protect against environmental disasters.

“The moment is here and what we are not doing is working together collectively” to divert a disaster, Brockovich said. “What is the worst thing that happens if we begin these preparations and it doesn’t happen? Hallelujah.”