It started when residents of a small U.S. town Merrimack, New Hampshire were warned about problems with their water supply through an announcement from a local factory. Laurene Allen, a local psychotherapist, immediately felt something was wrong as local authorities downplayed the issue.  

After some research, she discovered that the drinking water contained high levels of harmful per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as "forever chemicals" due to how long they persist in the environment.  

The factory produced items using PFAS chemicals, which are linked to serious health issues and Laurene noticed unusual illnesses were appearing within the community. With little help forthcoming from town officials, she realised she had to take matters into her own hands.  

Laurene taught herself the science behind PFAS, went door to door conducting surveys on community health and dove deep into scientific literature. She also rallied residents to campaign for stronger laws to stop toxic chemicals from entering the water supply. 

Despite being accused of fearmongering, Laurene didn’t give up her campaign. Instead, she worked with scientists to test the air, water and soil for contamination to gather proof. She ramped up the pressure, organised protests, reached out to journalists and even convinced the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) to hold a public listening session. 

After eight years of relentless effort, all the work paid off when the factory was required to shut down. Laurene remained active in ongoing cleanup efforts to ensure clean water supply for the community. 

Her unwavering dedication is a powerful reminder that just one person can make a difference in their community, especially in the face of environmental injustice. Laurene was awarded the 2025 Goldman Environmental Prize in recognition of her courageous work.  

Story originally by BBC World Service.

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