Suzanne Novak

Director of Drinking Water Advocacy

Northeast Office

Suzanne Novak is an attorney at Earthjustice's Northeast Regional Office.

Bar Admissions

NY

Suzanne Novak

Director of Drinking Water Advocacy Northeast Office

Media Inquiries

Nydia Gutiérrez
Public Affairs and Communications Strategist
ngutierrez@earthjustice.org

Suzanne Novak is the Director of Drinking Water Advocacy and a senior attorney in Earthjustice’s Northeast Regional Office, based in New York.

Suzanne is a strategist and legal advocate for access to safe drinking water, with a focus on lead, PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), and harmful algal bloom contamination. Suzanne currently represents community organizations and other clients in court cases defending federal PFAS drinking water regulations and the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements rule.

Suzanne is a former senior staff attorney at the Center for Reproductive Rights, where she worked for a decade to protect and advance women’s access to reproductive health care. Suzanne also previously served as Deputy Director of the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center for Justice and worked with the law firms of Hogan Lovells, Arnold & Porter, and Yankwitt LLP.

Suzanne clerked for Judge Stephen McNamee of the District of Arizona and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and NYU School of Law.

Media Inquiries

Nydia Gutiérrez
Public Affairs and Communications Strategist
ngutierrez@earthjustice.org

Bar Admissions

NY

Quoted in the News

February 16, 2024

Kenosha News

In race to prevent lead in our drinking water, who is being left behind?

“If we don’t prohibit charging a customer, we may very well end up with a two-tiered system, where wealthier communities, which are disproportionately white, will have more of their lead service lines replaced than in other communities.”

Latest Press Statements

April 2, 2026

EPA Busca Atribuirse el Mérito por Lista de Vigilancia de Contaminantes Mientras Desmantela Protecciones Existentes

Mientras afirma promover la salud, la EPA está eliminando las protecciones contra sustancias químicas tóxicas presentes en el aire, los alimentos y el agua
A child fills a drinking glass with water from the faucet.
April 2, 2026

Zeldin’s EPA Seeks Credit for Contaminant Watchlist While Rolling Back Existing Protections

While claiming to promote health, the EPA is removing protections from toxic chemicals in air, food, and water
July 28, 2025

Community Members Condemn EPA’s Lack of Drinking Water Protections

EPA announced plans to roll back PFAS drinking water protections, affecting communities across the country in states including, North Carolina, New York, and Maine
A cut lead pipe is pulled from a dig site for testing at a home in Royal Oak, Mich., on Nov. 16, 2021.
December 20, 2024

Groups Seek to Defend Lead Pipe Rule Challenged by Water Utilities

Lead service lines contaminate drinking water across the country and must be replaced now