April eNews: Historic protections for California Groundwater
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Dear Supporter,
We are witnessing groundwater regulation history. In the San Joaquin Valley, 95 percent of people rely on groundwater for cooking, bathing and household needs. The stakes for effective groundwater protection and management in this region have never been higher.
Last month, the State Water Board voted to place the Tulare Lake Basin under probation — a first in the decade since the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) passed in 2014. Probation was included as a tool within SGMA to make sure the State had authority to force updates to inadequate groundwater management plans, especially ones that left domestic wells to run dry. Once placed on probation, industrial pumpers must pay fees, submit groundwater extraction reports, and install well meters so the State can understand how much groundwater is being used. This monumental decision gives us hope that through SGMA, we will have sustainable and accessible groundwater for all.
The next probation decision will be for the Tule Subbasin on September 17, 2024. Protecting groundwater from over extraction is possible. Communities are ready to continue advocating for a future which includes groundwater for all — so stay tuned!
Adelante,
Susana De Anda
Co-Founder and Executive Director
Community Demands Protections from Harmful Contaminants
Local leaders from the Central Coast and the Central Valley advocated for protections against Hexavalent Chromium and nitrates in their drinking water last month.
Community leaders from the Central Coast in Sacramento after providing comments to the State Water Board on the importance of protecting communities from Hexavalent Chromium in their drinking water.
Central coast residents traveled to Sacramento to urge the State Water Board to set a legal limit for Hexavalent Chromium as low as possible to protect community health.
Community partners made it clear that while establishing a new legal limit is critical, an MCL of 10 ppb which allows for 1 in 2,000 people to potentially contract cancer is unacceptable. Unfortunately, the final MCL was approved at 10 ppm. The State will revisit this limit in five years, and we will be ready to push again for better health protections for all.
“My cousin's fighting cancer. Like some already said, we don't have time.” - AGUA member Tutuy Montes speaking before the Central Valley Regional Water Board.
Meanwhile, community leaders in the Central Valley urged the Central Valley Regional Water Board to protect their groundwater from further nitrate pollution at a Management Zone Implementation Plan (MZIP) workshop. Management Zones have been tasked to create long-term plans that prevent further nitrate contamination of our drinking water and restore groundwater basins to safe levels as soon as possible while holding polluters accountable. These implementation plans (MZIPs) are now being reviewed by the Regional Board.
Leaders like Angie Moreno from Cutler expressed how urgently we need nitrate solutions. She noted we can’t wait for the implementation timeline of 35 years when she and her neighbors are already suffering from nitrate contamination way above the legal limit. With nitrates in her well at 17 mg/L and the legal limit for this contaminant at 10 mg/L, Angie’s well is far above a safe level for consumption.
It’s vital that the Regional Board require Management Zones to make key updates to their submitted MZIPs which would strengthen protections for communities who are suffering from pollution now. Community partners will continue making their voices heard before California’s State and Regional Water Boards to ensure drinking water is safe for their families.
National Drinking Water Week is May 5 - 11!
National Drinking Water week is next week! Each year, we spend this time reflecting on the challenges communities face to access safe water – a resource vital for life — while sharing what can be done to change this reality.
In this spirit, we hope you’ll join us for a free virtual discussion on America’s Drinking Water Affordability Crisis and How to Solve It on Tuesday, May 7th. CWC’s Susana De Anda will be joined by We the People of Detroit's Monica Patrick-Lewis, and the Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans' Rebecca Malpass.
The next day on Wednesday, May 8th, we invite you to join us for a free virtual discussion in Spanish on La Crisis Económica del Agua en California y la Solución. Susana De Anda with CWC will be joined in conversation by Rosa Carrillo Orozco and Sandra Garcia with the AGUA Coalition, Itzel Flores Castillo Wang with Promesa Boyle Heights at Proyecto Pastoral, and Fernando Ramirez with CA State Senator Durazo’s Office.
Through these panels and other social media posts, we’re making a strong push for safe and affordable drinking water next week. Can we count on you to spread the word on America’s drinking water crisis?
Welcome to the CWC Team!
MJ Kushner
MJ Kushner joined the Community Water Center in April 2024 as a Policy Advocate.
Originally from the South San Francisco Bay Area, MJ’s time pursuing a BS in Agricultural and Environmental Education at UC Davis allowed him to discover a passion for California water, and all the politics and history that come with it. This, along with his long-standing care for California’s people and culture, led MJ to the Community Water Center, where he is able to use his interest in water to expand its safe and affordable access to all Californians.
In his free time, MJ can be found digging through the crates at a record shop, knitting with a baseball game on, or out on a hike with his friends.
Deleo Garcia-Lopez
Deleo is the Groundwater Intern at the CWC Sacramento branch. His experience lies in research involving air quality analysis, environmental impact analysis, and transportation policy. He also has experience in community engagement and outreach from his time at UC Davis. His special interests lie in environmental justice, community and regional development, environmental law and water and air quality.
Deleo is a senior at UC Davis, studying environmental policy and intends to graduate in June. He is from Los Angeles, where he experienced many forms of environmental injustice from poor air quality to consequences of inequitable zoning, sparking his interest in environmental advocacy.
In his free time, he enjoys being a part of his campus improv comedy team (Go Birdstrike), watching his favorite baseball team (Go Dodgers), looking way too long at different bugs he has found in nature (Go Roly Polys) and watching professional wrestling (Go John Cena).
CWC is Hiring
Do you have a passion for environmental and social justice? Are you looking for an opportunity to work alongside those on the frontlines of the safe and affordable drinking water movement in California?
Community Water Center is hiring for multiple positions across all three of our offices:
Community Solutions Advocate — Watsonville Office
Work in partnership with communities in the Central Coast to help secure access to safe and affordableCommunity Solutions ManagerCommunity Solutions Manager — Visalia Office
Responsible for managing drinking water projects in underserved communities where residents do not have reliable access to safe and affordable drinking water.
Contracts Manager — Visalia, Sacramento, or Watsonville Office
Lead the administration and billing of our government funding agreements and subcontracts.San Joaquin Valley Community Advocacy Manager — Visalia Office
Leading San Joaquin Valley-based community advocacy campaigns, and working collaboratively with CWC’s community solutions and policy teams to advance safe drinking water projects and policies.View all open positions here.
Thank you to our Generous Donors!
Huge thank you to our sustaining monthly donors! Your ongoing commitment to water justice ensures everyone will have access to safe, clean and affordable drinking water.
Bessma Mourad, Bob Simone, Carly Yoshida, Claire Sarraille, Claire Wilkens, Elizabeth Callaway, F Thomas Biglione, Jonathan Nelson, Jose Pablo Ortiz Partida, Kat Gilje, Kelsey Hinton, Kirk Demartini, Kristin Dobbin, Lauren Gordon, Max Meyer, Natalie Garcia-Grazier, Temma Kaplan, Tori Klug
And thank you to our April donors!
Robert Weidner
Be a water champion and support safe water for all.
