November eNews: CA Must Prepare for Impending Tsunami of Water Debt
The holidays are times when we normally gather with friends, family, and loved ones to be together and share food, laughter, and warmth.
Needless to say, the holidays are looking different this year, as many of us are taking necessary precautions to keep everyone in our communities safe and healthy. And we must continue to remember how much the pandemic is impacting our essential employees and frontline community members who don’t have the luxury to shelter in place. One other reality we must not forget? The fact that so many of our hard-working families continue to not have safe water flowing from their tap.
So however you’re celebrating this year, be sure to be safe and get some much needed rest. We’ll need your voice and support to keep fighting for safe, clean, and affordable drinking water in the new year.
Adelante,
Susana De Anda
Co-Founder and Executive Director
Water Affordability:
California Must Prepare for the Impending Tsunami of Water Debt
Here’s a fact -- the moratorium on water shutoffs will eventually come to an end and California must be prepared. But we’re not -- and that puts our families and communities at risk.
Right now, we’re facing an impending tsunami of mass water shutoffs for potentially thousands of Californians from vulnerable communities if our state fails to take corrective action in advance. This is because the water shutoff moratorium does not relieve residents of the obligation to pay their water bill, even if they can’t pay their water bill and haven’t for months. So once the water shut off moratorium ends, any unpaid household water debt will come due -- and that could put families at high risk of having their water shut off.
At the same time, small water systems that provide water for these communities are also at risk. As families financially struggle and rack up water debt, small water systems struggle to keep the water flowing without adequate income. We are hearing of small water systems with 20% or even 30% monthly revenue loss.
It’s critical we have comprehensive solutions to avoid this looming disaster. Right now the State Water Board is conducting a statewide survey of water systems to better understand the magnitude of the problem -- and the Board has committed to release that data by the end of 2020. We must also start planning now for solutions -- including financial relief for residents and small water systems, and the creation of a statewide low-income rate assistance program for low-income households.
For more information go to https://www.communitywatercenter.org/affordability-work
CWC in the News!
Just How Bad Is California’s Water Debt Problem? The State Isn’t Sure
“Those water bills are going to come due. Not only is there no plan for what to do about that crisis of water debt and potential mass water shutoffs next year, but we don't even know the full scope of the problem.”
Jonathan Nelson, Policy Director, Community Water Center
California water board orders mandatory solution to East Orosi water situation
“I am happy to see this sign of progress that we will accomplish what we’ve been hoping for, but we know the struggle will continue for us to make it a reality.”
Benedicto Cazares, AGUA Coalition member, East Orosi community
“This order is reason to celebrate and shows that the State Water Board has clearly heard and responded to the East Orosi community. There will continue to be a lot of work to do in the coming months and years. This process must continue to move forward with urgency as there are still key steps left in the process and we don’t want to see this process stall out any longer. The people of East Orosi have waited long enough.”
Ryan Jensen, Community Solutions Senior Manager, Community Water Center
California Is Making Progress On Safe Water For All, But Work Remains
“It gives me hope that we can resolve the problem, but if a water district doesn’t want to take advantage of that, then we’re still stuck in the same place.”
Benedicto Cazares, AGUA Coalition member, East Orosi community
See more CWC news coverage here.
New CWC Team Members
We are excited to introduce John Erickson as our newest team member! John joined our Watsonville office this month as Community Solutions Manager. Welcome aboard, John!
Safe Water Resources
Thank you to our Generous Donors!
Huge thank you to our regular monthly donors, whose continual contributions help to sustain our long-term work toward achieving safe, clean and affordable drinking water!
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