February eNews: 10 Years of the Human Right to Water
Para español, haz clic aqui
Last month, we took time to reflect on the ten years since California’s Human Right to Water law was enacted.
I joined a panel discussion — alongside State Water Board Member Laurel Firestone and Department of Water Resources Deputy Director of Special Initiatives Bianca Sievers — on what the legislature can do to ensure all Californians have safe drinking water.
We published a paper highlighting all key policy wins since this law was passed in 2012.
2023 WJLA Awardee Assembly Speaker-Designee Robert Rivas
We also gathered for our 7th annual Water Justice Leadership Awards to honor community leaders, decision-makers, and organizations who are moving us closer to the Human Right to Water being a reality for all who live in this state.
However, the work is far from over. We have hundreds of communities in need of sustainable and affordable drinking water solutions. Will you join us to advance drinking water access by making a donation today?
Adelante,
Susana De Anda
Co-Founder and Executive Director
7th Annual Water Justice Leadership Awards
2023 WJLA Awardee — AGUA Coalition
After three years, we came back together in Sacramento to honor those who are working each day to make safe and affordable water available to all Californians. Congratulations again to our awardees:
Eufemia Hernandez, Community Leader from Monterey County
Community Leaders of East Orosi
AGUA Coalition
State Senator Bill Dodd, District 3
Assembly Speaker-Designee Robert Rivas, District 29
California Environmental Voters
As part of our program, we interviewed several leaders who helped to pass the Human Right to Water in 2012:
We would also like to thank our event sponsors who made this possible!
ACLU of Northern California
AGUA Coalition
California Coastkeeper Alliance
California Environmental Voters
California Wellness Foundation
Central California Environmental Justice Network
Clean Water Action
Conservation Strategy Group
East Bay Municipal Utility District
Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability
Natural Resources Defense Council
PolicyLink
Public Health Advocates
Rural Communities Assistance Corporation
Restore Hetch Hetchy
Simmons Hanley Conroy LLC
TrattenPrice
Trust for Public Land
Tulare County Board of Supervisors
Water Foundation
Weideman Group
Preliminary Needs Assessment Shows Increase of At-Risk Water Systems Statewide
Under the Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience (SAFER) program, the State Water Board must complete a drinking water needs assessment every year to prioritize failing or at-risk water systems for funding and project development. The recently released preliminary needs assessment also added affordability and socio-economic data which helps to better illustrate the challenges water systems are facing. The preliminary report for 2023 showed:
We know water quality, access and affordability are key components of the Human Right to Water. We will provide an update once the final 2023 needs assessment is released.
LISTEN: The Battle for Clean Water in California's Rural Farmworker Communities
“Yes, there are a handful of residents who have been working on this for 17 years — to access safe drinking water solutions. And when I say that, it’s bittersweet because…who wants to be fighting for nearly 20 years to get access to something that is supposedly a fundamental human right in the state of California? It’s demoralizing.”
— Janaki Anagha, Director of Community Advocacy for CWC
READ: Ground zero: Rain brings little relief to California’s depleted groundwater
“There’s so much political pressure to maintain the status quo, and to continue pumping, because it’s tied up with economic profits. And the end result is community members who can’t rely on their wells for safe water.”
— Tien Tran, Policy Advocate for CWC
READ: Amid well-drilling and pumping, calls grow for stronger California water regulation
“The [groundwater sustainability] plans need to be revised, and domestic wells cannot be sacrificed for agricultural use."
— Tien Tran, Policy Advocate for CWC
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:
Administrative Assistant — Visalia Office
Support day–to–day activities to ensure sustainable, efficient and effective operations of the organization and its three offices.Public Relations Associate — Sacramento, Visalia, or Watsonville Office
Responsible for coordinating media relations and cultivating strategic and empowering experiences for staff and community partners when participating in interviews and press events.
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.
Arden Wells, Bessma Mourad, Bob Simone, Carly Yoshida, Claire Sarraville, Claire Wilkens, Denise Heitzenroder,
Frank Lukacs, Jose Pablo Ortiz Partida, Kathryn Gilje, Kathryn Wuelfing, Kirk Demartini, Klara East,
Kristin Dobbin, Lara Cushing, Max Meyer, Paul Pierce, Sandra Hocker, Sandra Goldenberg,
Thomas Biglione, Sandra Rose, Stephen Gasteyer, Vicki Woods, Yara Pasner
Be a water champion and support safe water for all.
