May eNews: New Drinking Water Policies Underway
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Dear Supporter,
Community leaders from Tulare County, along with CWC staff, meet with Assemblymember Arambula.
Recently, community leaders from the San Joaquin Valley and Central Coast traveled to Sacramento to advocate for key drinking water policies. It was a powerful day where impacted residents shared their experiences with unsafe and unaffordable water, as well as the policy solutions needed to address barriers for safe water. Below is a summary of key priorities:
California Budget:
Additional funding to support water debt relief
Funding for staff at the State Water Board to oversee the revision of failed groundwater management plans
Protections for vital drinking water sources during groundwater recharge efforts.
Continue to push for the passage of:
Assembly Bill 664: will further protect renters Human Right to Water. This bill passed in the Assembly and will move to the Senate’s Environmental Quality Committee next.
Senate Bill 3: closes a critical gap by making all water shutoffs due to lack of payment illegal. This bill is up for a vote on the Senate Floor, and is expected to pass to Assembly.
Assembly Bill 805: gives the State Water Board authority to mandate wastewater consolidations at the same time as drinking water. While this bill was held and won’t pass this year, we will continue to advocate in 2024.
Follow us on your favorite social channels to stay updated on state drinking water policy this summer!
Adelante,
Susana De Anda
Co-Founder and Executive Director
Lack of Investment in Rural Communities of Color Highlighted in New CWC Report
More than two million people who live in the U.S. struggle to access safe water and sanitation every day. While CWC is rooted in CA’s rural farmworker communities, we work on drinking water policy statewide and at the national level.
Last month, we released a new report analyzing the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) investments in water and wastewater infrastructure projects in rural communities. The report found that only 15% of funded projects were in majority Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. USDA receives its funding for these projects through Farm Bills — one of which is currently being considered by Congress.
Just yesterday, CWC’s Policy & Legal Director Kyle Jones testified before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife on our national water affordability crisis. At Senator Padilla’s invitation, Kyle shared key data and community experiences with unsafe water, urging continued prioritization of water infrastructure funding for low-income communities. Watch key moments from his testimony.
Federal legislators can take critical steps to address this funding inequity by increasing crucial investments in BIPOC rural communities and requiring the USDA to conduct a robust racial equity analysis for its Rural Utilities Service Water and Environmental Programs (WEP).
Drinking Water Crisis Impacts More Than Two Million Californians
The State Water Board’s annual drinking water needs assessment is now final. Data shows:
Tools like this help us understand the scope of California’s drinking water crisis and how to better prioritize funding for long-term drinking water solutions.
Progress on addressing failing and at-risk water systems can now be tracked on the new State water Board Needs Assessment Dashboard.
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.Community Solutions Coordinator — Watsonville Office
Provide technical support and resources to assist residents in making informed decisions on the best drinking water solutions for their needs.Community Solutions Intern - Watsonville Office (remote option may be available)
Support ongoing environmental justice organizing around drinking water issues in low-income communities and communities of color in the Central Coast.
View all open positions here.
Community Resources
Low-income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP)
California received $116 million in one-time funding through this program to cancel out outstanding water and wastewater debt. Recently, this program expanded to allow qualified residents to receive one-time payments even if they are current on their water bill!
If you are struggling with water or wastewater affordability, or know someone who is, the first step is to contact your water district to ask about this program. Click here for more information or call us at (559) 733-0219.
Monterey and Tulare County Flood Relief Resources
Are you or someone you know impacted by the floods? See FREE flood relief resources for Monterey County and Tulare County.
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, Natalie Garcia-Grazier, Paul Pierce, Sandra Hocker, Sandra Goldenberg,
Thomas Biglione, Sandra Rose, Stephen Gasteyer, Vicki Woods, Yara Pasner
And thank you to our generous donors for the month of May!
Abigail Mendoza, Alicia Garcia, Alielly Hu, An Tran, Andrea Grabner, Andrea Vega, Audrey Pham, Benjamin Nash, Bertha Gomez, Brandon Vu, Brenda O'Sullivan, Brian & Ellen Hinton, Brian Benson, Catie O’Connor, Chase Jones, Dan Murphy, Debrorah Braver, Denisse Hernandez, Diana Alrich, Ellyn Shocron, Emily Sims, Fatima Rivera, Geri Yang, Gloria Vallin, Helen Lancy, Iris Biblowitz, Itzel Vasquez-Rodriquez, Jennifer Harder & Eric Robinson, Jenny Rempel, Jill & Greg Stacy, Jing Gao, John Sauceda, Jonathan Nelson, Julian Leichty, Karen Avila, Katrina Songco, Kayley Estoesta, Kert Woods, Kevin Mori, Kristan Culbert, Kristi Rose, Kristine Andarmani, Kristine Castro-Austin, Laura Media, Laurel Firestone, Lauren Grieco, Lauren Kim, Lekha Tlhotlhalemaje, Leslie Friedman Johnson, Leticia Lopez, Lien Pham, Linda Kida, Linda MacKay, Lizeth Embarcadero, Mai Tran, Meagan Miller, Michael Grazier, Michaelangelo Tabone, Miguel Alatorre, NancyBell Coe, Odette Overton, Patrick Bollinger, Peter Bollinger, Peter Felber, Phuong Pham, Richard A Mills, Robert Kimberly, Sarah Shena, Sareena Rai, Selah Goodson, Shannon Flores, Shelly Amrhein, Shelly Kulm, Stanley Kanai, Taylor Walter, Thomas Hocker, Ellen & Tommy Hulland , Trang Pham, Vern Goehring
Be a water champion and support safe water for all.
