November eNews: Water Debt Relief Application Closes Dec. 6
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During the holiday season, the last thing people should worry about is keeping their water running. Water shutoffs have been banned statewide through December 31, 2021, but those with water debt will be at-risk for shutoffs once again in the new year, unless their water system acts now.
Water systems throughout California have the unique opportunity to help their customers by applying for water debt relief through the State Water Board. However, less than 20% of these emergency relief funds have been claimed by water providers. The deadline for applications is December 6, which is quickly approaching. The $1 billion program is large enough and positioned to cover all California water debt from the pandemic, so if you are served by a public water system and facing water debt, now is the time to urge your water system to apply and protect the Human Right to Water in your community. A family’s access to water should not be contingent on their zip code or if their water system decided to apply for a free grant from the state. We need leadership from all water systems, regardless if they are small or large, public or private. Only water systems can apply to this state-wide program and ensure that Californians can equitably recover from this pandemic.
Adelante,
Susana De Anda
Co-Founder and Executive Director
Safe Water for Arvin After Nearly 20 Years
More than 19,000 Arvin residents can safely turn on their taps! Arvin Community Services District (CSD) returned to compliance with federal drinking water standards with the completion of the Arsenic Mitigation Project last month!
Twenty years ago, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) lowered the federal drinking water standard for arsenic to better protect public health, causing Arvin CSD to fall out of compliance. The solution to address arsenic in the drinking water was a multi-million dollar project to replace multiple wells contaminated with arsenic and to potentially treat the water.
Despite a few delays, the project was completed and the system returned to compliance in October 2021. This was the culmination of a multi-decade project led by Arvin CSD and involving local, state, and federal actors to bring safe drinking water to the residents of Arvin. CWC would like to recognize Arvin CSD and the community of Arvin for their commitment to safe water and this great achievement!
Check Out the Award Winning Drinking Water Tool
Each year, the Berkeley Water Data Collaborative hosts the California Drinking Water Data Challenge. The challenge is designed to explore data’s potential to better inform community access to safe drinking water, anticipate vulnerabilities and identify solutions. This year, the Drinking Water Tool was recognized as the 2020 winner for most engaging by design and received special recognition for excellence in stakeholder collaboration. A special thank you to fellow project collaborators at the Water Equity Science Shop (WESS) and Green Info Network!
If you live in California, simply enter your address and you will instantly be given information on where your water comes from and its current water quality based on the following contaminants: arsenic, nitrates, 1,2,3-TCP and Chrom-6.
You can also use the interactive state map to view groundwater users, water quality, drought scenarios and more.
CWC in the News!
California Utilities Leaving Millions in Debt Relief on the Table
With the application window for drinking water debt still wide open, Uriel Saldivar, a senior policy advocate with the Community Water Center, a grassroots environmental nonprofit, urged the many dozens of eligible water systems that haven’t yet undertaken the process to do so as soon as possible. “It’s free money — please apply,” he said. “The residents need it.”
— Uriel Saldivar, Senior Policy Advocate, Community Water Center
New CWC Team Member
We are excited to introduce Kelsey Hinton as our new team member! Kelsey joined our Sacramento office this month as Communications Manager. Welcome aboard, Kelsey!
Read more about Kelsey Hinton here.
Safe Water Resources
Thank you to our Generous Donors!
Huge thank you to our sustaining monthly donors, whose continual contributions help to sustain our long-term work toward achieving safe, clean, and affordable drinking water!
Arden Wells, Benigna Hernandez, Bessma Mourad, Bob Simone, Brad Coffey, Carly Yoshida, Cassie Morgan, Denise Heitzenroder, Frank Lukacs, Jose Pablo Ortiz Partida, Julia Emerson, Kathryn Gilje, Kathryn Wuelfing, Kelsey Hinton, Klara East, Kristin Dobbin, Lara Cushing, Leonard Sklar, Max Meyer, Paul Pierce, Sandra Hocker, Sandra Rose, Stephen Gasteyer, Vicki Woods, Victoria Klug and Yara Pasner
And thank you to our generous donors for November!
Amparo Cid, Doug Linney, Heather Bernikoff, Peter Felber, Venkat Ranjan
Be a water champion and support safe water for all.
