October eNews: Critical Drinking Water Bills Signed by Governor
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Dear Supporter,
After months of advocacy by CWC and community leaders, Governor Newsom signed two bills to help further the Human Right to Water in California!
AGUA members and CWC staff meeting with state legislators in May.
Senate Bill 3 (Dodd) bans water shutoffs due to lack of payment to the state’s smallest communities. New requirements for water systems include offering payment plans and language appropriate notices.
Assembly Bill 664 (Lee) will protect safe drinking water access for renters. If a landlord refuses to participate in safe water projects being built nearby, they must provide annual well testing and bottled water if contamination is found.
These are important wins for the water justice movement! We will continue advocating for legislation in 2024 which pushes forward safe, clean and affordable water for all.
Adelante,
Susana De Anda
Co-Founder and Executive Director
First Community Meeting in Walnut Avenue!
Walnut Ave residents review fact sheets on nitrates and 123-TCP in the area.
CWC held its first community platica in the Walnut Ave area, located just outside the city of Greenfield in Monterey County. Drinking water in this community is contaminated with Nitrate and 123-TCP - posing health risks to local residents.
Holding community meetings, or platicas, is one way CWC is providing residents to share water quality information and connecting them to available resources like well testing and bottled water. CWC is also exploring potential long-term projects with residents to find a lasting solution.
The residents who joined us last week are ready to invite their neighbors to these important conversations, grow the movement and work toward a long-term project to provide the residents on Walnut Ave safe water now and in the future.
CWC Connects with 500 Tulare County Voters on Key Water Issues
CWC’s Integrated Voter Engagement Team making calls to local voters from CWC’s Visalia office.
Our amazing bilingual voter engagement team is connecting with voters in Orosi, East Orosi, Cutler, Sultana and Seville to share information on important local groundwater issues and ways to get involved in safe water solutions. And we’re just getting started! By the end of next year, our goal is to speak with 15,000 voters in small, rural communities impacted by water issues.
The team also spent the last weekend knocking on doors in East Orosi to invite residents to an upcoming CWC Dia de Muertos event on November 3. Residents of East Orosi are in the middle of a contentious water system consolidation with its neighboring community of Orosi. This event will provide much needed joy amidst the challenges facing East Orosi’s fight for safe water. For more information on this event, please contact Maricela Mares-Alatorre at maricela.alatorre@communitywatercenter.org or 559-816-9298.
New staff
Evelyn La
Evelyn joins CWC as a Community Solutions Intern. She is a 4th year student at California State University Monterey Bay majoring in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Education and Community Outreach and a minor in Environmental Science. She is a passionate advocate for environmental justice and was recently a participant in the 2023 CSU Water Conference for her research addressing the drinking water crisis in the San Joaquin Valley.
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.Contracts Manager — Visalia, Sacramento, or Watsonville Office
Lead the administration and billing of our government funding agreements and subcontracts.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.
California Flood Relief Program
In response to spring flooding, California created a $95 million state-funded storm recovery program to provide support to eligible individuals impacted by the storms who cannot access federal assistance due to immigration status. This includes direct assistance payments for housing, food, and transportation costs. Resources will be available through May 2024 or until all funds are spent. Click here for more information!
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 October donors!
Kristine Andarmani
Be a water champion and support safe water for all.
