September eNews: Community partners fight for stricter rules on contaminants
It’s officially fall and I hope you’re doing well and taking care of yourself.
During this time our community partners are stepping up for safe water in their communities.
In the Central Coast, they shared their stories at the Regional Water Quality Control Board in support of safe, clean, and affordable drinking water.
And in the San Joaquin Valley, Agua Coalition member Florencia Ramos was featured in the news highlighting the struggle for clean water and urging others to get involved in the fight for water justice.
Our community partners, like Florencia and so many others, are at the heart of our organization. That’s why they’re featured throughout our NEW website that we launched earlier this month.
In case you missed it, I invite you to visit our new website and let us know what you think!
Lastly, I hope you’ll take a moment to read about our community partners in action below -- and I invite you to take action yourself by supporting CWC’s work.
Adelante,
Susana De Anda
Co-Founder and Executive Director
Central Coast Community Partners Fight for Stricter Rules on Contaminants
Community partner Karen Serrano (center right) represented her Royal Oaks community during the public comment period of the Regional Water Quality Control Board Central Coast Region meeting Sept. 23.
Several community partners from the Central Coast, along with an AGUA Coalition member, shared their stories and provided public comments to the Regional Water Quality Control Board (Central Coast Region) on Sept. 23 in support of stricter regulations, enforcement, and monitoring of harmful contaminants such as nitrate and 1,2,3-TCP in their communities as part of the Ag. Order 4.0.
The order aims to protect and restore water resources in the Central Coast, minimize water contamination, and promote the protection and restoration of the habitat.
“Now that I am a mother I am constantly concerned about my children’s health like most parents,” said Karen Serrano, who represented her Royal Oaks community. “But I also have to worry about nitrates in their water and the long-term effects this could have on their health. We deserve a peace of mind when it comes to something as vital as the water we use everyday.
I would like to see action taken by those who have the power to change laws. If we can safely control fertilizer usage it would have such a positive impact for our community’s overall health.”
The region has high levels of nitrate contamination, which comes primarily from agriculture. The Regional Water Board has the ability to create stricter rules, including on the over-application of fertilizers which cause contamination.
Other community partners shared powerful comments, such as David Vera of Prunedale who said, “Solo pido que sean más conscientes del daño que hacen [estos químicos] con el afán de hacer más dinero. I only ask for you all to be more aware of the damage [these chemicals] do in an effort to make more money.”
Kelly May of San Juan Buatista shared, “The overapplication of fertilizers can lead to high contamination of our groundwater and therefore affecting residents like myself. Even though the nitrate discharge limits have been addressed in this order, the timeframe will allow for Nitrate to continue polluting our drinking water supplies. This is why the overapplication of fertilizers must be addressed. It is unacceptable for this pollution to continue for 30 more years. We ask that the timeline be revised!”
CWC Senior Attorney Debi Ores and Horacio Amezquita, General Manager of San Jerardo Housing Cooperative, also spoke on these issues during a previous session on Sept. 11.
Droughts in CA Impact Drinking Water for Rural Communities
Droughts are predicted to become more frequent, longer, and more severe. Because rural communities are more likely to rely solely on groundwater from small water suppliers or domestic wells, they are most likely to lose water access.
Currently, nearly 70% of California is in drought conditions and progressing week by week. Residents from the San Joaquin Valley are in the front line of drought impacts, with dozens currently impacted by dry wells. No one should be without running water, especially during a pandemic.
If you are served by a private well and are experiencing problems with your water supply, submit a report to the Department of Water Resources here.
CWC introduced legislation in 2019 calling on the state to increase proactive drought planning and resources for our most vulnerable communities. The legislation was unfortunately put on hold due the COVID-19 pandemic but we intend to bring this important drought legislation back in 2021. More to come on that in the coming months!
New Pajaro Valley Sustainable Groundwater Committee Established
The Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PV Water) is working to achieve groundwater sustainability for the critically overdrafted Pajaro Valley Groundwater Basin. The Board voted unanimously to form a Sustainable Groundwater Committee for the purpose of engaging stakeholders and interested parties in the effort to update PV Water’s Basin Management Plan (BMP) and remain compliant with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).
They are currently accepting applications for 5 stakeholder seats:
Agricultural Representative
Disadvantaged Community Group Representative
Environmental Representative
Mutual Water Company Representative
Rural Residential Well Owner Representative
This is a great opportunity for public involvement! This Committee will evaluate technical information presented by staff and consultants related to the existing and projected conditions of the groundwater basin, consider sustainable management criteria that would avoid significant and unreasonable impacts to the groundwater basin, and make recommendations to the PV Water Board of Directors.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the meetings will take place via teleconference for the foreseeable future. To apply visit www.pvwater.org/sustainable-gw-committee or contact PV Water at (831) 722-9292.
CWC can help review application materials from community members who are interested in applying. Call (831) 288-0450.
Meetings and Events
AGUA Coalition Members: The next meeting will be October 26, 5 - 6:30 p.m. Call Christina at (559) 733-0219 to get the Zoom call-in info.
El Comité Members: The next meeting will be on October 30, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.. Call Mayra at (831) 500-2125 to get the Zoom call-in information.
CWC in the News!
“I wish a lot more could be done so that we could have clean water. I urge people to be involved, to go to meetings, to give your input.”
— Florencia Ramos, AGUA Coalition Member, pictured above
Last Minute Loan Keeps Drinking Water Projects Afloat
“This is a reminder of how critical it is to have a sustainable funding source.”
— Jonathan Nelson, Policy Director, Community Water Center
See more CWC news coverage here.
We’re hiring!
Community Organizer - Visalia Office (2 positions)
Senior Policy Advocate - Sacramento Office
More opportunities: https://www.communitywatercenter.org/careers
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!
Anavel Valdez, Arden Wells, Arohi Sharma, Bessma Mourad, Carly Yoshida, Cassie Morgan, Edward Bergtholdt, Ellen Rowe, Esperanza Pimentel, Jill Ratner, Jose Pablo Ortiz Partida, Julia Emerson, Kathryn Wuelfing, Kavita Vora, Kelsey Hinton, Kristin Dobbin, Leonard Sklar, Paul Pierce, Sandra Hocker, Vicente Guerrero, Vicki Woods, Victoria Klug
And thank you to a generous donor this September!
Annabel Gregg
If you would like to donate to CWC, please click here!
If you would like to become a monthly donor, please click here!
