Press release from multiple organizations
Today, the Governor and Legislature released a three-party deal that would protect safe drinking water investments through 2045 by extending the current continuous appropriation of up to $130 million for the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund. The Legislature also proposed to appropriate $180 million from Proposition 4, the Climate Bond, for safe drinking water and wastewater projects. This safety net for drinking water investments is critical because federal funding is at risk of being reduced by 90%, creating a concerning gap in resources available to tackle this issue. In a legislative session where environmental justice priorities were otherwise sidelined, these moves if enacted will help to protect drinking water access for some of the most vulnerable Californians.
“SAFER is not just a program: it is hope for those of us that face the drinking water crisis,” said Silverio Perez, SAFER Advisory Group member and AGUA Coalition member from the Central Coast. “In the last elections we also voted for Prop 4 so that alongside SAFER, these resources can help the nearly 1 million Californians that still don’t have safe drinking water. Thanks to our legislators who listened to us during our visits to Sacramento and to our unity as a community, we’ve managed to protect resources like SAFER for the future.
California is taking the lead on solutions for the state in upholding the Human Right to Water. In California nearly one million people across the state are exposed to illegal levels of harmful contaminants in their tap water. According to the 2024 Drinking Water Needs Assessment, we need a $15.9 billion investment to achieve the Human Right to Water for all in the state. As we look towards what funding we have available, it is encouraging to see the protection of resources that are working like the Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience (SAFER) Fund, which aggregates multiple funding sources, including the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund to provide complete services to communities in need, including interim water supplies, technical assistance (legal, planning engineering and community outreach) and operations and maintenance.
“SAFER investments have been instrumental to bringing safe drinking water into the home of every Californian,” said Michael Claiborne, Directing Attorney with Leadership Counsel for Justice & Accountability. “It is reassuring that this commitment does not end in 2030, giving hundreds of communities the opportunity to achieve solutions.”
The Safe and Affordable Drinking water fund was always intended to fill gaps and leverage other state and federal funding sources. To help meet the significant funding gap identified by the State Water Board in its annual needs assessment, appropriation of Proposition 4 funding for drinking water projects is critical.
“Multiple organizations strongly supported Proposition 4 last year,” said Jennifer Clary, California Director of Clean Water Action. “That funding is even more important now, when federal decisions have reduced funding for water infrastructure and increased pressures on the state’s General Fund. This funding will allow us to continue investing in urgently needed solutions.”
California funding safe drinking water and wastewater projects in the future are key steps to make good on the promise of the Human Right to Water and to protect public health. We thank the Legislature and the Governor for prioritizing progress on solutions and will continue to work with them to advance and implement these resources for communities.
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Community Water Center (CWC) works to ensure that all communities have reliable access to safe, clean, and affordable water. Founded in 2006, CWC is a not-for-profit environmental justice organization, whose mission is to act as a catalyst for community-driven water solutions through education, organizing, and advocacy. Web: www.communitywatercenter.org; Twitter: @CWaterC; Facebook: @CommunityWaterCenter
Leadership Counsel for Justice & Accountability works alongside the most impacted communities in the San Joaquin Valley and Eastern Coachella Valley to advocate for sound policy and eradicate injustice to secure equal access to opportunity regardless of wealth, race, income, and place. Leadership Counsel focuses on issues like housing, land use, transportation, safe and affordable drinking water and climate change impacts on communities. Twitter: LCJandA FB: @lcjacalifornia IG: @leadership_counsel Web: leadershipcounsel.org
Clean Water Action – Since our founding during the campaign to pass the landmark Clean Water Act in 1972, Clean Water Action has worked to win strong health and environmental protections by bringing issue expertise, solution-oriented thinking and people power to the table. Our Mission is to protect our environment, health, economic well-being and community quality of life. Clean Water Action organizes strong grassroots groups and coalitions, and campaigns to elect environmental candidates and to solve environmental and community problems. For more information, visit our website at www.cleanwater.org or follow us on Twitter @cleanh2oca and Facebook @CleanWaterActionCalifornia.
Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building more resilient and thriving rural communities. Since 1978, RCAC has provided technical assistance, training, and financing to rural water systems, schools, and local governments, ensuring that families across California have access to clean drinking water and safe sanitation.
Self-Help Enterprises (SHE) is an affordable housing and community development non-profit organization based in Visalia, California, serving nine counties throughout the San Joaquin Valley. Since 1965, SHE has worked directly with low-income families, farmworker communities and local government agencies to build and sustain healthy homes and communities.
California State Capitol. Photo by Deposit Photos.
