Last Fall, we celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), which requires the state’s most heavily pumped groundwater basins to be managed sustainably by 2040. After a decade of SGMA, our collective understanding of the evolving nature of groundwater resources in California continues to grow alongside our strategies for achieving sustainability.
One major area of concern for our groundwater resources is the pollution of our aquifers. The specter of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS "forever chemicals" looms large over efforts to protect and remedy water quality in California.
Luckily, Clean Water Action, and our local environmental justice allies, are dedicated to safeguarding California’s waters from PFAS pollution! This Earth Month, we’re focusing on telling the story of how our legislative efforts to address PFAS pollution affect communities reliant on groundwater in California.
Our ability to advocate and enact change on these issues is thanks to the support of people like you!
Most large public water systems are already monitoring for the presence of PFAS in their water supplies, but small water systems have previously lacked the funding to do so. Over the past year, the State Water Board has been working with small water systems to test for PFAS in their local water supplies. We’re still waiting for this data, but we already know that over 20 million Californians have PFAS in their drinking water supplies. As we work to manage our groundwater sustainably for future generations, contaminants like PFAS make that work infinitely harder.
That’s why we’re so proud to sponsor Senate Bill 682 (Allen), which will ban PFAS in all but essential uses. The passage of this bill will directly impact the water quality of our groundwater resources, as California’s State Water Resource Control Board reports:
Once in groundwater, PFAS can be easily transported large distances, tend to accumulate in groundwater, and can contaminate sources of drinking water.
We must act on PFAS pollution in our groundwater resources now!
What can you, as an individual, do about this? First, educate yourself and your fellow Californians on PFAS in Groundwater and keep an eye out for Action Alerts from Clean Water Action on PFAS & Groundwater! Clean Water Action has several resources that can serve as a springboard for your research on this issue:
- Follow this link for details about our California Groundwater Program
- Read: Taking On PFAS and Polluters - National Teflon Day 2025 By Andria Ventura
Second, participate in collective action movements to address PFAS pollution in our essential groundwater resources. As engaging in our action alerts will inevitably lead you to conclude, this problem cannot be solved solely by the actions of the individual. The solution will only come from collective action, legislative change, and broad, robust regulation of PFAS.
So, join us, and other Clean Water Action members, in our Pledge To Get Rid Of PFAS In California!
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