SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Today, the State Water Resources Control Board released its 2024 Drinking Water Needs Assessment. The Needs Assessment underscores the critical importance of continued and consistent funding to address drinking water challenges faced by communities statewide. Hundreds of communities are waiting for solutions and this report reinforces the need to pass an equitable Climate Bond to ensure safe water access for all Californians.
“The SAFER Program has been successful in prioritizing underserved, frontline communities in achieving drinking water solutions while also increasing the data available to decision makers,” says Kyle Jones, Policy & Legal Director for Community Water Center. ”The Needs Assessment makes clear that more resources are needed to fulfill the Human Right to Water. An equitable climate bond with drinking water investments is needed now.”
Climate change is fueling weather extremes that disproportionately impact low-income and rural communities through increased pressure on water resources. In order to achieve the Human Right to Water, California would need to invest $15 billion over the next five years. For Disadvantaged communities alone, California would need to invest at least $7.5 billion in grant funding over the next five years. While some grant funding will be available through the State Water Board, there remains a $5.5 billion gap in grant funds needed for Disadvantaged communities.
”Drinking water infrastructure isn’t a luxury item,” says Jennifer Clary, California Director for Clean Water Action. “Without these projects, thousands of Californians will continue to lack access to safe and clean drinking water.”
The identification of these gaps is a reminder that in the face of climate change, water infrastructure needs cannot be put on pause. In the face of a budget deficit, it is necessary to find viable alternatives to continue funding these urgent needs. Solutions need to come in a timely manner
since the cost will increase the longer we wait. Water is a human right in this state, and this is echoed in polls reflecting high support for water infrastructure projects.
“We cannot have a robust and equitable climate bond without directly investing in the drinking water and wastewater infrastructure needs of frontline communities,” says Nataly Escobedo Garcia, Ph.D., Water Policy Coordinator for Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability. “These communities are already dealing with unequal impacts as a result of climate change. We urge the legislature and Governor Newsom to do everything possible to meet their basic infrastructure needs by adopting a climate bond that invests at least 40% of funding to frontline communities.”
We will continue to work with the State Water Board to identify how to best serve communities in need of drinking water solutions, as well as the state legislature to push for urgent funding solutions through a Climate Bond.
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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.
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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.
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Leadership Counsel for Justice and 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.
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