SACRAMENTO, California — Today, Senator Maria Elena Durazo reaffirmed her commitment to water affordability by introducing legislation to establish the nation’s first water rate assistance program. If passed, this bill would mark a significant step toward ensuring that all California residents can access affordable water utility bills.
”In the LA Basin, some of the lowest income communities face some of the highest water rates,” says Senator Maria Elena Durazo. “We need a program that can help these at-risk households as well as small rural water systems that struggle to provide basic water service.”
The rising cost of living in California has made it increasingly difficult– if not impossible – for many working families to afford basic necessities. The recent devastating fires in Los Angeles have only exacerbated the situation, putting more families in precarious situations, including those who were not directly impacted by the fires.
“California families are looking for help with high utility rates,” says Michael Claiborne, Directing Attorney with Leadership Counsel for Justice & Accountability. “Water agencies face legal and financial barriers to providing that help, so we need the state to lead with solutions that will make an impact for the hardworking rate payers.”
While most essential utilities offer affordability programs to provide much needed relief, water remains an exception. This isn’t a novel concept — California has established low-income rate assistance programs for most essential costs like healthcare, groceries, gas, electricity, and broadband.
“I know my neighbors struggle to pay high water bills, especially when we are faced with soaring costs like increased grocery prices. Water is a vital liquid and we need clean and affordable water that won’t hurt our health or break the bank,” says Martha Curiel, AGUA coalition member from Woodville. “We’ve been fighting for our human right to water for years because our kids shouldn’t be priced out of safe water now or in the future.”
Water rates have been rising steeply for years, but affordability challenges will get even worse as more communities make necessary investments in new conservation, recycling, stormwater and other supply projects to prepare for future droughts.
“During COVID, the federal and state governments spent nearly $1 billion to help households pay their past due water bills,” says Jennifer Clary, California Director for Clean Water Action. “Despite that record investment, past due water bills are at all-time highs. That’s why we need a program that prevents water debt.”
SB 350 would establish a state framework to provide direct water and wastewater affordability assistance for customer bills, which would avoid local legal and financial implications, such as Prop 218. SB 350 would create a first in the nation model for consistent water and wastewater affordability for all Californians.
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Clean Water Action is a national nonprofit founded in 1972 to promote citizen engagement and action to protect our environment, health, economic well-being and community quality of life. Clean Water Action organizes strong grassroots groups, coalitions and campaigns to solve environmental and community problems.
Website: www.cleanwater.org
Twitter: @cleanh2oca
Facebook: @CleanWaterActionCalifornia
Instagram: @cleanwaterh2oaction
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.
Website: www.communitywatercenter.org
Twitter: @CWaterC
Facebook: @CommunityWaterCenter
Instagram: @communitywatercenter
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.
Website: leadershipcounsel.org
Twitter: @LCJandA
Facebook: @lcjacalifornia
Instagram: @leadership_counsel