FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SACRAMENTO, CA — Governor Newsom released California’s draft 2025-26 state budget and while there are promising investments for California’s clean water needs, more is needed to ensure access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
We support the Governor’s efforts to protect all Californians from our climate extremes, especially in light of the devastating fires in Los Angeles. California is a state that looks forward, and in the face of climate extremes we need to be prepared for drought, flooding, and extreme heat, and fires. Voters passed Prop 4, the Climate Bond, which promises sustained funding for access to clean water. In today’s draft budget, $183.2 million of this funding is set aside for safe drinking water infrastructure— which is an important start.
“The state made a commitment to funding for our most impacted communities by including Justice 40 goals in the bond language. We look forward to working with the state to meet and surpass this goal” says Nataly Escobedo Garcia, Ph.D., Water Policy Coordinator for Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability. We urge the legislature to prioritize getting this funding to communities most in need, like rural low-income communities.
California voters made clear that high cost of living is their top concern. While the budget proposes making energy bills affordable, all utility costs affecting Californians’ wallets must be considered, including water bills. We urge the Governor and Legislature to work with advocates and residents facing unaffordable water rates to develop a low-income water rate assistance program this year.
Some families are paying up to 10% of their income on water bills. “While the Governor’s budget provides a narrative commitment to addressing high energy bills, high water bills are not discussed,” says Jennifer Clary, California Director, Clean Water Action. “These bills have been rising faster than inflation for the past 2 decades; It’s past time to address this problem. We urge the governor and legislature to similarly commit to work with us on this issue.”
Lastly, funding directed towards new positions to execute AB 2454 and AB 805 will be critical in moving forward safe drinking water goals. “We appreciate the signing of AB 805 to solve wastewater administration, but we need to see action because we are tired of dealing with the same problem for the past 20 years,” says Carlos Sanchez, East Orosi Community Services District Board Member. “We saw action from Governor Newsom when he visited East Orosi [to sign AB 805], and our community is urging these promises to become reality so our communities can heal from injustices faced from a lack of drinking water and proper systems.”
Everyone in the state is guaranteed safe, clean and affordable water by law. It is critical this becomes a reality without further burdening our hard working families. We look forward to working with the Governor towards a viable solution that makes safe water affordable for all Californians.
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.
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