According to a report by the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) last month, nearly 400 public water systems in California fail to meet drinking water safety standards, potentially affecting around 913,000 residents, which is approximately 2% of the state’s population. Among these systems, 56 serve impoverished communities, with 67% serving communities predominantly of color.
California’s annual drinking water issue reports are established based on the AB685 law signed by former Governor Jerry Brown in 2012, aiming to ensure that “everyone has the right to sufficient, safe, clean, affordable, and easily accessible water for drinking, cooking, and sanitation.”
The SWRCB defines failed water systems as those unable to consistently provide water that is “clean, healthy, drinkable, sufficient, and reliably available for consumption.” The report highlights issues in two water systems where the contaminant 1,2,3-trichloropropane exceeds maximum allowable levels, a synthetic carcinogen sometimes found in hazardous waste.
Areas with failed water systems often have a higher proportion of impoverished families and larger populations. In a 2022 SWRCB report, 347 water systems in California were found to be failing, impacting over 846,000 people. The concentration of failed water systems is particularly high in Kern County, where small water systems and household wells are located in areas with high pollution risks and limited water resources.
Don Wright, founder of the agricultural water policy news site WaterWrights, emphasized that rural and impoverished areas are most affected by water quality issues, attributing the problem to inadequate planning. He noted the case of Cantua Creek in Fresno County, where a densely populated impoverished community lacks proper water supply planning for over 500 residents.
Wright views this as a result of “failed zoning management,” pointing out that these water systems were not originally designed for town development. Many failures in these small water systems stem from outdated equipment, with wells often exceeding their lifespan and requiring replacements.
Regarding chemicals found in water quality tests, Wright mentioned that some substances are naturally occurring, such as arsenic in valley soils. He clarified that farmers do not use arsenic as fertilizer, indicating these occurrences are natural and not man-made.
SWRCB spokesperson Dmitri Stanich acknowledged concerns raised by Wright, stating that small water systems may fail for various reasons, including outdated infrastructure, lack of external water sources, and insufficient resources for proper maintenance.
In a recent development, the State Assembly passed a proposal planning to introduce a $10 billion environmental bond on the November ballot to address water resources, wildfires, and air quality issues. Experts believe this could be a crucial step in resolving California’s water crisis.
Co-sponsor and Democratic lawmaker Eduardo Garcia mentioned that if approved by voters, the bond funds would be allocated towards funding safe drinking water infrastructure, climate solutions, flood and water resilience programs, and clean air initiatives.
Garcia referred to this bond as “historic,” particularly highlighting that 40% of the funds would be directed to impoverished communities. Kern County’s Bakersfield area in California suffers the most from failed water systems, with a total of 58 cases. The Kern County Health Department has not yet commented on this report. Madera County near Fresno has the highest rate of failed water systems, while Bay Area counties like San Francisco and Alameda have relatively fewer cases.
Responding to a water quality assessment report in June by the Community Water Center in the San Joaquin Valley, they stated that California’s water infrastructure requires $15 billion in improvement funding. If the climate bond gains voter approval, $3 billion would be allocated for developing safe drinking water systems and drought, flood, and water resilience programs, falling significantly below the proposed amount by advocacy groups.
According to a statement by the State Water Resources Control Board on June 25th, the agency plans to distribute $855 million in financial assistance over the next year for safe drinking water projects in California.