Public Comment

Only Way To Address Our State’s Drinking Water Crisis Is The Safe And Affordable Drinking Water Fund

Nicole Masaki
Friday February 08, 2019 - 12:17:00 PM

The last time you had water to drink, were you able to get it directly from your tap? If you answered yes, you are one of the lucky Californians that have easy access to safe and affordable drinking water. Many communities throughout the state do not have share this privilege. 

In both urban and rural areas, residents have been forced to drink contaminated water in their school cafeterias and drinking fountains because of lack of access to safe and affordable drinking water. These harmful effects have been concentrated in low income communities and communities of color. Wednesday February 6th was the first hearing for the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund. 

Newsom’s 2019 budget proposed up-front state support to help achieve safe water for all with a Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund (SADWF). A SADWF will provide a long term, sustainable, and reliable funding for the state to invest in new infrastructure, replace old infrastructure, and do all that is needed to guarantee every Californian safe and affordable drinking water.  

If you care about a permanent solution to California’s water crisis, you should advocate for the full passage of the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund so that every resident can live a full and healthy life without worrying where they will be able to find safe water or how to afford it