A bipartisan coalition holds press conference over drinking water standards and SB623

A bipartisan coalition holds press conference over drinking water standards and SB623.
@TheSunGazette VISALIA – During the drought, water was tough to come by and everyone needed some.
And since other sources of funding such as bond funding or the Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund do not qualify for operations and maintenance costs, there is a constant lack of adequate available funding for those things.
Without that funding there is little rural communities can do to treat nitrates and other harmful chemicals out of their drinking water.
“Access to clean drinking water is a fundamental right but the legislature failed to deliver on this promise,” Coffee said.
“Never in history have ag and environmental justice been able to come to an agreement.
“And we have more than our fair share of disadvantaged communities in the Valley.” Gurrola, mayor of Arvin said, “This bill provides sustainable funding and permanent, long-term solutions for contaminated drinking water.” The Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund will be located within the SWB in its Office of Sustainable Water Solutions.
Boyer said Self Help has been able to facilitate solutions in many of Tulare County’s disadvantaged communities where residents have been dealing with contaminated groundwater.
Their water system is well over 60 years old and water meters have been installed.
“Who knows, the important thing is that if the bill passes it will create a permanent funding source for clean water projects.”

Learn More