California’s 2024 Drinking Water Needs Assessment Reveals Critical Issues in Public Water Systems

The California State Water Resources Control Board's 2024 Drinking Water Needs Assessment reveals that 385 public water systems in the state are failing, impacting nearly 913,500 residents. The report, mandated by Senate Bill 200 and supported by the Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience Drinking Water (SAFER) program, aims to address these issues through collective efforts from various stakeholders. Since the SAFER program's inception in 2019, over $831 million in grants have been distributed, bringing 251 water systems back into compliance and completing 142 consolidations to benefit approximately 100,000 people.

Despite these efforts, significant challenges remain, with 613 public water systems at risk and high-risk domestic wells and small water systems still present. The assessment highlights a projected five-year funding gap of $5.5 billion to meet the needs of failing and at-risk systems, with a total estimated requirement of $13.9 billion for achieving the human right to water. It also underscores affordability challenges, particularly in disadvantaged communities, where small water systems charge significantly more than larger systems.

The findings from the assessment are utilized by the State Water Board’s SAFER program to prioritize funding allocation, aiming to ensure safe and affordable drinking water for all Californians. The report stresses the need for continued investment and collaboration among government agencies, non-profits, and local communities to overcome these challenges and secure safe drinking water for vulnerable populations.