March 30, 2021, Oakland, California — The California State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) recently released Gap Analysis for Funding Solutions for Human Right to Water and At-Risk Drinking Water Systems. The white paper provides an overview of the methodology for an upcoming study that will analyze the gap between the funding needs and available funding sources for the Human Right to Water in California, as well as at-risk water systems and domestic wells across the state. The Pacific Institute is currently undertaking this analysis.
In 2012, California’s Human Right to Water was passed, calling for safe, clean, affordable, and accessible water for all citizens. Then in 2016, the State Water Board adopted a Human Right to Water Resolution, making the Human Right to Water a primary consideration and priority across its programs. This white paper provides an overview of the proposed methodology for analyzing the gap between the funding needs and available funding sources for the Human Right to Water, as well as at-risk water systems and domestic wells across the state.
The gap analysis is one component of a broader effort by the State Water Board to assess the overall need of water systems analyzed by the Safer and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience (SAFER) Program. The estimated costs and resulting gap analysis will be utilized to inform the broader demands of the SAFER Program, as well as the annual funding needs for the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund (SADWF). The SADWF provides $130 million per year to develop and implement sustainable solutions for small California water systems with violations of drinking water standards. The results of the gap analysis and cost assessment will be released in spring 2021, along with the results of the full needs assessment.
The State Water Board will host a webinar on April 13th, 2021 to provide an overview of the preliminary results.
Learn more about the white paper, including how to download a copy, here.