January eNews: Resilient in the face of climate disasters
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Dear Supporter,
The devastating fires in Los Angeles remind us of the dangers climate change poses to our communities. Climate extremes like drought, severe heat, and floods change our lives quickly and California needs to be ready with swift emergency response and infrastructure that looks towards everyone’s future.
The destruction left by the Palisades Fire. Credits Jae C. Hong/AP.
Impacts from the fires extend through communities long after the flames are out. Communities in LA are receiving unsafe drinking water notices that are far too common in the Central Coast and Central Valley. Sharing information is the first step in sharing power. We need to know where our water comes from, how to read consumer confidence reports or unsafe water notices and who is in charge of our water systems. The Drinking Water Tool is a great place to start and please check out these safe water tips for any immediate water concerns.
In the face of our climate crisis, we are relieved to see Prop 4, the $10 Billion Climate Bond, make progress towards funding being available for safe drinking water projects and wildfire protection which build resilient communities. We are tracking this process to make sure funding reaches communities that need it the most.
Adelante,
Susana De Anda
Co-Founder and Executive Director
Community Power Holds Orosi Board Accountable
Serafin Brito, Nancy Serna, and Angela Alvarez Ruiz being sworn in to the OPUD board last December.
Local water boards make decisions that impact community drinking water safety, access and affordability. In 2020, the State Water Board issued a mandatory consolidation order for the community of Orosi to connect their water system with their neighbors in East Orosi, a community struggling with over a decade of nitrate contamination. Instead of supporting this project, the Orosi water board continued to delay progress, leading three community members to run for election to the board last fall and they won. And the fight didn’t end there.
All three newly elected board members were denied their right to take their seats, with the past board members refusing to vacate the board. This forced California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D. to threaten legal action if Orosi’s water board continued to block the results of the election and let the new members participate.
Finally, after two months, Serafin, Angela and Nancy joined their first water board meeting. A community of over 9,500 people now stand to have strong leadership and safe drinking water and we need the community to keep the momentum going.
Let's Celebrate Water Justice Leaders on March 12th!
CWC executive director Susana De Anda and staff with WJLA Community Leadership Champions Raquel Sanchez and her children Ramses Sanchez and Montserrat Santiago.
The 9th annual Water Justice Leadership Awards (WJLA) will be held on March 12th. Join us to honor water justice leaders fighting for clean and affordable drinking water in California including:
Legislative Champions: State Senator Ben Allen and Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia
Community Leadership Champions: Martha and Esteban Curiel of Woodville and Rosa Carrillo Orozco of the San Jerardo Cooperative
Ally Organization: Central California Environmental Justice Network
Our celebration is on March 12, 2025 in downtown Sacramento at Cafeteria 15L at 5:30 p.m. It will be a powerful event alongside decision makers, allies and community partners.
We invite you to join us! Purchase your ticket here to support our water leaders.
If you are interested in sponsoring this event please reach out to Katie Havens, Development Director at (559) 733-0219 or katie.havens@communitywatercenter.org.
I Didn’t Lose My Home in the Fires…But Can I Drink the Water?
View all recent media here.
CWC is Hiring
Do you have a passion for environmental and social justice? Are you looking for an opportunity to work alongside those on the frontlines of the movement for safe and affordable drinking water in California?
Community Water Center is hiring:
Policy Advocate - Sacramento Office
Primarily responsible for assisting CWC’s Sacramento team with sustainable groundwater campaigns, such as drought response and land transition.
Engineering Project Manager (Drinking Water) - Watsonville Office
Responsible for managing all activities concerned with implementing one to two large drinking water infrastructure projects from planning to completion.
Communications Intern - Visalia or Sacramento Office
Help serve as a resource for information and a center of expertise on community water challenges through social media, the website, and media.
More information on CWC Careers here!
Welcome to the CWC Team!
Arun Chand
Community Solutions Coordinator
Arun Chand is originally from Fiji. He moved with his wife to the United States in December 2024. He studied at Murdoch University in Perth, Australia, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts with double majors in Community Development and Sustainable Development.
Before joining Community Water Center, Arun served as the WASH Program Systems Coordinator at Live & Learn Environmental Education in Australia, where he worked on water, sanitation, and hygiene programs aimed at improving the health and well-being of underserved communities in the Pacific.
When he’s not working, he enjoys spending time outdoors, exploring nature, and continuing to learn about ways to create positive change in communities.
Community Resources
Guide to Community Drinking Water Advocacy
Visit the Guide to Community Drinking Water Advocacy to find information about your water supply and quality, potential threats to groundwater quality, and how to get involved in local groundwater management decisions among other great information. Visit the guide here!
Thank you to our Generous Donors!
A huge thank you to our sustaining monthly donors! Your ongoing commitment to water justice ensures everyone will have access to safe, clean and affordable drinking water.
Bessma Mourad, Bob Simone, Carly Yoshida, Claire Sarraille, Claire Wilkens, Elizabeth Callaway, F Thomas Biglione, Jonathan Nelson, Jose Pablo Ortiz Partida, Kat Gilje, Kelsey Hinton, Kirk Demartini, Kristin Dobbin, Lauren Gordon, Max Meyer, Natalie Garcia-Grazier, Temma Kaplan, Tori Klug, Kelsey Hinton, Lauren Gordon
And thank you to our January donors!
Siddharth Nag, Jenny Rempel, Grace Kim
Be a water champion and support safe water for all.