Jan eNews: 2026 Water Justice Starts Now
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Dear Supporter,
When community members take on decision-making roles, they are better able to advocate and help shape solutions that will help their communities achieve equity in basic needs like safe and affordable drinking water.
We are proud to see the following community leaders continue to take on roles that give them opportunities to make meaningful change:
Newly appointed 2025 -26 SAFER Advisory Group Members
Timoteo Prado, Lamont Public Utilities District Board Member and Community Water Leaders Network Member
Angela Ruiz-Alvarez, Orosi Public Water System Board Member and CWLN Member
Destiny Rodriguez, Member of Central Valley Immigrant Integration Collaborative, State Center Community College District and CWLN
Rosa Carrillo, Resident of San Jerardo Cooperative Inc, and AGUA (Asociación de Gente Unida por el Agua, or the Association of People United for Water) member
New appointments in the Orosi Public Utilities District
Nancy Serna, President of OPUD
Angela Ruiz-Alvarez Vice President of OPUD
We look forward to continuing our support for local community water leaders and invite you to learn how you can become one here!
Adelante,
Susana De Anda
Co-Founder and Executive Director
A Vision for Water Justice in 2026
Staff working with community partners to advocate for SAFER last August.
CWC and its community partners are going into the year ready to engage decision-makers on key drinking water priorities. To begin, Governor Newsom released his proposed 2026-27 budget, and we are mobilizing to guarantee full funding for the SAFER Program. SAFER invests in small rural communities that need safe drinking water solutions to protect public health. While SAFER has received funding from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund since 2020, the original legislation creating the program included backfills for any shortfalls in funding through General Fund revenues. SAFER was extended to 2045, but that protection was removed, threatening a nearly $100 million shortfall over the next four years. We will engage with decision-makers and in hearings to ensure full funding for this program that pushes California’s Human Right to Water forward.
In addition to the budget, we’ve already begun our legislative advocacy for the year, and water affordability remains a top priority. We are also engaging in conversations to advance drought protection, recognizing dry wells continue to impact community members, and we are continuing our support of efficient Prop 4 disbursement (the Climate Bond) to make sure investments reach communities that need it the most as quickly as possible.
Follow our socials for updates on safe and affordable water policy this year!
Celebrate Milestones With Us on March 11th!
The 10th annual Water Justice Leadership Awards (WJLA) will be held on March 11th. Join us to honor water justice leaders and celebrate 20 years of fighting for clean and affordable drinking water in California. Our honorees include:
Legislative Champion: Senator Pro Tempore Monique Limon
Community Leadership Awards: Maria Luisa & Lisa Muñoz from the Central Valley and Silverio and Ana Maria Perez from the Central Coast
Ally Organizations: Leadership Council for Justice and Accountability & Clean Water Action
Agency: State Water Board
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 Maraid Jimenez, Communications Manager at (559) 809-7646 or maraid.jimenez@communitywatercenter.org.
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:
Administrative Assistant - Visalia Office
The Administrative Assistant is a regular, part-time, non-exempt hourly position. This position will be responsible for serving as the first point of contact for all visitors, managing the daily administrative tasks, and assisting with the accounting process across the organization.
Administrative Assistant - Watsonville Office
The Administrative Assistant is a regular, part-time, non-exempt hourly position. This position will be responsible for serving as the first point of contact for all visitors, managing the daily administrative tasks, and providing IT support across the organization.
Sr. Legislative Advocate - Sacramento Office
This position is responsible for CWC’s legislative package to secure funding for and address barriers to achieving safe and affordable drinking water in low-income communities and communities of color.
Sr. Water Projects Coordinator - Visalia Office
A full-time exempt position that will be primarily responsible for developing water projects in underserved communities where residents do not have reliable access to safe and affordable drinking water.
Water Research Manager - Office Visalia preferred
This position will work directly with other CWC teams focused on advocacy, organizing, communications and policy; and will coordinate regularly with impacted community partners, government agencies, contracted consultants, technical advisors, and affiliate organizations.
More information on CWC Careers here!
Community Resources
The Drinking Water Tool
Visit the Drinking Water Tool to see who makes decisions 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. Use the tool 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.
Ann Dierks, Bessma Mourad, Carly Yoshida, Claire Sarraille, Claire Wilkens, F Thomas Biglione, Herbert G Cattanach, Jelle van Geuns, Jonathan Nelson, Kat Gilje, Kelsey Hinton, Kjirste Morrell, Kristin Dobbin, Lauren Gordon, Lou Riordan, Margaret Ferguson, Margaret Pedersen, Max Gomberg, Robert Kimberling, Sandi Matsumoto, Temma Kaplan, Wendy Hoben
December/January Donors
Luisa Medina and Siddharth Matsumoto
Be a water champion and support safe water for all.
