Project Status

Initial community outreach and engagement complete.

Project Background and Area

Residents in the periphery of the City of Porterville depend on domestic wells contaminated with nitrate and 1,2,3-Trichloropropene (1,2,3, TCP), or have a history of water supply interruptions due to declining groundwater levels. 

The project area consists of approximately 180 domestic well households located North of the City of Porterville water system and approximately 85 domestic well households located South of the water system.

Community Water Center (CWC) began conducting outreach to domestic well residents in these areas in August 2024 and has supported residents by sharing informational materials about interim resources. CWC has actively engaged with households in both North and South Porterville, holding discussions around potential long-term solutions. Some households have been connected to Tulare Basin Management Zone resources for well testing and bottled water, and others have been identified as having dry wells and connected to resources from Self Help Enterprises. CWC is working to gauge resident interest in long-term solutions, including consolidation with the City of Porterville, and has seen significant interest in the project. 

In November 2025, the Porterville City Council signed a Letter of Interest to conduct a Feasibility Study exploring long-term drinking water solutions for these areas. Community Water Center is

Get Involved

Contact Miguel Rojas-Flores by email miguel.rojas@communitywatercenter.org, or phone at 559-502-1800 with questions related to this project.

Community meetings

CWC has organized a series of community meetings in Southern Porterville to connect with residents and provide information. These gatherings, held at Hope Elementary School, have seen steady participation and have helped build relationships with community members. Looking ahead, CWC plans to expand outreach in Northern Porterville and bring residents together for a larger meeting later in the year to further community engagement.