About 300 California communities are impacted by unsafe drinking water. Although unsafe tap water can be found in almost every California county, some areas, such as San Joaquin Valley and the Central Coast, are hot spots. We’re fighting for clean water in these regions - and in Sacramento - by building community power, supporting safe water projects, and advancing policies to clean up and protect drinking water supplies. By moving quickly on immediate and long-term solutions, we can ensure all Californians have safe, clean, and affordable drinking water.
Sources can be found here.
San Joaquin Valley
Unsafe tap water can be found in nearly every California county, but agricultural areas like the San Joaquin Valley are disproportionately impacted by contamination and drought. Many of these communities are home to farmworkers and have endured decades of neglect for basic needs like safe drinking water.
Central Coast
Central Coast residents have struggled with unsafe drinking water for many years. Recognizing this need, CWC opened our Watsonville office in 2018. Contaminants like nitrates, Chromium-6, and 1,2,3-TCP are found here in very high levels. We’re working with residents to share information about their water quality, test their water, provide safe bottled water at home now, and forge partnerships with residents and government agencies on projects to provide safe tap water for years to come.
Sacramento
Steps from the state capital, our Sacramento office houses our policy and communications team, which focuses on advancing policies for safe and affordable drinking water and raising awareness through the media. Many residents from the San Joaquin Valley and Central Coast regularly travel to Sacramento to share their stories of what it’s like to live without access to safe water, and to ask their state representatives for solutions.