Cap-and-trade revenue in California could help fight Central Valley’s contaminated water

Although California’s Legislature is required to spend cap-and-trade money on carbon emission reduction projects, some experts say that helping rural water districts—namely in the state’s Central Valley—would go a long way toward easing climate change effects.

California lawmakers approve funding to improve contaminated drinking water

California’s Senate passed legislation this week allocating millions of dollars to treat contaminated drinking water. According to Gov. Gavin Newsom, nearly one million of the state’s 40 million residents lack access to clean drinking water.

Nearly 1 million Californians are without safe drinking water

Despite California’s economic prowess, nearly one million residents in the state cannot safely drink their tap water. Another million, say experts, rely on water from small, untested and unregulated wells.

California’s vulnerability to wildfires affects water districts’ liability

While recent wildfires in California have destroyed land and structures, and   killed residents, their threat to water districts has received less attention but is just as devastating.

Amid lack of federal investment in drinking water infrastructure, prices continue to increase

Although Congress and the White House have assured Americans of a plan to invest in drinking water pipes and sewage treatment plants, both rural and urban communities are for now relying on existing loans and grants. Meanwhile, drinking water costs are rising, albeit incrementally.