An estimated one million Californians lack access to clean drinking water, which requires them to purchase bottled water for everyday use. Now, amidst the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, these residents are finding bottled water in short supply. Many are concentrated in rural parts of the state, particularly in the San Joaquin Valley, where dozens of small public water systems fail to meet safety standards, data shows.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has issued a moratorium on water shutoffs in California, to ensure that no resident is without access to tap water even in the case of an unpaid bill. But in areas without safe drinking water, resorting to cooking or drinking from the tap could be dangerous for long term health.

Read the full story from Yes! magazine here: https://bit.ly/2VNlzqo