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2014 RCAC Annual Report Page 5 ccess to safe drinking water is a basic human right and a foundation for individual health and healthy communities but this is not a reality for many rural areas in the West. In many rural communities inadequate infra- structure and a contaminated water supply which can cause serious health issues is the norm. Teaching and encouraging children to drink more water is fundamental to their physical and mental growth but it is hard to do so when the public water supply is contaminated. California led the nation in mandating access to drinking water for school children during meal times. In spite of the mandate able to replace in the near future due to our current budget explains Larry Swan park superintendent Kern County Parks Department.The new fountains are far more inviting to use and with increased usage may mitigate residents turning to alternative type sugary drinks. Special thanks to everyone who donated to the Agua4All Indiegogo campaign. For a full list of Agua4All supporters please visit httpwww.rcac.orgthank-you-Agua4All-campaign Video about the need in Agua4All communities Agua4All Pilotsafe drinking water access for rural California Kern County Parks will receive new drinking fountains to replace those that are broken which we may not have been able to replace in the near future due to our current budget. Larry Swan approximately 25 percent of Californias 9846 public schools do not have the infrastructure to meet this standard according to the California Department of Education. Furthermore an estimated 500 California schools do not have access to safe drinking water at all because the water supply is contaminated. RCAC is partnering with The California Endowment Com- munity Water Center CWC and Pueblo Unido Community Development Corporation PUCDC in an innovative program called Agua4All. The program goal is to increase safe drinking water access and consumption in California especially among school children. The pilot is working in southern Kern County and eastern Coachella Valley in Riverside County two regions where the public water supply is often unsafe to drink. RCAC is installing more than 120 water bottle filling stations in schools and other public places throughout these two areas. Where necessary water treatment is added to remove arsenic or other contaminants. Reusable water bottles are made available to optimize filling station use. CWC and PUCDC are providing on- the-ground support for the schools and other sponsors in the year and a half-long pilot. Kern County Parks will receive new drinking fountains to replace those that are broken which we may not have been