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State Water Board outlines SAFER progress; officials say funding gap remains for small systems and domestic wells
Summary
State Water Resources Control Board officials described progress under the SAFER program and remaining gaps: the board reported reduced numbers of people lacking reliable safe drinking water but said a multi‑billion dollar 5‑year funding gap still exists for the smallest, failing systems and domestic wells.
The State Water Resources Control Board on Tuesday summarized progress under California's Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience (SAFER) effort and highlighted persistent gaps in service and affordability for small and rural systems.
Joaquin Esquivel, chair of the State Water Resources Control Board, described the program as an evolution after the 2012 recognition of the human right to water and the subsequent creation of a dedicated funding stream. "In 2019...the safe and affordable fund [was created] a hundred and thirty million dollars a year for a first 10 year commitment," he said.
Progress and gaps
Esquivel…
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