Board adopts FY2025–26 SAFER Fund Expenditure Plan, boosts technical assistance and operation & maintenance targets

The State Water Resources Control Board unanimously adopted the fiscal year 2025–26 Fund Expenditure Plan (FEP) for the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund (part of the SAFER program) during the November 4 meeting.

What the plan does: the FEP allocates the state’s drinking‑water funding priorities for the year across multiple program areas: technical assistance, interim solutions, planning and construction for failing public water systems, operation and maintenance assistance, domestic well and small water system support, pilot programs and program administration. The FEP also reflects funding available from other SAFER sources (drinking water SRF, general obligation bonds, greenhouse gas‑related accounts) and shows targets consistent with the department’s program priorities to serve small disadvantaged communities and low‑income households.

Major changes from the June draft (staff summary): DFA staff (Supervising Engineer Jasmine Wahaca) described updates incorporated since the public draft posted June 30. Key changes made in response to public comment and internal review included: - Technical assistance target increased to reflect demand and pending TA amendments; staff said they will continue to refine TA program milestones and provider criteria. - Operation & maintenance assistance target increased based on updated demand estimates. - Construction funding from the SAFER fund was reduced slightly to accommodate higher TA and O&M targets but staff noted other funding sources (SRF, bonds) are available to support construction needs. - Pilot programs expanded to continue point‑of‑use/point‑of‑entry work and to add a regional operator pilot in development. - Interim assistance language revised: the draft’s 2‑year cap on interim assistance was clarified so that extensions may be considered where communities are actively pursuing consolidation or a long‑term solution; comment letters had urged flexibility.

Public comment and coordination: staff received nine comment letters, hosted two public meetings during the comment period, and solicited feedback from the SAFER advisory group. Commenters urged clarifications on metrics and equity lenses, better TA milestone definitions, stronger domestic well outreach and coordination with local partners (GSAs, regional boards, community organizations). DFA noted those items will be the focus of ongoing implementation work.

Board action and vote At the meeting a board member moved to adopt the FEP and the motion was seconded; roll call votes were recorded and the plan was adopted unanimously. Board members emphasized the importance of supporting domestic well communities and thanked staff, program partners and the laboratory community for program implementation.

Quote: “We did increase the technical assistance target, based on incoming demand and amendments that are in process,” DFA staff said in response to public comments.

What comes next: staff indicated they will continue outreach and refinement of program metrics, pursue pending technical assistance awards and program amendments, and develop an implementation plan for the domestic well/small water system strategy described in the FEP. The board will receive annual updates on implementation per AB 263 reporting requirements and FEP oversight.

Vote record: roll call recorded ayes from board members (Firestone, Maguire, Morgan, D'Adamo, Esquivel); the motion passed unanimously.