900,000 more Californians now have access to clean drinking water
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~ 900,000 More Californians Now Have Access to Clean Drinking Water

In a major milestone for California's Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience (SAFER) drinking water program, 900,000 more Californians now have access to clean drinking water. This marks a significant reduction in the number of people without access to safe and affordable drinking water, down from 1.6 million in 2019 to 700,000 today.

The SAFER program, which is largely funded by cap-and-trade dollars, has distributed over $830 million in grants to disadvantaged communities since its launch five years ago. This is more than double the amount of grants provided in the previous five years.

At a press conference held at Porterville City Hall this morning, state officials announced this historic progress and celebrated the partnerships that have made it possible. The City of Porterville, which has been a leader in expanding access to clean drinking water through consolidation of neighboring water systems, was highlighted as an example of successful collaboration between local and state entities.

Governor Gavin Newsom, who proposed creating a dedicated funding source for drinking water projects during his first week in office in 2019, emphasized the importance of this achievement but also acknowledged that there is still work to be done. "Connecting 900,000 people to water is a huge success," he stated. "But we won't let up until every single Californian gets access to this essential resource."

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The SAFER program has been instrumental in providing funding for consolidations like those in Porterville. Since 2019, over $15 million has been allocated for six consolidations benefiting over 900 people in the city. Three of these consolidations have already been completed.

Statewide, there have been 142 consolidations benefiting over 100,000 people since the program's inception. This progress is crucial as many communities continue to face failing infrastructure and extreme weather conditions exacerbated by climate change.

The success of the SAFER program has also been recognized at the federal level. Governor Newsom announced that California has secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) to support the response to the Hawarden Fire, which is rapidly burning in the state.

In addition to this news, Governor Newsom also announced appointments to various boards and commissions and highlighted California's job expansion, with 107,100 jobs created in the first six months of 2024.

As California reaches the halfway point of its 10-year SAFER program, it is clear that significant progress has been made in providing clean drinking water to disadvantaged communities. With continued efforts and partnerships, it is hoped that every Californian will soon have access to this essential resource.

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