A water right

In California, a state that considers itself among the most advanced places in the world, nearly 2 million people live without safe drinking water.

These Californians reside in 300 small, sometimes remote, but always impoverished communities where the state’s 2012 first-in-thenation law guaranteeing a right to safe and affordable drinking water is but an empty promise. It will take every Californian to ensure clean water is available to all.

Groundwater in these communities is contaminated by naturally occurring pollutants, such as arsenic, but more typically by agricultural runoff.

Exposure affects health, causes cancer and is tied to “blue baby” syndrome, which can occur when infants are fed formula mixed with nitrate-contaminated water. Without treatment, they can die.

The 2014 state water bond provides grants for capital improvements but not operations. Sen. Bill Monning, D-Carmel, has authored SB623, which would help water systems so small and so impoverished that state funds are needed to ensure clean water operations.

The $100 million-a-year fund would have two sources: monies paid in by the agricultural industry as part of a mechanism to clean up nitrate pollution; and consumers, who would have a 60- to 70-cent monthly fee added to their water bills. Polling found a majority of Californians would support such a public goods charge.

While imperative, the legislation is not perfect. A recent amendment allows “a pay-to-pollute” scheme that accommodates polluting practices. Water districts fear the tax will impede their ability to raise rates.

Californians were concerned when lead contaminated the water of 100,000 residents of Flint, Mich. Contamination in California communities is no less worrisome — and we can do something about it. Tell your legislator to support SB623.