Overview

• Nearly a million Californians gained safe drinking water in the last five years, but significant gaps remain.
• More than 400 water systems in the state fail to meet safety standards, affecting over 735,000 people.
• Latino farm communities face the brunt of contamination, including chemicals like arsenic, nitrate, and 1,2,3-TCP.
• State funding programs have aided some areas, but many communities still await long-term solutions.
• Ensuring safe drinking water statewide could cost around $16 billion; current funding falls short.