California’s program aimed at providing clean drinking water to communities with contaminated supplies is facing significant funding reductions in the coming years, raising concerns over the state’s ability to address ongoing water safety challenges.

At a recent meeting in Sacramento, officials from the State Water Resources Control Board outlined projections showing that grant allocations for drinking water improvements could plummet from $941 million in the current fiscal year to approximately $103 million by 2027-28. The decline reflects cuts in both state and federal support, prompting some participants to describe the situation as a potential “fiscal cliff.”

Since 2012, California has recognized access to clean, affordable drinking water as a human right. The state’s Small Community and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience (SAFER) program, launched in 2019, funds both immediate remedies—such as bottled water deliveries and tanker trucks—and long-term infrastructure projects including drilling new wells and connecting to nearby water systems. The water board reports that the program has helped nearly one million residents gain safe water access in homes and schools, distributing more than $1.8 billion to projects in low-income communities.

Despite these efforts, approximately 600,000 Californians remain served by 422 water systems that fail to meet health standards. An additional 631 systems are considered at risk of failure, underscoring persistent vulnerabilities.

One affected community lies north of Porterville in Tulare County, surrounded by agricultural land where household well water is tainted with nitrates—often stemming from fertilizers and animal waste—and 1,2,3-trichloropropane, a hazardous pesticide residue. Residents there continue to rely on bottled water as they wait for state funds to connect to Porterville’s city water supply. Paula Fernández, a local resident, expressed hope for increased funding to accelerate project completion rather than cuts.

The SAFER program was initially established through legislation signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2019, which guaranteed $130 million annually for 10 years, with the state covering any shortfalls. However, changes to California’s “cap-and-invest” climate initiative—specifically, the absence of a provision ensuring backup funding when the program was extended last year—have diminished expected state revenues. Kristyn Abhold, a financial assistance official at the water board, noted that new state grant funding could drop by 79% compared to the average of the past six years. Concurrently, federal contributions are projected to decline by 84% in 2027 as funds from the Biden administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law phase out.

Clean Water Action’s Jennifer Clary described the situation as “pretty apprehensive,” highlighting that recent years have seen more progress in drinking water access than previous decades. Advocacy groups like Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, represented by policy manager Nataly Escobedo Garcia, are urging Governor Newsom and state legislators to restore full backing for the SAFER program. Garcia indicated that with legislative action, funding for 2027-28 could still be increased to meet the critical needs of vulnerable communities.

Meanwhile, residents like Paula Fernández continue to rely on bottled water while awaiting long-term solutions funded by the state.