{"id":13935,"date":"2011-10-11T21:35:16","date_gmt":"2011-10-11T21:35:16","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2011-10-11T21:35:16","modified_gmt":"2011-10-11T21:35:16","slug":"everyone-deserves-clean-water","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/calitics.com\/index.php\/2011\/10\/11\/everyone-deserves-clean-water\/","title":{"rendered":"Everyone Deserves Clean Water"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cross-posted from the CA League of Conservation Voters (CLCV) blog,<\/em> Groundswell<\/a>. <\/p>\n

When I think of the basics for survival, a short list comes to mind – food, shelter, warmth, and water.  You could probably survive a couple of weeks without those first three things, but if you’re without drinkable water, you’d be lucky if you lasted half a week.<\/p>\n

\tHere we live in a state that has a larger economy than most countries, yet the most basic need of so many Californians is not being met – access to safe, clean drinking water. <\/p>\n

\tIn fact, according to the Department of Public Health, more than 11.5 million Californians rely on water from suppliers that experienced at least one violation of State Drinking Water Standards<\/strong>. As many as 8.5 million Californians rely on supplies that experienced more than five instances of unsafe levels in a single year. In the Central Valley and Central Coast regions, more than 90% of communities depend on groundwater for drinking while nitrate levels in groundwater are sometimes well above safe limits<\/strong>. Families unable to afford treatment or bottled water are left entirely without safe water, and are at particular risk of adverse health impacts from contaminated water supplies.<\/p>\n

\tCalifornia needs to do better; thankfully Governor Brown agrees.<\/p>\n

\tThis past weekend Brown signed into law a package of bills known as the Human Right to Water Package<\/a>.  In his statement about the bills, Brown said,<\/p>\n

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\t\t“Clean drinking water is a basic human right. The bills I have signed today will help ensure that every Californian has access to clean and safe sources of water.” <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\tThanks to the many people around the state who called or emailed their legislators and the governor in support of the bill package!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\tThe Human Right to Water package looks at a number of ways that the state can help ensure communities are able to provide safe drinking water.  Here are 4 of the bills that CLCV worked on:<\/p>\n