Nearly all California residents receive water that meets federal and state standards for safe drinking water, but for some people who live in disadvantaged rural communities that rely on wells, contaminated groundwater poses a threat to public health.
Should all Californians pay a new statewide tax or fee on water to assist disadvantaged communities with the cost of new water treatment plants? That’s our question of the week for readers.
More than 300 drinking water systems serving approximately 200,000 Californians have been found to be unable to consistently provide safe drinking water. Because these are located in communities that lack the economic resources needed to pay for new water treatment facilities, some state lawmakers are looking for a new, long-term funding source.
The state Assembly is considering Senate Bill 623, authored by Sen. Bill Monning, D-Carmel, which would establish a special fund, administered by the State Water Resources Control Board, which would receive the proceeds of a new tax on water to be collected by local water agencies on the bills they send to residential and business customers.
SB623 would also add a “safe drinking water fee” to the production costs of fertilizer and milk. Those fees would likewise be deposited into the special fund in Sacramento.
While a number of environmental and health advocacy groups support the bill, many local water agencies oppose it, arguing that the state’s General Fund should be tapped to meet the goal of providing safe drinking water for disadvantaged communities.
Do you agree or disagree that higher taxes or fees are needed to provide safe drinking water to all Californians?
Should responsibility be shared equally by water customers across the state?
Is this a cost that should be added to water bills, or should tax money be spent instead?
Have ratepayers already been asked to pay too much for water?
Email your thoughts to letters@ocregister.com. Please include your full name and city or community of residence. Provide a daytime phone number. Or, if you prefer, share your views in the comments section that accompanies this article online.
We’ll publish as many responses as possible.