SAFER program safe – for now

Funding for a state drinking water program, vital to many communities throughout the San Joaquin Valley that struggle with groundwater contamination and scarcity, is secure for one more year after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed three budget bills into law on Friday. 

The Safe and Affordable Fund for Equity and Resilience (SAFER) program has $171 million to pay for emergency supplies when homes, or entire communities, go dry, and fund efforts to identify long-term water solutions throughout the state. 

The funding came after a harrowing ride through the legislature this summer. 

SAFER was all but gutted in the spring, with $68 million. That is less than half of its previous annual funding of $130 million. 

But a broad coalition of organizations came together to get the program over the finish line at the end of August, along with assistance from state Sen. Melissa Hurtado. 

More than $900 million has been invested in drinking water grants since SAFER’s inception in 2019, bringing clean water to more than one million Californians. 

The funding has helped communities consolidate failing water systems with systems with those in neighboring towns, similar to what is taking shape in East Orosi. The funding has also has helpd bring 321 water systems back into compliance. 

“Many of these systems lacked safe drinking water for decades,” said Jennifer Clary, California director of Clean Water Action, in a press release. “The funding included in the budget package will continue this important work, and we look forward to working with the next administration to make this funding permanent.” 

Another 1,052 water systems are failing or at risk and still need permanent solutions.