SB 244: Not all water is created equal

Imagine turning on the tap and nothing but sand or, even worse, harmful bacteria or chemicals come pouring out. Over 1 million Californians live in disadvantaged, unincorporated communities. Residents of these areas often live without adequate basic services like clean water, sewage lines, and storm drains. SB 244 (Wolk) requires participating local governments to include these communities in the local planning process and to conduct an assessment of the infrastructure conditions. This bill was also part of the 2011 Human Right to Water package, which addressed the health and safety problems afflicting these communities.