Water Crisis

Water is at the core of everything we do. It sustains us, our environment and our economy. Despite California’s abundant rain this past year, we continue to face big challenges in meeting the state’s increasing demands for water.

Our outdated water infrastructure, the system of water pipes, levees, water storage, and canals, is crumbling. A recent Infrastructure Report Card issued by the American Society of Civil Engineers gave our water system a letter grade of “F.” Many communities throughout the Golden State need to upgrade systems that are half a century old.

California’s growing population is straining old systems and placing the San Joaquin-Sacrameto Delta, the largest natural estuary on the West Coast and the heart of our water system, at major risk. The Delta is a vital source of drinking water for two-thirds of the state.But, tremendous pressures to supply water to the rest of the state are destroying the Delta’s ecosystem.

Adding to the state’s water woes is a system of old levees surrounding the Delta built to protect many local communities. Experts warn that a moderate earthquake could compromise Delta levees and cut off water supplies for 25 million Californians for up to two years, costing $40 billion.

Though our reservoirs are brimming this year, a lack of storage space does not allow California to capture and store surplus water to safeguard against future droughts. As a result, our excess water flows out to sea. At its height in the spring, enough water flowed to the ocean in one month to supply 2.5 million families for an entire year.

California must take steps to upgrade and repair its water infrastructure in the near future or risk its safe and reliable water supply and much more.