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Fact Sheet

Water Use in California

By Jeffrey Mount, Ellen Hanak, Caitlin Peterson

To understand California’s water, start here. Water use in California varies dramatically between wet and dry years: learn who’s using California’s water, where, and how much.

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California’s Water and Energy Systems Are Inextricably Linked

By Alvar Escriva-Bou, Gokce Sencan, Andrew Ayres

Water and energy are intimately connected in California: the water system is a major energy user, and our energy sector relies heavily on water for power generation. Population growth and climate change will likely increase pressure on both systems, but a few key actions could make them more resilient.

Fact Sheet

Access to Safe Drinking Water in California

By Caitrin Chappelle, Joy Collins, Ellen Hanak

Not every Californian has access to safe and reliable drinking water. Small communities relying on groundwater are most likely to have chronic water quality problems.

Report

Priorities for California’s Water

By Jeffrey Mount, Letitia Grenier, Ellen Hanak, Caitlin Peterson ...

California has made great strides in preparing for a drier, hotter future, but it remains a challenge to harness the bounty of wet years while also reducing flood risk. How did California’s water sector manage the unusually wet 2023 water year—and what lessons can we glean for the future?

Report

Water and the California Economy

By Ellen Hanak, Jay Lund, Richard Howitt, Brian Gray ...

California’s economy can grow and prosper despite droughts and water shortages caused by a changing climate—but only if threats to the water system are addressed now. So far, innovative water management has supported the needs of a growing population but serious concerns remain, including water supply reliability and declining groundwater basins.

This research was supported with funding from the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation.

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Building a Better Water Safety Net

By Lori Pottinger

California’s poor rural communities have been hard hit by the drought. We interviewed Laurel Firestone about our water inequities, and ways to solve them.

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What’s Really Important? Putting Recent Water News into Perspective

By Sarah Bardeen

Last week, three major stories about California’s water supply dominated the news. We asked PPIC Water Policy Center director Ellen Hanak and senior fellow Jeff Mount to share their perspectives on what’s really important about these stories.

Fact Sheet

Groundwater in California

By Kyle Greenspan, Spencer Cole, Caitlin Peterson

Groundwater is a vital, but threatened, component of California’s water supply. Learn more about this important resource!

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Video: Managing Water in a Changing Climate

By Sarah Bardeen, Ashlyn Perri

Climate change is stressing California’s water system, but strategic investments and improved water management practices could help us adapt.

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