Water Quality - Public Policy Institute of California

Water Quality

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Despite progress, chemicals and other pollutants are still contaminating rivers, lakes, beaches, and aquifers. Innovative approaches are needed to protect water supply for people and ecosystems.

Selected publications

Filling Glass with Water from Kitchen Faucet in East Porterville, California - pixel-ca-dwr-FL_Porterville-9320

Access to Safe Drinking Water April 2021
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.

photo - Eagle Falls and view of Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe, California

Priorities for California’s Water November 2020
This brief reviews how major disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic, economic downturn, ongoing drought, and wildfires affected the state’s water landscape, and lays out priorities for local, state, and federal action.

A Path Forward for California’s Freshwater Ecosystems December 2019
This report describes a new approach to better prepare California’s freshwater ecosystems for climate change and protect at-risk species.

MORE PUBLICATIONS

Water Quality February 2019

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Water quality problems affect most regions in California

Some 80,000 to 160,000 residents in poor, rural communities lack safe drinking water.