From the Pacific Ocean to our iconic rivers, to the Sierra Nevada snowpacks, California depends on water. Current water management practices in the state are no longer sufficient or conducive to providing Californians a reliable and resilient water supply – threatening local communities, crashing critical ecosystems, and undermining our economic security. Learn more about water issues including groundwater, Delta decline, and the effect of climate change. See how California’s drought can be an opportunity for positive change.

Water Solutions

A new, more holistic approach to water is needed and PCL is proud to be at the leading edge in championing such an approach. Our Water Campaign focuses on developing and implementing sustainable and equitable water policies that enable California to meet water needs for our growing population, our economy, and our environment. Learn more about our water policy accomplishments.

Water Law Reform

In 2020, PCL convened a group of water law and policy experts to develop recommendations for Updating California Water Laws to Address Drought and Climate Change. The report contains 11 recommendations to modernize California’s water rights law. Read the full report Updating California Water Laws to Address Drought and Climate Change. So far we have passed two critical reforms on environmental justice representation and climate change analysis and two more are pending in the legislature in 2024.

We have developed a set of recommendations on how our water laws can be updated to address the impacts of drought and climate change. As you will see from the recommendations, this is not a “blow up the water rights boxes” approach. Rather it is a focused approach to updating existing laws, regulations, and funding.

It is also important to note that we recognize these recommendations can and should be carefully scrutinized and refined in the various public processes. Some are more detailed all the way to the proposed legislative language. Others are more generally described. Although we gave them the best consideration we could in the time available, there will undoubtedly be additional drafting and implementation issues that will need to be considered. Also, we recognize that this is not a complete list of all needed upgrades. We hope that others will add their contributions to the process.

Groundwater

Millions of Californians rely on groundwater for part or all of their water supply. Decreasing groundwater quality threatens the security and safety of this water supply due in part to the over-pumping of finite groundwater supplies, which can result in severe arsenic and nitrate contamination. According to the State Water Resources Control Board, over 8,000 public drinking water wells have been shut down since 1984, mostly due to contaminated supply. This epidemic currently leaves more than 100,000 Californians without access to safe drinking water, a danger faced disproportionately by low-income communities and people of color. Clean drinking water is a human right, and California must take action to sustainably manage our groundwater and halt this ongoing injustice.

Water Storage

There is much rhetorical support for new surface water reservoirs. However, despite tens of millions of taxpayer dollars spent studying the proposals in the CALFED Record of Decision, not one has been found to be cost-effective or environmentally acceptable. Furthermore, not one of the potential beneficiaries of the proposed surface reservoirs has offered to use their own money to pay for their benefits. The Investment Strategy includes recommendations on how to protect taxpayers by implementing the “beneficiary pays” principle. Groundwater storage, frequently done as part of a conjunctive use program, can have significant benefits as long as the sources of the water are protected. Currently, aquifers offer at least three times the storage capacity available in reservoirs, and, of the two, aquifer storage is by far the least expensive option. No one knows the exact amount of water that can be stored within California’s 515 groundwater basins. California’s Department of Water Resources estimates the total storage capacity to be between 850 million and 1.3 billion acre-feet. In comparison, surface storage from all the major reservoirs in California is less than 50 million acre-feet. Still, dams and reservoirs offer easier and less expensive delivery benefits – it is cheaper to deliver water from an above-ground facility than to pump it out of the ground. In conjunction, however, these storage systems can produce greater benefits than the sum of their parts. The desired level of storage in an above-ground facility can be achieved by sending more or less water to the aquifer. For instance, before a predicted rapid snow melt or aquatic river leads to flooding, we can make room for more water in the reservoir, dam, or river by turning on the spigot and allowing the excess water to be stored in the aquifer. California must prioritize smarter use of our existing water storage infrastructure – both man-made and natural – to avert the oncoming water crisis.

Recognizing the Value of Aquifers

SB 122, proposed and championed by PCL and CivicWell, adds “aquifers” to the definition of “natural infrastructure.” The success of this measure crucially supports California’s capacity to catch and store stormwater and snowmelt runoff in the face of climate unpredictability. Groundwater recharge projects have multiple benefits, including reducing flood risk and restoring natural habitat. Prior to this bill, these multi-benefit projects faced immense difficulties in gathering grant funds – often needing to submit multiple proposals with different requirements and deadlines. This is too time- and labor-intensive for capacity-constrained local jurisdictions. With aquifers recognized as natural infrastructure, multi-benefit restoration projects are now eligible for a host of grants that previously would have required separate funding applications as a result of harmful siloing. This opens up over $1 billion in existing public funds under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act and Proposition 1.

The 4 Categories of our Water Campaign

Through the wise use of water, we can ensure that there will be sufficient water resources for our economy, people and environment. Below are the four areas of focus in our water campaign:

1) Engaging in statewide water planning policies engagement. See our  Water Investment Strategy.

2) Advocating in the legislative arena. Learn about current water law proposals PCL is sponsoring.

3) Supporting innovative local projects.  See how you can help California’s water situation.

4) Undertaking research and community outreach. Read about our 8 Affordable Water Solutions.

The 4R Approach to Water

We advocate for regional water self-sufficiency and a 4R approach over large-scale water transfers and storage projects:

  • Reduce – water conservation and efficiency
  • Reuse – rainwater harvesting and graywater use
  • Recycle – wastewater reclamation
  • Restore – ecosystem restoration

Water Policy and Climate Change

PCL’s Water Policy team works to fundamentally change California’s water policy. California’s growing population, our $1.9 trillion economy and our natural resources all require clean, reliable and affordable water. Limited funding and a changing climate demand that we make strategic investments and implement effective policies to meet our water needs.