Millions of people in California are drinking toxic water, whether they know it or not. In some cases, the water quality is so toxic that families must buy water in the gallons to use for drinking, cooking with, and bathing. A report from 2013 documented the severity by county and contaminated underground water sources. It turns out that over 1 million people living in Kings, Kern, and Tulare counties; 1.5 million in Riverside County; and over 378,000 in the cities of Santa Clarita and Lancaster drink water from a contaminated water source.

This November 8^th, our families have the opportunity to consider what incumbent and newly running candidates will do to solve this problem of toxic drinking water. Will the candidates running:

• Make sure that families have access to clean drinking water through improvements to water storage systems?
• Ensure that big ag and utility companies are held accountable for water contamination of local waterways?
• Safeguard our drinking water against the use of pesticides?
• Prioritize farmers AND the families who live in the nearby towns and cities who rely on the same clean water to survive?

How are California congressional candidates measuring up on water?

California Congressional District 22

• As an Assemblymember, Democrat Rudy Salas secured $1.38 billion in the California State 2021-2022 budget for clean drinking water projects including $1.5 million to construct a new water well in the City of Corcoran to bring thousands of residents clean drinking water.

• Republican Rep. Valadao voted against bringing in $33 million for California Bay-Delta restoration, $56 million to carry out Central Valley Project restoration, and millions more for improving rural water systems and to repair dams like the Friant Dam

• Republican Rep. Valadao voted to make it easier for energy companies to avoid upholding water quality
• Republican Rep. Valadao eliminated safeguards against limiting and reporting pesticide contamination of local waterways. 

This bill amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency or a state from requiring a permit for a discharge of a pesticide from a point source into navigable waters if the discharge is approved under FIFRA. Point source pollution is waste discharged from a distinct place, such as a pipe, channel, or tunnel.

• Republican Rep. Valadao has received over $193,000 from the electric utilities industry and almost $5million from the agribusiness sector. 

We need a leader who will prioritize clean drinking water for our families and neighbors over toxic industries.

California Congressional District 27

• As an Assemblymember, Christie Smith successfully advocated for California to revise its PFAS standards that included requiring water providers to notify consumers when contaminant levels became too high.
• Christie Smith was appointed to the California Delta Stewardship Council to work on issues like water supply reliability with a range of experts on agriculture, science, the environment, and public services.

• Republican Rep. Mike Garcia voted against the PFAS Action Act that would have improved national drinking water standards against PFAS contaminants. Instead, he voted to allow corporate polluters to continue contaminating water systems that serve our families. PFAS is linked to cancer, liver and kidney damage, and ulcerative colitis.

We need a leader who will prioritize clean drinking water for our families and neighbors over toxic industries.

California Congressional District 41

• Democratic candidate Will Rollins was endorsed by the Desert Sun, noting his familiarity and solutions for east valley water infrastructure and the Salton Sea.
• Democratic candidate Will Rollins supports investing in better water infrastructure, conservation and management to support the needs of the Coachella Valley and Inland Empire.

• Republican Rep. Calvert voted against bringing in $33 million for California Bay-Delta restoration, $56 million to carry out Central Valley Project restoration, and millions more for improving rural water systems and to repair dams like the Friant Dam.
• Republican Rep. Calvert voted to make it easier for energy companies to avoid upholding water quality
• Republican Rep. Calvert eliminated safeguards against limiting and reporting pesticide contamination of local waterways.

This bill amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency or a state from requiring a permit under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) for a discharge of a pesticide from a point source into navigable waters if the discharge is approved under FIFRA. Point source pollution is waste discharged from a distinct place, such as a pipe, channel, or tunnel.

• Republican Rep. Calvert has received over $380,000 from the electric utilities industry and almost $1million from the agribusiness sector. 
• Republican Rep. Clavert voted against the PFAS Action Act that would have improved national drinking water standards against PFAS contaminants. Instead, he voted to allow corporate polluters to continue contaminating water systems that serve our families. PFAS is linked to cancer, liver and kidney damage, and ulcerative colitis.

We need a leader who will prioritize clean drinking water for our families and neighbors over toxic industries.