The State Water Resources Control Board has distributed approximately $880 million to water systems and communities during the 2023-2024 fiscal year. This funding aims to benefit around 12 million Californians through projects focused on improving drinking water, increasing water supplies, and enhancing climate resilience.
A total of 395 projects across California have received funding. These initiatives are designed to capture and recycle more water, recharge and protect groundwater, improve stormwater management, expand access to safe drinking water, and enhance sanitation.
Since 2019, state efforts including these investments and the Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resiliency (SAFER) program have provided nearly 900,000 more Californians with access to clean drinking water. The SAFER program is primarily funded by cap-and-trade dollars.
Governor Gavin Newsom emphasized the importance of these projects: “California is taking action to build a climate-resilient water system that meets the needs of our communities for the long haul. These projects breaking ground across the state will help hundreds of communities expand access to safe drinking water, improve stormwater management, and secure water supplies now and into the future.”
These efforts align with Governor Newsom’s approach to building water resilience through storage, recycling, desalination, conservation, and other measures. They also support the state’s goal of accelerating infrastructure upgrades.
During this past year alone, about $570 million—nearly two-thirds of the State Water Board’s total financial assistance—was allocated as grants for drinking water and wastewater projects in disadvantaged communities. Additionally, funds were directed towards groundwater recharge and remediation as well as stormwater projects. A further $62.8 million was invested in new initiatives aimed at recycling, capturing, and storing more water; these efforts are expected to add over 8,300 acre-feet per year to California’s supply.
Over the last three years, more than $5.2 billion has been distributed by the State Water Board for infrastructure projects related to drinking water systems. Funding sources include the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), and federal support from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—which will cumulatively provide $2.8 billion for California by 2026.
Given projections that hotter and drier conditions could reduce California’s water supply by up to 10% by 2040, state officials are implementing multi-faceted solutions outlined in strategic documents such as the California Water Plan.
