Senator Dodd’s Drinking Water Access Bill Advances

SACRAMENTO – Legislation from Senator Bill Dodd, D-Napa, that would protect financially strapped families from getting their water service disconnected cleared the Senate Judiciary committee late Tuesday.

“It is essential that we have an efficient, sustainable and equitable water system in California,” Sen. Dodd said. “This bill gets us closer to that goal by protecting families that have fallen on hard times and ensuring they have due process. I will continue pushing for smart water policy in Sacramento.”

Senate Bill 998 comes as water prices statewide are skyrocketing and more residents are losing access to water because of unpaid bills. The bill seeks to enact a sweeping slate of consumer protections to ensure that families are given time and options before their water is shut off. It goes next to the Senate Appropriations committee.

Statewide, the cost of water grew by more than 66 percent between 2007 and 2015. In Los Angeles the cost of water increased 71 percent between 2010 and 2017, and for San Franciscans it climbed to 127 percent. For many households in poverty, the cost of water is more than 5 percent of household income, which is more than three times the affordability threshold of 1.5 percent. The California Urban Water Agencies, which represents utilities serving the majority of Californians, found that more than one in five of their customers are impacted by water affordability.

Many residents ultimately lose their water service. Loss of water service can have dire health and safety consequences for residents. While there are consistent lifeline programs for people having difficulty paying their electric, gas and telephone bills, there is nothing more than a patchwork of local practices across thousands of water providers.

SB 998 requires water providers to have public policies on water shutoffs that provide for deferred payments, alternate payment schedules, and an appeals process. The measure would prohibit shutoffs for at least 60 days following a delinquency and require water providers to give advanced written notice and initiate actual direct contact with the residents before service could be discontinued. The bill would also halt a shutoff if it would impact a medically fragile resident or if a local health.

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Senator Bill Dodd represents California’s 3rd Senate District, which includes all or portions of Solano, Napa, Sonoma, Yolo, Sacramento, and Contra Costa Counties. You can learn more about Senator Dodd at www.sen.ca.gov/dodd.