Action needed, California! Final push on AB 1242

Hey, California residents!

Call and/or fax Gov. Schwarzenegger and ask him to support the California Human Right to Water Act of 2009 and sign AB 1242 (Ruskin). This bill would be an important first in this country, and mirrors the international movement to ensure the human right to water for all. 



The Alliance for Democracy is a Co-Sponsor of this bill, along with seven other national, state or local community organizations, because we believe the time has come to enact this state policy to ensure that all Californians have access to safe and affordable water. We can no longer allow state residents to drink unsafe water. Contamination by excessive amounts of nitrates, pesticides, and industrial chemicals is well-documented.



Call the Governor at his Sacramento office: 916-445-2841. If this number is busy, call the district office nearest you: in LA: 213-897-0322, San Diego: 619-525-4641 and San Francisco: 415-703-2218. Or you can download and print out this letter and fax it to 916-558-3160.


The Basic Facts: More than 11.5 million Californians rely on water suppliers that faced at least one violation of state drinking water standards. As many as 8.5 million rely on supplies with five violations in a single year. More than 150,000 lack safe water for personal use. In far too many communities, whose sole water supply is contaminated, families unable to afford water treatment are often left entirely without safe water.  Even more have water disconnected because they cannot afford to pay their water bill. The Central Valley and Central Coast regions, where more than 90% of the communities rely on groundwater alone, are at particular risk.  


Though bottled water can be used, it is not economical. Families can pay up to 1,000 times more for bottled over tap water, and may forgo other necessities to pay for it. It is also impractical for all uses, leaving families to cook, wash dishes, and bathe their children in water they know makes them sick.  Additionally, plastic bottles add unnecessarily to California's waste stream.



Take action today. Help make California the first state to set the example that access to safe and affordable water is a human right.  Thank you for your quick action!

For more info on water democracy in California, see www.defendingwaterincalifornia.org