Drinking Clean Water is a Right--Extension would benefit Eastern Coachella Valley
(SACRAMENTO, CA) –– The Assembly Appropriations Committee passed a critical bill (AB 434) with overwhelmingly bi-partisan support (17-0). AB 434 authored by Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia requires the State Water Resources Control Board to adopt regulations allowing water filtration systems in the Eastern Coachella Valley communities to protect residents against unsafe levels of arsenic in their drinking water.
“Everyone should have access to clean and reliable drinking water-no matter where you live,” said Assemblymember Garcia. “Access to clean drinking water is a right not a privilege. My point-of-use legislation will help ensure that people most impacted by unsafe levels of arsenic in their drinking water have access to cost effective solutions that help remediate the problem.”
“Due to the nature of the hydrology and geology of the Eastern Coachella Valley—it is our rural communities in the region that are most impacted by the potential consumption of unsafe levels of arsenic which may lead to cancer, skin rashes, and other health problems. The maximum contaminant level for arsenic is 10 parts per billion. In the Coachella Valley, 24 water systems were found to have levels between 12 to 91 parts per billion, putting the health and safety of the community at extreme risk. This needs to stop.”
AB 434– Point-of-Use, Point-of-Entry Water Filtration Systems legislation is being supported by Pueblo Unido Community Development Corporation, Coachella Valley Water District, Pacific Water Quality Association, Comite Civico del Valle, and Coachella Valley Regional Water Management Plan Group . The bill now heads to the Assembly Floor for a vote. For further information on these bills please see the attached fact sheet.
Website of Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia http://asmdc.org/members/a56/
**For more information contact Frank G. Salazar at (760) 336-8912 or (442) 236-9560 mobile**
Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella) serves as the Chairperson of the Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economic Development and the Economy and represents the 56th District, which comprises the cities and communities of Blythe, Brawley, Bermuda Dunes, Calexico, Calipatria, Cathedral City, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, El Centro, Holtville, Imperial, Indio, Mecca, Oasis, North Shore, Salton Sea, Thermal, Thousand Palms, and Westmorland.
