Contaminated

In 2012, California made history when it became the first U.S. state to declare that clean drinking water is a human right. But five years later, nearly 300 communities still shouldn’t drink their water, according to new state data—and more than half of the 400,000 impacted residents live in the San Joaquin Valley.

In this series, our reporters visit these communities, speak with residents, and explore the challenges to obtaining safe, clean drinking water.

If you have a personal account or story about contaminated water in your area of California email us at eromero@kvpr.org or kklein@kvpr.org.

To find out if the water in your community is contaminated, click through the map below.

Health

Valley Groups Divided On Support For Major Drinking Water Bill

Kerry Klein

More than 300 California communities lack access to clean drinking water. A disproportionately high number of those communities lie in the San Joaquin…
Environment

Farmers, Environmental Leaders Urge Legislature To Support Safe Drinking Water Bill

Ezra David Romero

California farmers and environmental justice leaders are joining forces to support a bill that would help fund a clean drinking water program.The…
Environment

In Bakersfield, Complex Web Of Water Systems Makes Pollution Cleanup Difficult

Ezra David Romero

From Keith Pickett’s front yard just east of Bakersfield you can see the trees of where the official city begins. He’s on the board of a tiny water system…
Health

In California, Quest For Clean Drinking Water Often Delayed By Paperwork

Ezra David Romero

Drive through the pomegranate and pistachio orchards between Highways 41 and 99 and you may stumble upon Valley Teen Ranch, a cluster of residential homes…
Environment

Private Domestic Well Owners Left Behind In California's Water Quality Push

Ezra David Romero

The recent drought underscored the struggles of private well owners as wells across Tulare County went dry. But an underlying issue has existed all along:…
Health

They Built It, But Couldn’t Afford To Run It—Clean Drinking Water Fight Focuses On Gaps In Funding

Ezra David Romero

This is the third installment in our series Contaminated, in which we explore the 300 California communities that lack access to clean drinking water.…
Health

Oakhurst’s Water Is Radioactive, But Cleanup Is Right Around The Corner

Ezra David Romero

In late April, we launched a series called “Contaminated” where our team explores communities in the region affected by water unsafe to drink. In our…
Health

Drinking Water Is A Human Right, But These Valley Residents Don’t Have It

Ezra David Romero

In 2012, California made history when it became the first U.S. state to declare that clean drinking water is a human right. But five years later, nearly…