Needles gets safe drinking water, thanks to state investment – Governor of California (.gov)
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What you need to know: A state grant of $14 million has secured safe drinking water for the severely disadvantaged community of Needles.
NEEDLES – After years of struggling with poor water quality and aging facilities, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the completion of a new water system for the City of Needles in eastern San Bernardino County. This system will ensure reliable access to safe drinking water for Needles’ 5,000 residents.
Today’s announcement of the new clean water system in Needles furthers the state’s goal to provide all Californians with clean and safe drinking water. Since 2019, thanks to state efforts, the number of Californians without safe drinking water has been reduced by half, from 1.6 million to about 800,000 people.
“I’m proud of the state’s work to expand clean water access to more Californians than ever before. With today’s announcement, the City of Needles now joins the 98% of Californians served by clean drinking water systems – and we won’t stop until we achieve safe water for all.”
Governor Gavin Newsom
The state fully funded the planning and construction of Needles’ new water system through a $14 million grant from its Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience (SAFER) drinking water program. The project is part of Governor Newsom’s build more, faster agenda delivering infrastructure upgrades and creating thousands of jobs across the state. Find projects building your community at build.ca.gov.
The program was launched after Governor Newsom signed SB 200 in 2019, establishing funding for drinking water projects through the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund. The city of Needles sought help from the State Water Board after a burst pipe and lightning strike caused its 80-year-old water system, already contending with contamination issues, to fail completely in 2020.
Needles’ experience illustrates the challenges that small, rural disadvantaged communities often face in providing safe drinking water. With a median household income of $40,000, the city was reluctant to raise water rates to pay for improvements to its prior water system, which fell into disrepair over time.
“This project represents more than a milestone — it’s a generational investment in the future of Needles,” said Patrick Martinez, Needles City Manager. “The $14.3 million SAFER grant provided a critical opportunity to turn long-standing infrastructure challenges into a model of resilience and sustainability. In strong partnership with the State Water Resources Control Board, we are restoring public confidence, strengthening regional capacity, and positioning our community for long-term economic growth. This is the kind of forward-looking, outcomes-driven investment California needs, and the City Council is proud to help secure a stable, reliable water future for the residents of Needles.”
California’s SAFER drinking water program
Today, 98% of Californians are served by water systems that consistently meet state and federal drinking water standards. Through the SAFER program, the state works to establish access to safe drinking water for the remaining 2% of Californians who predominantly reside in disadvantaged communities and communities of color with drinking water contamination and aging infrastructure.
SAFER leverages the State Water Resources Control Board’s regulatory authorities and funding from the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund, Propositions 1, 68, and 84, the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, and other sources to support strategies to develop and implement sustainable solutions for these disadvantaged communities and communities at risk of lacking access to safe drinking water.
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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
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SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
- Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
- Indicator 6.1.1: Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services.
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SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all.
- Indicator 9.1.1: Proportion of the rural population who live within 2 km of an all-season road.
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SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe, and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums.
- Indicator 11.1.1: Proportion of urban population living in slums, informal settlements, or inadequate housing.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation | Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. | Indicator 6.1.1: Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services. |
| SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all. | Indicator 9.1.1: Proportion of the rural population who live within 2 km of an all-season road. |
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe, and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums. | Indicator 11.1.1: Proportion of urban population living in slums, informal settlements, or inadequate housing. |
Analysis
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SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
The article highlights the completion of a new water system in the City of Needles, ensuring reliable access to safe drinking water for its residents. This addresses the goal of achieving universal access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. The target identified is Target 6.1, which aims to achieve this goal by 2030. The indicator mentioned is Indicator 6.1.1, which measures the proportion of the population using safely managed drinking water services.
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SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
The article mentions the funding and construction of Needles’ new water system, which falls under the development of quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure. This aligns with Target 9.1, which aims to develop such infrastructure to support economic development and human well-being. The indicator mentioned is Indicator 9.1.1, which measures the proportion of the rural population living within 2 km of an all-season road.
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SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
The article discusses the challenges faced by small, rural disadvantaged communities like Needles in providing safe drinking water. This relates to the goal of ensuring access to adequate, safe, and affordable housing and basic services. The target identified is Target 11.1, which aims to achieve this by 2030. The indicator mentioned is Indicator 11.1.1, which measures the proportion of the urban population living in slums, informal settlements, or inadequate housing.
Source: gov.ca.gov
