Existing law establishes various state water policies, including the policy that the use of water for domestic purposes is the highest use of water.

This bill would declare that it is the established policy of the state that every human being has the right to clean, affordable, and accessible water for human consumption, cooking, and sanitary purposes, that is adequate for the health and well-being of the individual and family. The bill would require all relevant state agencies, including the Department of Water Resources, State Water Resources Control Board, and State Department of Public Health, to employ all reasonable means to implement this state policy. Those state agencies would be required to revise, adopt, or establish policies, regulations, and grant criteria to further this state policy, to the extent that those actions do not affect eligibility for federal funds.