California water updates emphasize permanent urban conservation rules, state priority enforcement for PFAS and perchlorate limits in drinking water, and seasonal harmful algal bloom advisories. Statewide drought declarations remain lifted, though certain agricultural and groundwater pump areas face stricter management.
- Drinking Water Standards & Advisories
- PFAS & Contaminants: The Division of Drinking Water (DDW) is executing testing mandates and rolling out strict new Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for PFAS and other contaminants (like NDMA and 1,4-Dioxane).
- Perchlorate Rules: The EPA proposed stricter national drinking water standards for perchlorate, which the DDW is utilizing to update state response levels and mitigation actions.
- You can check for active localized boil-water or chemical advisories through your specific municipal water provider or via the California State Water Resources Control Board interactive map.
- Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Advisories
- Statewide Warnings: The State Water Board issued statewide cautions for cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) ahead of the summer recreation season.
- Active Advisories: Recent news advisories have targeted specific water bodies, including the H.V. Eastman Reservoir (Madera County) and Harveston Lake (San Diego County).
- Supply and Conservation Requirements
- Permanent Rules: California has implemented permanent water waste restrictions for cities and towns, enforcing mandates on excessive indoor/outdoor water use.
- Supply Outlook: Despite a hot and dry late winter melting earlier snowpack, major state reservoirs remain healthy at or above historical averages, with the State Water Project granting a 30% baseline allocation.
- Find your local district’s specific phase of restrictions and watering schedules by consulting your local municipality or using the California Water Watch tracker.
- Ocean & Beach Quality Advisories
- Rain Advisories: Coastal counties (including Los Angeles and Santa Cruz) frequently issue 72-hour Rain Advisories after storms to warn against ocean water contact near discharging storm drains due to high bacteria levels.
- Beach Watch Updates: The state updated the Beach Watch database to streamline bacteriological testing and beach safety postings.
- You can check daily beach status through the California Beach Water Quality Information Page portal.
Regulatory Updates from NRWA
- Perchlorate Regulation: Under a court mandate, the EPA issued a proposed National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for perchlorate. It proposes a Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) of 20 ppb. While unlikely to be exceeded by many historical community wells, it introduces substantial mandatory testing requirements.
- PFAS & Cost Recovery: Utilities continue to navigate PFAS compliance and funding. The NRWA, in partnership with Napoli Shkolnik, is spearheading a PFAS Cost Recovery Program to help rural water systems offset filtration and monitoring costs. The Phase 2 registration deadline for systems that tested after June 22, 2023, is July 12, 2026.
- Real Water TA Initiative: The EPA launched an initiative refocusing federal funding and resources on delivering localized technical and managerial support to small and rural water systems.
Advisories & Alerts
- Cyber & Physical Security: The NRWA recently released a policy paper, Rural Water’s Ripple Effect, underscoring the water sector’s role in national security. Utilities are advised to stay highly vigilant regarding geopolitical threats from adversaries potentially targeting water infrastructure.
- Advisories: NRWA, in conjunction with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and Water ISAC, maintains ongoing Cyber Updates and Advisories to help mitigate vulnerabilities.