By Bruce Houdesheldt, Director of Water Quality at NorCal Water
Every Californian deserves access to safe, reliable drinking water. While that goal has not yet been fully achieved, the Sacramento Valley is making meaningful progress through the North State Drinking Water Solutions Network (NSDWSN) with support from the state’s Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience (SAFER) Program.
Since the SAFER program began in 2019, approximately 48 public water systems in the Sacramento Valley have come off the state’s failing list, while another 78 systems identified as at risk have returned to compliance with drinking water standards. Behind each of those numbers are communities, many of which are considered disadvantaged under state guidelines, that now have more reliable access to clean drinking water.
Today, 26 public water systems serving approximately 10,100 people in the Sacramento Valley remain on the state’s list of failing systems. Through the NSDWSN and hard work in the various communities, there continues to be significant progress as communities complete projects to ensure safe drinking water. The SAFER dashboard is constantly evolving, but the long-term trend is encouraging, and the partnership between local entities and the state is working well.
Colusa: Progress in Action
As an example, the City of Colusa recently completed the consolidation of the Del Oro Water Company’s Walnut Ranch system into the city’s drinking water system. The project connected approximately 80 service connections, serving about 210 customers, by installing nearly 6,840 feet of new water pipeline while retiring aging asbestos concrete water lines and an outdated groundwater well.
Photo: old contaminated well and equipment in Colusa
The work doesn’t stop there. Colusa has also awarded a contract for construction of Well No. 9, including advanced treatment, along with upgrades to existing wells to address manganese, iron and odor issues. The $13.8 million project is being funded through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and is expected to be completed in October 2027.
With approximately 2,400 service connections serving about 6,500 residents, Colusa currently represents nearly two-thirds of the Sacramento Valley population shown on the SAFER Dashboard. As improvements are completed there, thousands more residents will benefit from safer, more reliable drinking water.
A Statewide Effort with Local Results
The progress being made in the Sacramento Valley reflects a much larger statewide effort. Since the SAFER Program was established in 2019, the State Water Resources Control Board has distributed more than $1.6 billion in grants, including $593 million from the General Fund, to support drinking water projects in disadvantaged communities. As a result, 321 water systems serving more than 3.3 million people have returned to compliance with drinking water standards.
As of December 31, 2025, 98.6 percent of Californians received drinking water from public water systems that meet state drinking water standards.
These accomplishments are made possible through continued planning and investment. Each year, the State Water Board updates its SAFER Fund Expenditure Plan to guide future funding priorities. A preview of the latest plan was presented during the May 28 SAFER Advisory Group meeting, where NorCal Water serves as a member. The North State Drinking Water Solutions Network will review the updated plan following its release later this summer.
The work is not finished, but the results are clear. Continued investment, strong local partnerships and thoughtful planning are helping more Sacramento Valley communities secure safe, dependable drinking water for generations to come. Every system that returns to compliance means more families no longer have to worry about the water coming from their tap. That’s what makes these improvements so important.
Bruce Houdesheldt, in addition to his role as NCWA Director of Water Quality, serves on the Roseville City Council and the SAFER Advisory Committee.
