New bill for safe drinking water in rural schools

Assemblyman Devon Mathis introduced a new bill primarily for the children and staff of new schools built in rural areas.

The bill, AB68, guarantees schools have a safe and reliable supply of drinking water.

It requires that any new school –built on or after Jan. 1, 2018 – must get its water from an already existing public water system, not ground water.

Groundwater, in areas near an operating farm, can have high concentrations of pollutants like uranium and nitrates.

The city of Tulare Annual Water Quality Report notes that uranium comes from erosion of natural deposits. Also, nitrates come from the runoff from fertilizer, seepage from septic tanks and sewage and erosion of natural deposits.

These contaminants can be harmful to people, especially children and pregnant women.

“We must ensure that our children have safe, clean water to drink at schools," Mathis said. "The best way to do that is to make sure schools are not being built in areas where the only source of water is groundwater which could be contaminated or be in an area of overdraft.”

AB68 also prohibits a school district, county office of education, charter school, or private school from building a new facility or acquiring property to build a school facility if the site is located within 2 miles of an operating farm.

“It simply doesn’t make sense to build a school next to a farm, dairy or ranch if you are concerned about the existing agricultural practices that are employed at the facility," Mathis said. "It’s tantamount to buying a home next to an airport and complaining about the noise of the airplanes."

The bill does allow an exception that requires an agreement from the school or facility to hold the farm faultless for any harm to the health of students or staff caused by the legal use of pesticide by the farm and within the normal operation of the farm.

Community Water Center, CWC, a nonprofit organization that works as a catalyst to improve the quality, quantity and affordability of clean water for all civilians said unclean water is an issue.

In a recent report, the CWC said access to safe, clean and affordable water is a basic human right that some California’s don’t have.

"The bill will require school boards to work with city and county planners in deciding where to build new schools," Mathis said.

The bill will also spark interest in organizations such as Tulare Basin Water Quality Coalition that helps farmers comply with new regulations and the CWC who strive for clean drinking water.

“If we want safe and affordable drinking water, we must hold our elected officials accountable and ensure the decisions they make actually reflect the needs of our communities,” said Susan Laurel in a CWC report. “In the end, water justice is not a partisan issue – it's a human rights issue.”