Provides education, promotes healthy beverage choices. Ensures students stay hydrated, In many rural California communities, contaminated water and aging utility systems are commonplace. In others, public water systems were never built in the first place. South Kern County and Eastern Coachella Valley are major agricultural areas. The two regions are home to more than 150,000 low-income residents,
many of whom are Latino farmworkers. These farmworkers are the backbone for a multi-million dollar agribusiness economy in both regions, yet their living conditions rival those of developing countries. Poor water quality in these two regions is a result of naturally-occurring and human-caused contaminants. These contaminants in the water can cause cancer and many other health problems. Eastern Coachella Valley also has the largest mobile home park population in California. Few of the 300 plus parks in the Valley have access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation. South Kern, as well, faces daunting challenges: with a population of 88,000, it suffers from a high poverty rate, substandard education, unhealthy air and water, and limited infrastructure and public services. In a recent California Health Interview Survey, 24 percent of South Kern and 23 percent of Eastern Coachella Valley adults reported their overall health as fair/poor, compared to 16 percent throughout the state. The survey also noted that 73 percent of South Kern and 58 percent of Eastern Coachella Valley children drank sugar-sweetened beverages the day before the survey was administered, as compared to just 40 percent of children surveyed statewide. Despite state and federal laws that require schools to provide free, readily available water to children during meal times, about 40 percent of California schools do not meet this mandate. This means about 2.5 million children do not have adequate access. Limited water access may also increase risk for obesity and diabetes, because without water, the nearest and most affordable drink may be a sugary beverage. To address many of these issues, Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) is partnering with The California Endowment in Agua4All, an innovative pilot program that will increase access to and consumption of clean drinking water in South Kern County and Eastern Coachella Valley. Through Agua4All, RCAC will install at least 120 water dispensers in schools and other public places throughout the areas. These “taps” will also provide water treatment specifically to filter out arsenic or other contaminants where needed so that residents will finally have access to potable water. Reusable bottles also will be made available to optimize access. Two local community organizations, Community Water Center and Pueblo Unido Community Development Corporation, will provide on-the-ground support for the year-long pilot. If the demonstration is successful, and if funding can be secured, RCAC plans to expand the project across rural California. Agua4All raises awareness about the lack of safe drinking water access in schools and communities; creates unique public-private partnerships to install water taps where they are needed most; and advocates for sustainable long-term solutions to ensure safe drinking water for all. No matter who you are, nor where you live, you should be able to drink a glass of water from a tap in your home or neighborhood and not worry that it will make you sick. Unfortunately, this isn't a reality for many Californians, especially for those in rural areas. Agua4All aims to change this in a substantial and sustainable way.
