California Water News Daily Your Source For Water News in California
After years of struggling with poor water quality and aging facilities, a new water system for the City of Needles in eastern San Bernardino County is finally complete. The new system ensures reliable, safe drinking water for Needles’ 5,000 residents.
The $14 million price tag for the system was covered by a Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience (SAFER) grant from the state. The city of Needles sought help from the State Water Board after a burst pipe and lightning strike caused its 80-year-old water system, already contending with contamination issues, to fail completely in 2020.
Needles’ experience illustrates the challenges that small, rural disadvantaged communities often face in providing safe drinking water. With a median household income of $40,000, the city was reluctant to raise water rates to pay for improvements to its prior water system, which fell into disrepair over time.
“This project represents more than a milestone — it’s a generational investment in the future of Needles,” said Patrick Martinez, Needles City Manager. “The $14.3 million SAFER grant provided a critical opportunity to turn long-standing infrastructure challenges into a model of resilience and sustainability. In strong partnership with the State Water Resources Control Board, we are restoring public confidence, strengthening regional capacity, and positioning our community for long-term economic growth. This is the kind of forward-looking, outcomes-driven investment California needs, and the City Council is proud to help secure a stable, reliable water future for the residents of Needles.”
SAFER leverages the State Water Resources Control Board’s regulatory authorities and funding from the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund, Propositions 1, 68, and 84, the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, and other sources to support strategies to develop and implement sustainable solutions for these disadvantaged communities and communities at risk of lacking access to safe drinking water.
