The State Water Resources Control Board unanimously adopted its fiscal year 2026–27 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Intended Use Plan on August 18. The Board voted 5–0 to approve Resolution 2026-0030, formalizing the framework for state funding directed at ensuring safe drinking water across California.
According to the Board’s August 18–19 meeting minutes, the newly adopted plan provides critical guidelines for complementary funding sources. These sources include allocations from the Budget Act of 2024 and significant state bond measures, specifically Propositions 1, 68, and 4. The plan also incorporates supplemental intended-use plans to address specific challenges in drinking water management. These supplemental plans focus on funding for projects related to emerging contaminants, the essential replacement of lead service lines, and additional appropriations made available under the Disaster Relief Act of 2019. This comprehensive approach aims to tackle a range of water quality and infrastructure needs.
The adoption of the resolution followed a motion by Board Member Jared Blumenfeld, which was subsequently seconded by Member Nichole Morgan. The vote, as recorded in the meeting minutes, saw all five present Board members casting affirmative votes. Chair E. Joaquin Esquivel, Vice Chair Dorene D’Adamo, and Members Sean Maguire, Nichole Morgan, and Jared Blumenfeld each voted yes, indicating full consensus on the plan’s adoption. There were no dissenting votes, abstentions, or absences noted in the record for this item.
The public hearing preceding the vote drew comments from various stakeholders interested in the state’s drinking water initiatives. Representatives from several water agencies and community advocacy groups provided input, as documented in the meeting minutes. These included officials from the South Coast Water District, the Community Water Center, the Association of California Water Agencies, the California Municipal Utilities Association, and the Placer County Water Agency. Additionally, the Board heard comments from members of the public, reflecting broad interest in the revolving fund plan and its potential implications for communities.
While the State Water Resources Control Board has approved the overarching plan, specific details regarding its implementation and direct local effects have not yet been made public. The meeting record does not identify the total funding allocated through the plan, nor does it specify the formula that will be used for distributing these funds. Information on particular projects or a list of eligible applicants is also absent from the public record of the meeting. Furthermore, details concerning the plan’s distribution to disadvantaged communities or a concrete implementation timetable were not identified during the Aug. 18–19 meeting.
For those seeking more granular information on these aspects, the specific details—such as total funding, allocation formula, project lists, disadvantaged-community distribution, and implementation timetable—would need to be obtained from the State Water Board’s Division of Financial Assistance. Alternatively, these specifics are expected to be available within the final plan documents, which would provide a more complete picture of how the fiscal year 2026–27 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Intended Use Plan will translate into tangible projects and community benefits. The resolution’s adoption marks a foundational step, with the practical deployment of funds and projects still awaiting further detailed disclosures.
