Resources available to well owners in North Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency Boundary – Fresno County

MEDIA RELEASE
Contact: Kassy Chauhan
Email: kchauhan@fresnoirrigation.com

FRESNO, CA – Residents of the San Joaquin Valley who have been affected by the impacts of the drought have immediate resources available to help maintain their access to drinking water.

A group of organizations in the San Joaquin Valley coordinated by the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley Water Workgroup have developed an outreach plan and a list of resources available to private well owners and small communities who have lost or are concerned about losing access to drinking water due to groundwater level declines.

“As a domestic well resident for 17 years I have experienced head on the cruel obstacles that drought causes for low-income families. In the spring of 2014, the domestic well that provides water for my family of 12 went dry. We struggled for eight months without running water. We scavenged around looking for resources and looking for help from friends and family.” – Sandra Chavez, Porterville resident, AGUA Coalition and SAFER Advocacy Group member.

The past five years California has been rocked with devastation due to natural disasters, as well as the COVID19 pandemic. Our state funds for disaster responses are limited. It is vital to our economy and utterly important that private well owners have their wells inspected to ensure sustainability. For every dollar spent on preparedness, four dollars is saved in response. “Self-Help Enterprises is taking a proactive approach towards drought resiliency and climate change”, said Tami McVay, Assistant Program Director-Partner Service at Self-Help Enterprises.

District 5 Supervisor Silveira of Merced County is the Chair of the Water workgroup. “Water is an essential resource in the San Joaquin Valley and no resident should be without access to drinking water. Self-Help Enterprises is providing vital services and emergency assistance during this drought and the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley, and the Valley Counties are committed to ensuring that everybody is aware of these available resources”, said Supervisor Silveira.

With the impacts and frequency of droughts in California intensifying, collaboration and coordination are vital components to improving the state’s water resiliency. “The State Water Board has expanded financial assistance to support local efforts, and we are grateful for Self-Help Enterprises, the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley, and other on-the-ground partners who are working to ensure all Californians have access to safe drinking water, not only during drought emergencies, but also long-term”, said Dorene D’Adamo, Vice Chair of the State Water Resources Control Board.

Resources include:

• Bottled Water
• Water Tanks
• Water Assessment Testing
• Water Quality Testing

Has your well gone dry? Worried about your well going dry? Know someone who does? There are resources available! If you are concerned about your well or are out of domestic water, visit www.mywellwentdry.org for a list of resources by county or call Self-Help Enterprises at 559-802-1285.