Gov. Jerry Brown has signed legislation declaring that every human has the right to safe, clean, affordable and accessible water, over the objections of Stockton East Water District and other water providers.
While the goal sounds noble enough, the water districts were worried that guaranteeing a legally enforceable right to water could force them to continue providing water even to a customer who refuses to pay. That could drive up rates for paying customers, they said.
Read about Stockton East’s concerns here.
