Monterey County Supervisor proposes safe drinking water policy

The Monterey County Board of Supervisors will take up a proposal by Supervisor Luis Alejo to make Monterey County the first in the nation to recognize that every person has the right to safe drinking water.

The Monterey County Health Department Environmental Health Bureau said it will propose the policy and the Board of Supervisors will consider approving it on Tuesday, December 4th.

According to the health department, the proclamation would establish the policy of safe and clean water for human use as County policy. This means the right to not only clean water, but affordable and accessible water for drinking, cooking and sanitary uses.

This policy would then require all relevant county departments to consider it when implementing other policies and regulations that relate to uses of that water.

Luis Alejo said the proclamation will also help focus on the issue of drinking water quality because of contamination in certain county domestic wells and water systems as well as potential future threats because of the drought. It should not impact the allocation of existing water rights.

“Monterey County will once again be a leader by becoming the first county in the state and nation to recognize the human right to water. That would parallel the policy position taken by our state leaders and Governor Brown in 2012, and would demonstrate our strong commitment to ensure that all of our county residents have access to safe and clean drinking water, including our most disadvantaged families and communities,” said Luis Alejo, Chair of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors. “I hope other local governments will take similar actions as us in the months ahead.”

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