Water | CalMatters

California's Toxic Legacy

What happens when a rural area’s only well is contaminated?

by Rebecca Sohn November 19, 2020

As California’s new requirements for forever chemicals kick in, small providers in remote towns struggle to clean up their water.

A water tank serving Buena Vista Migrant Center near Watsonville on Nov. 10, 2020. The tank stores water from a well that exceeds state guidelines for a chemical called PFOA by 3 parts per trillion--the state's new threshold is 10. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

California's Toxic Legacy

Well water throughout California contaminated with ‘forever chemicals’

by Rachel Becker November 19, 2020

Oil money is flowing to many California Democrats this election season. Pumpjacks photo by John Ciccarelli, Bureau of Land Management.

New state park? Climate catalyst fund? On hold in Newsom’s coronavirus-afflicted budget

by Julie Cart, Rachel Becker and Rebecca Sohn May 14, 2020

Arial view of Sacramento River and San Joaquin River Delta.

Water is life. It’s also a battle. So what does the future hold for California?

by Alastair Bland February 27, 2020

Maj. Sonia Walker, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron aerial reconnaissance weather officer, verifies the dropsonde data is accurate before sending it via satellite to the National Hurricane Center. Photo by Rachel Becker for CalMatters

Drought or dangerous flooding? Research to save California’s rain

by Rachel Becker February 25, 2020

Reader Reactions

Desalination is a bad investment

by Guest Commentary February 7, 2020

A view of the Kincade Fire in Sonoma County collected by the Terra satellite on Oct. 27, 2019. Image: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS).

Fires, floods and more: A view of California from space in 2019

by Rachel Becker December 31, 2019

California Divide

For California well owners, clean water is hard to get as state, local hurdles remain

by Cresencio Rodriguez-Delgado October 31, 2019

Trump plan could bring growers more water. But will it harm California’s rare salmon?

by Alastair Bland October 25, 2019

California Divide

Central Coast project would raise water bills, endanger aquifer, opponents say

by Kate Cimini October 24, 2019