Safe Drinking Water for Disadvantaged Communities

Topic:
Safe Drinking Water for Disadvantaged Communities
Speakers:
Maureen Kerner, P.E., Research Engineer, Office of Water Programs at Sacramento State and Associate Director, Environmental Finance Center at Sacramento State
Brian Currier, P.E., Research Engineer, Office of Water Programs at Sacramento State

For nearly a decade, the Office of Water Programs (OWP) at California State University, Sacramento (Sac State) has been helping small, disadvantaged, and otherwise underserved communities throughout California and the nation develop plans and access funding to address substandard drinking water and wastewater infrastructure and services. OWP research engineers Maureen Kerner and Brian Currier will discuss community water needs in California, California's Human Right to Water (AB 685), various state agency programs and initiatives for improved water services for all, and OWP's involvement through contracts with the CA State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) and EPA. The speakers will discuss OWP's collaboration with the State Water Board, EPA, disadvantaged communities, and Sacramento State students through technical assistance addressing funding for equity and resilience, environmental finance programs, water sector needs assessments, lead testing and remediation at child care centers, and PFAS drinking water well testing.

Through these and other technical assistance activities, OWP directly supports several Sac State Strategic Plan imperatives and confronts inequities, transforms student lives, and strengthens communities in alignment with Sac State's goals as an Anchor University.