November 4, 2015 - I’d like to offer my congratulations to Tuolumne County, the Board of Supervisors and to Deputy County Administrator Tracie Riggs for the proactive way in which they have continued to meet the water needs of their citizens despite a severe drought.

The California State Association of Counties® (CSAC) recently honored the County’s Residential Water Safety Net program with a state wide Challenge Award and presented it to the Board on Tuesday, November 3.

There is nothing more basic to human health than clean, fresh water. However, after several years of drought, many counties—including Tuolumne—have residents whose wells have run dry. If people have to leave their homes for lack of water, there are many long-term negative impacts for the individuals and the County.

Tuolumne County’s proactive approach to prevent this includes speeding hookups to municipal water supplies where possible and installing tanks and trucking water to people where necessary. The County tapped emergency funds from the state to cover most of the costs. This positive, can-do program has kept hundreds of families in their homes. The program has been lauded by the State Office of Emergency Services and is serving as a template for many other counties to follow. Congratulations!

Matt Cate
Executive Director
California State Association of Counties