Clean Water Is a Human Right: Why We Strongly Support AB 794

We are proud to join a broad coalition of public health, environmental justice, and community organizations in strong support of AB 794 (Gabriel)—a bill that would provide urgently needed protections from PFAS, the toxic “forever chemicals” that continue to contaminate drinking water for millions of Californians.

Access to clean, safe drinking water is not just essential to life—it’s a basic human right. AB 794 reaffirms this principle by requiring the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to adopt enforceable limits for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in California drinking water. These standards will mirror federal protections in place as of January 2025, while also giving state agencies the authority to go further—ensuring that Californians are protected even if federal regulations are weakened in the future.

PFAS are a class of synthetic chemicals used in everything from cookware to firefighting foam. They do not break down in the environment, and they accumulate in our bodies over time. The health risks are well-documented: PFAS exposure has been linked to cancer, high cholesterol, hormone disruption, immune system impairment, and developmental delays in children—even at extremely low levels.

Unfortunately, PFAS are widespread in California’s water systems. Recent monitoring shows that more than 11 million Californians are exposed to PFAS levels exceeding current federal limits—and the actual number may be closer to 25 million. Many of the communities most heavily impacted are already burdened by pollution and inequitable infrastructure investment, making PFAS contamination a clear issue of environmental justice.

"PFAS contamination doesn't affect everyone equally. The communities facing the highest exposure are often the same ones already burdened by pollution and underinvestment. AB 794 is about making California's clean water promise real for everyone," said Chance Cutrano, Director of Programs at Resource Renewal Institute.

AB 794 is designed to close a dangerous gap. While the U.S. EPA has finally issued enforceable limits for six common PFAS chemicals—including PFOA, PFOS, and GenX—California has not yet adopted its own drinking water standards for these substances. And with a potential rollback of environmental protections on the federal horizon, the time to act is now.

This bill ensures that California won’t fall behind in protecting its residents. It locks in the strongest federal protections as a baseline while preserving the state’s authority to go further based on the latest science and health assessments. AB 794 is a proactive, balanced approach that protects public health without delay.

California law already recognizes clean water as a human right. AB 794 puts this principle into action. It ensures that science, not politics, drives our drinking water protections, and it sends a clear message: Californians deserve to be safeguarded from toxic chemicals—regardless of who holds office in Washington, DC.

At Resource Renewal Institute, we believe that environmental health, human health, and justice are interconnected. PFAS contamination poses a growing threat to all three. That’s why we are urging state lawmakers to pass AB 794 without delay.

Want to take action? Contact your legislators and tell them to vote YES on AB 794.