In the book “What Should We Be Worried About?” science writer John Brockman asked leading scientists a simple question: What keeps you up at night?
The answers weren’t always what you might expect. Instead of focusing on the loudest headlines, many pointed to quieter, slower-moving challenges — problems that require steady attention and long-term commitment.
That’s a useful lens for thinking about something deeply personal to all of us: our drinking water.
The slow, invisible challenges
In California, water is often in the news — droughts, floods, wildfires, emerging contaminants. It can be difficult to separate what truly warrants concern from what may lack context.
When our scientists and engineers talk among themselves, their focus is rarely on sensational fears. Instead, they worry about long-term fundamentals:
- Aging infrastructure that requires sustained investment.
- Chronic contaminants that demand evolving treatment strategies.
- Climate-driven extremes and increasing variability.
- Ensuring that all communities have access to safe, reliable water.
“These aren’t issues that make headlines,” said Darrin Polhemus, who heads the State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Drinking Water. “What keeps me up at night isn’t the large water systems. They have the staff and reserves to respond quickly. It’s the small systems that are hanging on by a thread.”
About 94% of Californians are served by larger, well-resourced water systems. But thousands of smaller systems operate with limited staff and thin financial margins. A failed pump or delayed equipment order can quickly become a crisis.
“How do we help them avoid becoming the headline and dealing with contaminated water?” Polhemus asked. “That’s what we spend a lot of our time thinking about.”
“Our economy and culture wouldn’t exist without reliable water. For most Californians, it’s almost too easy, and we take it for granted. For others in small, rural communities, it can be a daily struggle.”
— Darrin Polhemus
One response is the State Water Board’s Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience (SAFER) drinking water program, which has worked to ensure safe, reliable water in communities that have faced decades of underinvestment. Since the program began in 2019, the board has provided over $1.8 billion in drinking water grants for projects in disadvantaged communities, and over 320 water systems have returned to compliance with drinking water standards, improving access to safe drinking water for over 3.3 million Californians.
“The technical fixes are usually there,” said Andrew Altevogt, a deputy director who oversees the program. “The harder part is overcoming generations of disenfranchisement and building lasting local capacity.”
These challenges are solvable — but only through steady, sustained work.
A single contaminant detection may not mean danger
On the other hand, scientists are often less alarmed by isolated detections of contaminants in water samples that lack context.
A single test result may sound alarming without understanding:
- The concentration detected.
- How it compares to health-based standards.
- Whether it was found in treated drinking water or a raw source.
- What corrective steps are already underway.
A detection does not automatically equal danger. Science is about measurement, verification, and proportion. That doesn’t mean concerns should be dismissed; it means they should be explained clearly and honestly.
How testing and monitoring actually works
Protecting drinking water is not a static goal — it’s an ongoing process.
Water systems conduct regular testing and report results to the state. In fact, the board receives approximately 2 million test results a year from water systems. Regulators review those data continuously and conduct comprehensive inspections at least once every three years.
“We rely heavily on operators to report accurately and act responsibly, and the vast majority do,” Polhemus said.
That partnership matters. California’s licensure system holds operators accountable, and enforcement actions send strong signals when standards aren’t met. But the system works largely because of professional integrity and shared responsibility.
At the same time, regulators must balance what is technically possible with what is financially feasible across a diverse state with thousands of independent systems.
“We’re often dealing with dilemmas, not simple problems,” Polhemus said. “There isn’t always a perfect solution. There are trade-offs that have to be managed over time.”
Climate change adds another layer of complexity. Larger utilities often have diversified portfolios of water sources. Smaller systems may rely on a single well or creek.
“A small system with one source is much more vulnerable to climate change,” Polhemus said. “That’s something we have to think about now and not put off. The extreme weather years we see occasionally now are only a dress rehearsal for what will become the new normal.”
A better question to ask
Rather than asking “should I be worried about my drinking water?” a more productive question might be:
“How is my water being monitored, and who is working to protect it?”
Behind the scenes are scientists, engineers, inspectors, and operators focused on continuity. In many cases, they are working under standards that go beyond federal requirements. California has adopted 25 maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) that are more health-protective than federal standards and established 14 MCLs for contaminants that currently have no federal limit.
Protecting drinking water is “a noble calling,” said Polhemus, noting that 98% of Californians have drinking water that meets all federal and state standards. The work may not be visible when it’s done well. That quiet reliability is the point.
“Our economy and culture wouldn’t exist without reliable water,” he said. “For most Californians, it’s almost too easy, and we take it for granted. For others in small, rural communities, it can be a daily struggle. The best approach is to stay educated and informed about drinking water issues and pay attention to updates from your water system.”
What about costs?
One thing Polhemus suggests customers pay special attention to is whether their water system is investing in updating its equipment and infrastructure.
“Failure to do so is where most problems start,” he continued. “I personally get worried when my water bill is not slowly increasing, because what doesn’t increase in costs over time?
“For most of us, our water is relatively inexpensive compared to the value it brings to our lives.”
Explore the board’s Drinking Water Watch to see the standing and regulatory record of your local public water system.