A new report is challenging the view that California is running out of water, arguing instead that the state’s crisis is a matter of broken infrastructure and logistics. Research led by Nícola Ulibarrí, an associate professor at UC Irvine, suggests that California already collects enough water to sustain its entire population. The disconnect lies in how that water is delivered. Or, in many cases, how it isn't.
Commissioned by UC Berkeley’s Possibility Lab, the study identifies a gap in the state’s grid. Thousands of households, especially in rural areas, remain entirely disconnected from major water systems, leaving them reliant on private wells that are vulnerable to drought and over-pumping. Furthermore, Ulibarrí found that nearly 1 million residents who are connected to public utilities receive water that fails to meet federal safety standards.
For the industry, the proposed solutions signal a shift away from large-scale projects like new dams or desalination plants. Instead, Ulibarrí advocates for sustainable water achieved through retrofitting and expanding existing systems. Her recommendations focus on scaling up water recycling technologies, building out infrastructure to connect underserved communities and restructuring utility rates to combat rising costs.
