When you turn on the tap, you expect clean, safe drinking water. Most of us rarely think about where that water comes from—or the dedicated professionals working behind the scenes to keep it safe. Yet protecting drinking water is one of the most important public health services provided in our communities.
Local environmental health programs help safeguard drinking water from source to tap. Environmental health professionals oversee small water systems, review well construction projects, investigate contamination concerns, respond to emergencies, and work with water system operators to identify and reduce risks before they can affect public health. They also help protect groundwater and surface water resources that supply drinking water to communities across California.
These efforts become even more critical during wildfires, floods, droughts, and other events that can threaten water quality. By monitoring potential hazards and coordinating with state and local partners, environmental health agencies help ensure communities continue to have access to safe and reliable drinking water.
The California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health (CCDEH) has long supported the development and implementation of effective drinking water programs and regulations, helping strengthen local environmental health agencies that serve as the front line of public health protection.
Clean water doesn't happen by chance. It happens because environmental health professionals work every day to protect the sources, systems, and infrastructure that keep our communities healthy—one drop at a time.