We are losing the ability to
drill affordable domestic water wells. A combination of inflation
and mixed bureaucratic requirements
has already priced many vulnerable families out of replacement
water wells. Now, it is becoming
problematic even for an average-income family. The
water well industry needs your help in reducing multi-agency
dysfunctional requirements which are artificially restricting
access to drinking water.
No matter which side of the fence you are
on, there is no denying that the
weather is changing and that carbon neutrality is
important.
But just as important is the massive impact
the changing weather has had on increasing drought conditions
which are placing many families in crisis. As water taps run
dry, low-income people of color continue to be disproportionately
impacted, forcing some to collect water in buckets for drinking and
cooking which is a slap in the face to environmental
justice. But this is just the tip of the
iceberg.
Do you know, that, only a C57 Contractor is allowed
to drill for water?
And there are only a handful
of C57 Contractors in the entire State.
A human can only live a few minutes without
air. But, it is also a fact that a person can only live about three
days without water. Both have great importance to human life and
dignity, but the reality is that water scarcity or the lack of access to affordable
drinking water is increasing much faster than the scarcity of
air.
About 60% of Californians depend on
groundwater for their water source. To provide for this precious
service, the C57 Contractor
relies exclusively on diesel
trucks and the high horsepower these vehicles
produce to drill water wells. There are absolutely no power
substitutes for drilling in rural areas. Diesel motors are the only
option.
For example, to drill just one domestic
well using household electrical power would require
connecting 34 homes
to match the horsepower of just one diesel drill rig. Then there is
the issue that during the extreme summer heat, California’s electrical grid frequently lacks
capacity and dependability. This is the same time of the year when
the C57 Contractor receives the most number of water well service
calls.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, water well
drilling and pump repair companies were considered essential
industries.
However, now CARB and the Governor are dead
set on eliminating all heavy diesel trucks in the very near future
without regard to the need for water which is causing unavoidable
instability in the industry. They have already eliminated small
gasoline engines that are needed for transfer pumps (and
generators) when drilling a water well. Next, diesel engines will soon
be gone and so will the ability to drill affordable domestic water
wells.
Being out of
water is stressful. Water well drilling of domestic wells and
pump repair need to be classified as
essential emergency trades.
California is only responsible for less
than 1% of all the greenhouse gases emitted globally. And that
Water Well Drill Rigs are less than 0.05% of all the heavy-duty
trucks in the entire State. As such, this very small number of
Water Well Drilling Rigs and Pump Trucks has ZERO impact on
California air quality. Being out of water is an urgent
matter. Water well drilling of domestic wells and
pump repair need to be classified as essential emergency
services.