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Gavin Newsom: “1.6 million people didn't have access to safe drinking water…”

Featuring: Gavin Newsom, Democratic | Governor of California

Governor Newsom Delivers Closing Remarks at Association of California Water Agencies Conference

Published May 7, 2026 | Video Starts at 07:05

But I'll never forget walking in in 2019 to the screaming headlines that were indelible to me. 1.6 million people without access and the wealthiest state and the wealthiest democracy God has ever conceived. 1.6 million people didn't have access to safe drinking water in the state of California. Arsenic and lead, which led me as governor, just days after being sworn in as governor, to surprise my cabinet secretaries. (07:05–07:12)

CLAIM

Asserts that 1.6 million people in California lacked access to safe drinking water.

This is an excerpt from a raw transcript. The assertions have not been audited or verified. Tap the video to view the source footage and understand the context.

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Gavin Newsom

“Two times in 15 years, millennial droughts, a chance 1 in 1,000 that either of them would happen.”
Governor Newsom Delivers Closing Remarks at Association of California Water Agencies Conference | Uploaded May 7, 2026 | 10:33-10:42
“Four hydraulic dams finally all torn down... The largest river restoration in US history.”
Governor Newsom Delivers Closing Remarks at Association of California Water Agencies Conference | Uploaded May 7, 2026 | 19:02-19:25
“The Delta conveyance, if we had it last year alone, would have provided enough water...for 9.8 million Californians need for over a year.”
Governor Newsom Delivers Closing Remarks at Association of California Water Agencies Conference | Uploaded May 7, 2026 | 25:03-25:21
“In 2015, [California had] the lowest snowpack in recorded history.”
Governor Newsom Delivers Closing Remarks at Association of California Water Agencies Conference | Uploaded May 7, 2026 | 05:15-05:26
“The Oroville spillway calamity [occurred] in 2017, 2018.”
Governor Newsom Delivers Closing Remarks at Association of California Water Agencies Conference | Uploaded May 7, 2026 | 05:38-05:50
“We signed shortly thereafter an executive order which ultimately led to a Safe Clean Drinking act that generates $130 million a year to…”
Governor Newsom Delivers Closing Remarks at Association of California Water Agencies Conference | Uploaded May 7, 2026 | 08:14-08:29
“In 2022, we realized that we were back in a Drought.”
Governor Newsom Delivers Closing Remarks at Association of California Water Agencies Conference | Uploaded May 7, 2026 | 10:06-10:13
“Five years of historic drought [occurred in California from 2012 to 2016].”
Governor Newsom Delivers Closing Remarks at Association of California Water Agencies Conference | Uploaded May 7, 2026 | 10:13-10:18
“Those were the three years consecutive drought, the likes of which we had never had consecutively in our state's history.”
Governor Newsom Delivers Closing Remarks at Association of California Water Agencies Conference | Uploaded May 7, 2026 | 10:23-10:33
“We made a commitment. $1.1 billion would back up those voluntary agreements to move away from the old binaries and litigation.”
Governor Newsom Delivers Closing Remarks at Association of California Water Agencies Conference | Uploaded May 7, 2026 | 11:36-11:46
“45,000 acres of fish habitat were set aside as part of that package, again with real funding behind it.”
Governor Newsom Delivers Closing Remarks at Association of California Water Agencies Conference | Uploaded May 7, 2026 | 11:54-12:02
“We're losing it 10% we estimated of all our water supplies would be lost by 2040, just with the status quo ante.”
Governor Newsom Delivers Closing Remarks at Association of California Water Agencies Conference | Uploaded May 7, 2026 | 13:07-13:17
“We came out with specific numeric goals in that 2040 plan. Specific numeric targets for the first time. 9 million acre feet of new supply.”
Governor Newsom Delivers Closing Remarks at Association of California Water Agencies Conference | Uploaded May 7, 2026 | 13:20-13:33
“SB72 [was codified] creating numeric goals for the first time.”
Governor Newsom Delivers Closing Remarks at Association of California Water Agencies Conference | Uploaded May 7, 2026 | 14:40-14:46
“31 atmospheric rivers. 3 year historic consecutive drought broken by 3 weeks.”
Governor Newsom Delivers Closing Remarks at Association of California Water Agencies Conference | Uploaded May 7, 2026 | 15:03-15:13
“We finally got historic permitting form done through the legislature as it relates to CEQA litigation, getting 270 day cap on that judicial…”
Governor Newsom Delivers Closing Remarks at Association of California Water Agencies Conference | Uploaded May 7, 2026 | 16:01-16:12
“We finally got serious about the delta conveyance and we finally got that EIR done.”
Governor Newsom Delivers Closing Remarks at Association of California Water Agencies Conference | Uploaded May 7, 2026 | 16:12-16:18
“We finally got the $200 million agreed to and set aside on the community benefits if and when we move forward with construction.”
Governor Newsom Delivers Closing Remarks at Association of California Water Agencies Conference | Uploaded May 7, 2026 | 16:17-16:24
“Met the moment and stepped up with $141 million that year in 2023 to help with the permitting and planning.”
Governor Newsom Delivers Closing Remarks at Association of California Water Agencies Conference | Uploaded May 7, 2026 | 16:32-16:40
“2024 marked moments of milestone. 10 years of Sigma 1500 projects complete. $1.1 billion, one $0.05 billion invested. About 3 million acre…”
Governor Newsom Delivers Closing Remarks at Association of California Water Agencies Conference | Uploaded May 7, 2026 | 17:24-17:42
“140 new systems that were upgraded and consolidated in our Safe Water Plan 300 that came into compliance.”
Governor Newsom Delivers Closing Remarks at Association of California Water Agencies Conference | Uploaded May 7, 2026 | 18:04-18:15
“We've invested $1.8 billion in [the safer plan]. And over 1 million people that didn't have access to clean, safe drinking water today have…”
Governor Newsom Delivers Closing Remarks at Association of California Water Agencies Conference | Uploaded May 7, 2026 | 18:15-18:32
“180 systems today now are resolved.”
Governor Newsom Delivers Closing Remarks at Association of California Water Agencies Conference | Uploaded May 7, 2026 | 18:31-18:37
“It all happened between 2020 and 2024, by the way, on time and under budget.”
Governor Newsom Delivers Closing Remarks at Association of California Water Agencies Conference | Uploaded May 7, 2026 | 19:27-19:34
“9,400 acres being actively invested in [at the Salton Sea].”
Governor Newsom Delivers Closing Remarks at Association of California Water Agencies Conference | Uploaded May 7, 2026 | 22:44-22:51
“$500 million has been invested [at the Salton Sea].”
Governor Newsom Delivers Closing Remarks at Association of California Water Agencies Conference | Uploaded May 7, 2026 | 22:50-22:54
“In 2025, we laid out that salmon strategy.”
Governor Newsom Delivers Closing Remarks at Association of California Water Agencies Conference | Uploaded May 7, 2026 | 22:58-23:03
“We finally reintroduced chinook salmon down in McLeod.”
Governor Newsom Delivers Closing Remarks at Association of California Water Agencies Conference | Uploaded May 7, 2026 | 23:04-23:08
“Over the course of the last seven years, $11 billion has been invested in water infrastructure.”
Governor Newsom Delivers Closing Remarks at Association of California Water Agencies Conference | Uploaded May 7, 2026 | 24:03-24:11
“6.5 [billion] from the General fund.”
Governor Newsom Delivers Closing Remarks at Association of California Water Agencies Conference | Uploaded May 7, 2026 | 24:10-24:14
“Hundreds of thousands of people desperate for access to safe, clean drinking water.”
Governor Newsom Delivers Closing Remarks at Association of California Water Agencies Conference | Uploaded May 7, 2026 | 25:34-25:41
“On Earth Day, they finally broke ground on a water system that will connect all the households in [East Orosi].”
Governor Newsom Delivers Closing Remarks at Association of California Water Agencies Conference | Uploaded May 7, 2026 | 26:16-26:23
“When we did that first deal in San Joaquin and Sacramento with the VAs, with animontosantos, I said this. It can't be done. We did it.”
Governor Newsom Delivers Closing Remarks at Association of California Water Agencies Conference | Uploaded May 7, 2026 | 28:00-28:08