Publication: San Diego Union-Tribune

UCLA Expert: Gregory Pierce: Adjunct Assistant Professor, Luskin School of Public Affairs; Co-Director, Luskin Center for Innovation; Co-Director, UCLA Water Resources Group; Member, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability; Senior Researcher, Water and Transportation Initiatives

Synopsis: Federal aid is expected to cover costly water bills. While the emergency relief payments will help many Californians, experts have warned that a long-term assistance program for low-income residents is increasingly needed.

UCLA News: “This was an innovative Band-Aid,” Pierce said. “We’ve never paid for (water) debt before, but the idea that that was enough is ridiculous.” Pierce, who’s worked closely with the state to draft proposals for low-income aid, believes such a program will eventually come to fruition. But in the meantime, he said, the cost of water is rising faster than many people can keep up with. “It’s grim,” he added. “This was a problem before COVID. It’s only going to be more of a problem in the future.”

Read more at San Diego Union-Tribune.