As wildfires become more frequent and destructive across California, local water systems are facing growing legal and financial pressure, along with misunderstandings about their role during wildfire events. SB 1153 seeks to address these challenges by clarifying the role of water systems during wildfires and protecting customers and shareholders from rising litigation costs. CalMutuals has formally joined a statewide coalition of water providers and associations in support of the bill.
Water systems are designed to deliver safe, reliable drinking water to their communities. While most water providers carefully plan and prepare for emergencies, they are not designed or built to fight wildfires.
In the aftermath of major wildfires, some water providers have faced lawsuits alleging they failed to supply enough water to stop the spread of fire. Defending against these claims is costly, and those expenses are ultimately passed on to customers and shareholders, putting additional pressure on water affordability.
To address these challenges, Senator Caballero has introduced SB 1153. The bill would require urban water suppliers (defined as systems serving 3,000 or more service connections) located in high or very high fire severity zones to include “incident-specific wildfire response procedures” in their disaster preparedness plans beginning January 1, 2028. The legislation recognizes that emergency preparation must reflect the unique needs, infrastructure, and risks of each system and the communities they serve.
Importantly, SB 1153 also includes clarifying language to protect water providers of all sizes. The bill makes clear that:
- A public water system’s limitation on water supply or pressure during a wildfire should not be considered a substantial cause of wildfire damage.
- The spread of wildfire is not an inherent risk created by the design, construction, or maintenance of a public water system.
This language is important because it aligns expectations with the realities of how water systems are engineered and operated, while protecting customers and shareholders from escalating litigation costs related to wildfire events.
Water providers are encouraged to join the growing coalition in support of SB 1153. If your water company is interested in participating, you can join the coalition at this LINK.