“The quality of drinking water, flooding, lack of access to adequate green space, contamination and pollutants, and trash are among the most urgent water-related concerns facing low-income and tribal populations around the nine-county Bay Area… Water worries from the perspective of residents in Antioch, Bay Point, Dillon Beach, East Oakland, East Palo Alto, East San Jose, Marin City, North Richmond, Petaluma, Pittsburg, Point Reyes, San Francisco's Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood, San Rafael's Canal District and South Vallejo are noted in the report…” The issues facing these communities did not develop overnight but have been a continual issue for decades and have been historically ignored or minimized. Many citizens in the affected communities have resorted to using bottled water for cooking and drinking “...75% of needs assessment participants in Marin City and East Palo Alto responded they use bottled water for cooking and drinking.”

One solution might be for Regional Water Management funds to be distributed equally, currently these disenfranchised communities have received only 10% of funding allocated.

“With California still experiencing devastating drought and the uncertainty around this rainy season, we need to make tough decisions that will ensure that our water source continues to be reliable and dependable for the future,” said Mayor London N. Breed. “The City is poised to launch a water conservation public awareness campaign that will include the SFPUC’s outreach channels and strategically targeted paid media advertising.” Some solutions the city suggests to help residents include fixing leaky toilets, installing low-flow fixtures, reducing outdoor irrigation, and receiving water usage audits from SFPUC professionals. On average residences in the region utilize 42 gallons of water per day and already are a comparative low to the rest of the state with an average of 90 gallons.