ACWA-sponsored SB 1153, authored by Senator Anna Caballero (D-Merced) would clarify the limited role of public water systems during wildfires while strengthening emergency preparedness in high-risk areas. Public water systems are designed and constructed to provide safe, reliable drinking water, not to serve as wildfire defense or suppression systems. While water agencies often aid firefighting efforts, it would be physically impracticable and financially infeasible to design water systems to function as wildfire suppression infrastructure. Download the fact sheet below.