FEUER BILLS ON WATER CONSERVATION AND QUALITY APPROVED BY ASSEMBLY

Legislation Addresses Effects of Worst Drought in California History.

Sacramento – The California State Assembly has approved two bills by Assembly member Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles) that will improve water efficiency and quality during California´s third consecutive drought year. AB 49 will reduce California´s urban per capita water use by 20 percent by December 31, 2020, and passed the Assembly with a vote of 43-30. AB 1366 addresses the problem of excess salinity caused by residential water softeners by giving greater discretion to local water agencies where surface and groundwater supplies are particularly susceptible to salt contamination. It passed the Assembly on a bipartisan vote of 60-16.

"We must promote stronger water efficiency standards now, or we will face severe statewide water shortages and irreparable environmental damage," said Feuer. "By setting targets on water supplies today, AB 49 will help ensure that Californians will enjoy safe, high quality water in the future."

AB 49 responds to the Governor´s 2008 executive order calling for a 20 percent reduction in urban per capita water use by 2020. More efficient water use in urban areas will help communities increase local water self-reliance. Currently, many communities depend on water from other parts of the state. By meeting the 20 percent reduction targets outlined in AB 49, such localities can decrease their dependence on water imports. Further, such a reduction provides significant environmental and energy benefits. The California Energy Commission estimates that water use contributes to 19 percent of the state´s electricity use and over 30 percent of non-power plant natural gas use. By limiting water consumption, the state can also reduce greenhouse gas emissions caused by energy consumption.

"Water efficiency has to be a part of any water management package," said Assemblymember Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), Chairman of the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee. "Efficiency does more than just help existing water supplies go further; it also helps to reduce ecosystem impacts, improve water quality, increase local water supply reliability, and reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions."

AB 1366 addresses water quality issues by providing local agencies in areas of the state threatened by excess salinity with additional authority to manage these salt discharges. Excess salts from residential self-regeneration water softeners (SRWS) can contaminate local surface and groundwater resources and inhibit water recycling projects, both of which are critical to the state´s water supply. SRWS discharge about 50 pounds of salt monthly into the sewer system, and they are one of the only controllable sources of salinity in the residential sector. This bill would apply to the South Coast, the Central Coast, the San Joaquin Valley, Tulare Lake and the lower half of the Sacramento Valley hydrologic region.

"We´re in what may be a permanent drought, and this legislation will enable California to recycle more water and help protect existing water supplies," said Feuer. "It´s crucial to give local agencies the tools they need to address our shortage of high quality water."

ABs 49 and 1366 will now be referred to policy committees in the Senate.

Assembly member Mike Feuer´s website: http://www.assembly.ca.gov/a42