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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06.a.2. PENDING RECYCLED WATER LEGISLATION.~ .- Item 6.A.2 Pending Recycled Water Legislation Report to CCCSD Board May 6, 2010 Current REW Legislation • AB 1774 Saldana -Local agency can require state agency to use recycled water -suspense file due to > $150,000 in State costs. Already covered by other state laws. • SB 918 Pavley - A derivation of last year's bill to require recycling 50% of wastewater effluent by 2030 , • SB 1173 Wolk -Defines use of "raw" water when recycled is available as a waste.....definition previously limited to "potable" water 1 Barriers to REW • Used to be public acceptance..... • Now public is accepting of recycled water for irrigation and industrial use but the economics often do not support....... Existing State law states "the use of potable domestic water for non potable uses, including landscaping, industrial and irrigation uses is an unreasonable use of water if recycled water is available which meets specified quality, COST, and health requirements". Water purveyors implement new water supply alternatives based on comparative cost per acre foot and recycled water often does not compete. SB 918 - Pavley Began as bill to require that 50% of wastewater effluent in the State which is discharged to the ocean be recycled by the year 2030. CASA and others lobbied that this was not possible without indirect potable reuse because the cost of duplicate piping systems for recycled water is cost prohibitive. Bill has been changed to require State Department of Public Health to develop uniform standards for indirect potable reuse for groundwater recharge by December 31, 2013 and for reservoir augmentation by December 31, 2016. The Bill also requires a report on the feasibility of direct potable reuse by December 31, 2016. ... -~... 2 SB 1173 - Wolk • Existing law declares that use of potable domestic eater for nonpotable uses is a waste or an unreasonable use of water if recycled water is available, and other requirements are met. • This bill would change wording to say the use of RAW or potable domestic water for nonpotable uses is a waste or unreasonable use of water ... • This applies to CCWD raw water users, however the other requirements include.... "The recycled water may be furnished for these uses at a reasonable cost to the user. In determining reasonable cost, the state board ....shall find that the cost of supplying the treated recycled water is comparable to , or less than, the cost of supplying raw or potable water." State Legislature Continues to Look for Ways to Encourage Recycling • Recycling must compete on a cost basis according to current State law • The cost of construction of duplicate distribution systems for recycling is prohibitive • Focusing on developing appropriate regulatory framework for indirect and direct potable reuse may be best long term solution...... SB 918 Pavley is trying to pave the way.......... • Is the public ready for this next step in recycling? 3