Bill Text: CA AB450 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Recycled water: oil refineries.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-02-02 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [AB450 Detail]

Download: California-2009-AB450-Amended.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 450	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 13, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member De La Torre

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2009

   An act to amend Section  13576   13551 
of the Water Code, relating to water.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 450, as amended, De La Torre. Recycled water. 
   Existing law prohibits a person or public agency from using water
from any source of quality suitable for potable domestic use for
nonpotable purposes, including cemeteries, golf courses, parks,
highway landscaped areas, and industrial and irrigation uses, if
suitable recycled water is available.  
   This bill would additionally include oil refineries among those
nonpotable purposes.  
   Existing law declares that the environmental benefits of recycled
water include a reduced demand for water in the Sacramento-San
Joaquin Delta.  
   This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to that
provision. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no
  yes  . State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   SECTION 1.    Section 13551 of the   Water
Code   is amended to read: 
   13551.   (a)    A person or public agency,
including a state agency, city, county, city and county, district, or
any other political subdivision of the state, shall not use water
from any source of quality suitable for potable domestic use for
nonpotable uses, including cemeteries, golf courses, parks, highway
landscaped areas,  oil refineries,  and industrial and
irrigation uses if suitable recycled water is available as provided
in Section 13550  ; however,  . 
    (b)     Notwithstanding subdivision (a),
 any use of recycled water in lieu of water suitable for potable
domestic use shall, to the extent of the recycled water so used, be
deemed to constitute a reasonable beneficial use of that water and
the use of recycled water shall not cause any loss or diminution of
any existing water right. 
  SECTION 1.    Section 13576 of the Water Code is
amended to read:
   13576.  The Legislature hereby makes the following findings and
declarations:
   (a) The State of California is subject to periodic drought
conditions.
   (b) The development of traditional water resources in California
has not kept pace with the state's population, which is growing at
the rate of over 700,000 per year and which is anticipated to reach
36 million by the year 2010.
   (c) There is a need for a reliable source of water for uses not
related to the supply of potable water to protect investments in
agriculture, green belts, and recreation, replenish groundwater
basins, and protect and enhance fisheries, wildlife habitat, and
riparian areas.
   (d) The environmental benefits of recycled water include a reduced
demand for water in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta that is
otherwise needed to maintain water quality, reduced discharge of
waste into the ocean, and the enhancement of groundwater basins,
recreation, fisheries, and wetlands.
   (e) The use of recycled water has proven to be safe from a public
health standpoint, and the State Department of Public Health is
updating regulations for the use of recycled water.
   (f) The use of recycled water is a cost-effective, reliable method
of helping to meet California's water supply needs.
   (g) The development of the infrastructure to distribute recycled
water will provide jobs and enhance the economy of the state.
   (h) Retail water suppliers and recycled water producers and
wholesalers should promote the substitution of recycled water for
potable water and imported water in order to maximize the appropriate
cost-effective use of recycled water in California.
   (i) Recycled water producers, retail water suppliers, and entities
responsible for groundwater replenishment should cooperate in joint
technical, economic, and environmental studies, as appropriate, to
determine the feasibility of providing recycled water service.
   (j) Retail water suppliers and recycled water producers and
wholesalers should be encouraged to enter into contracts to
facilitate the service of recycled and potable water by the retail
water suppliers in their service areas in the most efficient and
cost-effective manner.
   (k) Recycled water producers and wholesalers and entities
responsible for groundwater replenishment should be encouraged to
enter into contracts to facilitate the use of recycled water for
groundwater replenishment if recycled water is available and the
authorities having jurisdiction approve its use.
   () Wholesale prices set by recycled water producers and recycled
water wholesalers, and rates that retail water suppliers are
authorized to charge for recycled water, should reflect an equitable
sharing of the costs and benefits associated with the development and
use of recycled water.