BILL NUMBER: ACR 20 AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 19, 2012 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Huffman ( Coauthors: Assembly Members Fong, Gatto, Hueso, and Solorio ) FEBRUARY 16, 2011 Relative to Water Awareness Month. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST ACR 20, as amended, Huffman. Water Awareness Month. This measure would designate May20112012 as Water Awareness Month, and would urgeCaliforniansthe citizens of California, homeowners, businesses, farms, ranches, and governmental and nongovernmental entities to learn effective ways to conserve and reuse water. Fiscal committee: no. WHEREAS, In recognition of the vital role that water plays in the lives of the people, animals, ecosystems, and economy of the State of California, the month of May has been designated Water Awareness Month in the State of California; and WHEREAS, The California Constitution states that the conservation of the waters of the state is to be exercised in the interest of the people and the public welfare, and with population growth and climate changes, the need is greater than ever to use water wisely and practice water conservation; and WHEREAS,OriginatedWater Awareness Month originated during California's drought years of 1987 to 1992,Water Awareness Month was establishedwith the goalto help educateof educating consumers about using water resources efficiently, but; however, water awareness is needed in all types of water years; and WHEREAS, The month of May was selected because it is typically the time when warm weather approaches and, with it, increased water use; and WHEREAS, Water conservation is the most cost-effective and environmentally sound way to reduce the state's demand for water, and using less water also puts less pressure on our water treatment facilities and uses less energy for moving and heating water; and WHEREAS, According to the California Energy Commission, as recognized in the California Water Plan Update, end use of water is the most energy intensive portion of the water use cycle in California, and measures to increase theuse efficiency and reuseefficient use and reuse of water will reduce electricity demand from the water sector and, in turn, may reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and WHEREAS, Efficient water use and reuse can also help California's communities cope with reduced water supply reliability that may be induced by climate change, thus increasing local water supply reliability and reducing economic and environmental impacts of water scarcity; and WHEREAS,Senate Bill No. 7 of the 2009-10 Seventh Extraordinary SessionCalifornia has created a statewide framework for future planning and actions to reduce the state's water use, requiring urban water agencies to reduce per capita water usage 20 percent from 2009 levels by the year 2020 , and has set ambitious goals to increase the use of recycled water over 2002 levels by at least 1 million acre-feet per year by 2020 and by at least 2 million acre-feet per year by 2030 ; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby designates May20112012 as Water Awareness Month, and urges the citizens of California, homeowners, businesses, farms, ranches, and governmental and nongovernmental entities to learn the many effective ways to conserve and reuse water.