Drought-Resilient Water Bill Signed

A major milestone in California's efforts to securing sustainable, drought-resilient water for California. Governor Schwarzenegger signed SB 918 by Senator Fran Pavley. The bill, co-sponsored by the Planning and Conservation League and the WateReuse Association, directs the State Department of Public Health to develop criteria for safely using recycled water to supplement groundwater basins and reservoirs.

The legislation offers a unique solution to California’s water crisis, enabling millions of acre-feet of reusable water to be cost-effectively recycled every year, rather than simply discharged to the ocean. “Senator Pavley’s bill is a huge step forward for California. It helps to ensure that California’s farms, businesses, and residences continue to have the water that they need to prosper, without sacrificing the environment,” said Tina Andolina, Legislative Director at the Planning and Conservation League.
 
SB 918 had no recorded opposition and was supported by traditional water interests like the Association of California Water Agencies and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, environmental groups like the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Environmental Defense Fund, and municipalities like the cities of San Diego and San Jose. “We truly appreciate the willingness of water and waste water agencies to work together with the sponsors and the author’s office to help develop this critical measure,” said Andolina. “The collaboration around this measure not only improved the bill but demonstrates how we can all work together to find common sense solutions to the challenges facing California’s water supply.”
 
The Planning and Conservation League thanks Senator Pavley for her leadership, Governor Schwarzenegger for his support, the WateReuse Association for their diligence, and all of the bill’s many supporters for their partnership in securing passage for SB 918.
 
The Planning and Conservation League (PCL) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit advocacy organization, working in the State Legislature and at the administrative level in state government to enact and implement policies to protect and restore the California environment.

For more information see www.pcl.org

Source: Planning and Conservation League