February 2022

February 18 marked the bill introductory deadline for the 2022 California Legislative session. WateReuse California (WRCA) recently held a Legislative-Regulatory Committee meeting to review and recommend positions and strategy on key bills that had been introduced related to recycled water. Some of these bills include:

AB 2242 (Bloom): For the first time in state law, this bill would require anyone bringing Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) into California, either via consumer products or industrial materials, to report those products and the amount of PFAS they contain to a publicly accessible database. The bill further instructs the Department of Toxic Substances Control to work with the Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse to create and maintain that database platform. The bill is co-sponsored by the California Association of Sanitation Agencies.

AB 2387 (Garcia): This bill places a $7.4 billion general obligation bond measure on the June 2022 ballot.  The bond would finance projects for safe drinking water, wildfire prevention, drought preparation, flood protection, extreme heat mitigation, and workforce development programs. It includes $300 million in grants for recycled water.

AB 2811 (Bennett): This bill requires that by 2024 all newly constructed nonresidential buildings be constructed with dual plumbing to allow the use of recycled water for all applicable non-potable water demands if that building is located within an existing or planned recycled water service area. The bill also requires that by 2024, all newly constructed nonresidential buildings with a total gross floor area of 100,000 square feet or more be constructed with dual plumbing to allow the use of non-potable water sources for all applicable non-potable water demands and provide for the collection, onsite treatment, and reuse of available onsite rainwater, graywater, and foundation drainage. The bill requires that before January 1, 2025, the Water Board establish a program for large onsite treated non-potable water systems for local jurisdictions that do not have a local program.

SB 1157 (Hertzberg): This bill codifies indoor residential water use objectives that were developed through a study by the Department of Water Resources this summer. The bill would require that from January 1, 2025, to January 1, 2030, the standard for indoor residential water use be 47 gallons per capita daily and beginning January 1, 2030, the standard be 42 gallons per capita daily.

On March 2 the Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number 3 on Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy, and Transportation, will discuss the Governor’s Drought Package, including the California State Water Resources Control Board’s budget. WateReuse California is asking for significant funding ($750 million) for recycled water in this year’s budget and the creation of a large project funding category. WRCA is asking its members to reach out to the members of the committee and support our funding request for recycled water. Read more.

September 11 – 13| Hyatt Regency Embarcadero, San Francisco

WateReuse California (WRCA) is planning to hold an in-person conference in San Francisco this September 11 - 13. The local Northern California WRCA Chapter will help to host the event and planning is already underway. The conference co-chairs will be Ted Couch (Jacobs) and Claudia Llerandi (Kennedy Jenks).