On March 12th, the State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) released the updated proposed (draft) text of the regulation. Click here to view the State Board's fact sheet on the draft. A second public comment period has now begun [as of March 12th] and runs through March 27, 2024. This draft delays and extends the ramp-down of the outdoor standards; additionally, it delays compliance with the objectives until 2027.

WateReuse California has been working on these regulatory priorities for recycled water and potable reuse steadily since the authorizing legislation passed in 2018. WRCA fully supports this draft (see bullets related to recycled water below).

Below are the issues most important to WateReuse California and how they are reflected in this draft:

• The [SB 1157] temporary provision is grouped with the variance process and once approved can be included in the associated budget for up to five years (page 10)
• The standard for efficient residential outdoor use for residential special landscape areas is listed to be a landscape efficiency factor or 1.0 (page 10, 19 and 25)
• The variance for landscapes irrigated with recycled water containing high Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) remains and the variance process has been simplified (page 13)
• Inclusion of a process for Direct Potable Reuse  bonus incentive [added to groundwater and surface water augmentation bonus incentive] (page 24)
• Simplified reporting process for recycled water landscapes ever five years [unless there is a change]

The State Board has scheduled a Board Workshop for March 20th. State Board staff will provide an overview of the changes to the proposed regulation followed by an opportunity for public comment. The proposed regulation is on schedule to be considered for adoption by the State Board this summer; if adopted it would go into effect in 2025.

Your review and feedback are much appreciated. Please let me know if you have any questions.