BILL ANALYSIS
SB 518
Page 1
Date of Hearing: June 30, 2010
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
SB 518 (Lowenthal) - As Amended: June 21, 2010
Policy Committee: Environmental
Safety and Toxic Materials Vote: 9-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
1)This bill requires the California Building Standards
Commission (CBSC), at its next triennial building standards
rule-making cycle commencing on or after January 1, 2011, to
adopt nonresidential building standards for the construction,
installation, and alteration of graywater systems. The bill
provides that CBSC's adoption of graywater nonresidential
building standards relieves the Department of Water Resources
(DWR) of its existing responsibility to adopt such standards.
FISCAL EFFECT
1)Minor GF costs, likely less than $50,000 in 2011-12, to CBSC
to develop and adopt graywater system building standards for
nonresidential buildings.
2)Minor GF savings, if any, to the Department of Water Resources
(DWR) in a future fiscal year resulting from the elimination
of DWR's responsibility to update graywater system standards.
COMMENTS
1)Rationale . The author claims graywater systems allow the
state to make the most of its increasingly scarce water
resources. The author contends that development and adoption
of graywater standards for nonresidential buildings is the
logical and appropriate follow up to the state's graywater
standards for residential buildings.
SB 518
Page 2
2)Background . Wastewater from bathtubs, showers, bathroom wash
basins, washing machines, and laundry tubs is considered to be
"graywater." Graywater generally comprises between 50% and
80% of a home's wastewater from indoor sources and makes up a
significant portion of the water used in nonresidential
buildings. Graywater primarily is used in place of treated
water for landscape irrigation and other nonpotable uses. In
this way, graywater can reduce the demand on water supplies
and the energy and cost associated with water treatment.
Existing law requires the Department of Housing and Community
Development (HCD) to adopt and submit to the CBSC for approval
building standards for the construction, installation, and
alteration of graywater systems for indoor and outdoor use in
residential buildings. In 2009, CBSC adopted such standards
for residential buildings.
Existing law also directs DWR to adopt standards for the
installation of graywater systems. Upon CBSC's approval of
standards for the installation of graywater systems in
residential buildings, the law relieves DWR of its
responsibility for installation of such systems in residential
buildings. DWR retains, however, responsibility to develop
standards for the installation of graywater systems in
nonresidential buildings.
3)Related Legislation. SB 1258 (Lowenthal), Chapter 172,
Statutes of 2008, required HCD to submit, for approval by the
CBSC, building standards for the construction, installation,
and alteration of graywater systems for indoor and outdoor use
at residential buildings.
4)Support. This bill is supported by a variety of conservation
and industry groups.
5)There is no registered opposition to this bill.
Analysis Prepared by : Jay Dickenson / APPR. / (916) 319-2081