BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 803
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 803 (Gomez)
As Amended August 12, 2013
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |77-0 |(May 29, 2013) |SENATE: |39-0 |(August 26, |
| | | | | |2013) |
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Original Committee Reference: W., P. & W.
SUMMARY : Removes some barriers to greater use of recycled water
by making spill reporting standards for recycled water uniform;
authorizing hose bibs for recycled water in cemeteries, under
specified conditions; and, clarifying that advanced treated
purified water can be regulated for purity at the point it
leaves a wastewater treatment facility and before it comingles
with other waters in a conveyance facility if the owner or
operator of that conveyance facility consents.
The Senate amendments make the following multiple refinements:
1)Authorize the use of hose bibs for recycled water in
cemeteries, as specified.
2)Delete the definition of, and all references to, advanced
treated purified water when referring to what type of recycled
water may be permitted at the point of discharge and before
entry into a conveyance facility. Instead, the amendments
refer more generally to recycled water that is determined to
be suitable for direct potable use or surface water
augmentation.
3)Clarify that permitting at the point of discharge may only be
done with the consent of the conveyance facility's owner or
operator.
4)Add an affirmative statement that the provisions of this bill
do not limit or restrict the authority of the State Water
Resources Control Board.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs.
AB 803
Page 2
COMMENTS : This bill makes three small but significant changes
that promote the use of recycled water.
First, the author states, this bill aligns existing provisions
in law and reduces unnecessary paperwork resulting from the
inconsistent reporting standards for incidental run-off from
recycled water projects.
In addition, the author advises that currently cemetery
operators who wish to provide hose bibs for use by visitors to
fill flower vases at their sites must either install, at
considerable cost, a parallel potable water distribution system
on-site to a significant number of hose bibs or forego the use
of recycled water and continue the wasteful use of potable water
for irrigation. This bill will allow recycled water to cemetery
hose bibs but require signage to ensure that the recycled water
is not used for potable purposes.
Finally, this bill clarifies existing Regional Water Quality
Control Board authority to permit Advanced Treated Purified
Water projects at the point where the highly treated water exits
the treatment plant and enters a conveyance facility. The
author contends that, for example, the permitting approach
provided in the bill will allow the City of San Diego to use an
existing pipeline for blended water and will avoid the cost and
environmental impact of having to build another separate $220
million pipeline for highly treated recycled water.
Analysis Prepared by : Tina Cannon Leahy / W., P. & W. / (916)
319-2096
FN: 0001865