BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 803 Page 1 CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS AB 803 (Gomez) As Amended August 12, 2013 Majority vote ----------------------------------------------------------------- |ASSEMBLY: |77-0 |(May 29, 2013) |SENATE: |39-0 |(August 26, | | | | | | |2013) | ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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