BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2071
SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Senator Jerry Hill, Chair
2013-2014 Regular Session
BILL NO: AB 2071
AUTHOR: Levine
AMENDED: June 5, 2014
FISCAL: Yes HEARING DATE: June 25, 2014
URGENCY: No CONSULTANT: Karen Morrison
SUBJECT : RECYCLED WATER: PASTURE ANIMALS
SUMMARY :
Existing law :
1) Establishes criteria for the drinking water supply for
livestock, and requires that the water supply for dairy areas
must meet the drinking water standards (Food and Agriculture
Code §§33515 and 33516).
2) Defines "disinfected tertiary treated recycled water" based
on how the wastewater is disinfected and the residual amount
of coliform bacteria (22 CCR §60301.230).
3) Requires the Department of Public Health (DPH) to establish
uniform statewide recycling criteria for each type of use of
recycled water where the use involves the protection of
public health (WAT §13521).
This bill :
1) Requires DPH, in consultation with impacted state agencies,
to determine if the use of tertiary treated recycled water as
drinking water for pasture animals would be safe for public
and animal health by December 31, 2016.
a) If DPH determines that the use would cause harm,
requires DPH to establish "uniform statewide recycling
criteria" for the purpose of providing tertiary treated
recycled water to pasture animals. These criteria would
be developed under the administrative regulations and
rulemaking process.
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b) If DPH determines that the use would not cause harm,
allows DPH to approve the use of tertiary treated recycled
water for pasture animals.
2) Specifies resources DPH must consider in making its
evaluation.
3) Prohibits the use of disinfected tertiary treated recycled
water for dairy animal producing for human consumption.
COMMENTS :
1) Purpose of Bill . According to the author, this bill seeks
"to determine under what conditions recycled water can safely
be used by livestock and to create a clear process by which
that water can be used for livestock. The problem is that
existing law is silent on the ability to use recycled water
for direct livestock use. While this technically means that
it could be used, it is not clear how that could occur. The
bill would make clear that use of the highest purity recycled
water can be used for livestock drinking as long as it is
safe for the public."
2) Recycled water . In the context of California's historic
drought, the safe use of recycled water is an important
consideration for augmenting the state's general water
supply. Recycled water generally refers to tertiary treated
waste water that is filtered and chemically processed to
disinfect the water and remove bacteria. As of 2010,
California recycled approximately 650,000 acre-feet of water
per year. The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB)
has found that recycled water is safe for approved uses and
"strongly supports recycled water as a safe alternative to
potable water for such approved uses."
In 2010, California passed legislation (SB 918, Pavley, Chapter
700) requiring DPH to adopt uniform water recycling criteria
for groundwater recharge by December 31, 2013, and for
surface water augmentation by December 31, 2016 if the
criteria adequately protect public health.
Currently, most of California's recycled water is used for
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landscaping and irrigation, and replenishing groundwater
aquifers. In Orange County, recycled water has been
incorporating tertiary treated recycled water into its
drinking supply since 2008.
3) Livestock use of recycled water . Recycled water has been
used for livestock in arid regions, including Arizona and
Australia, for up to a decade in order to provide or
supplement other drinking water supplies.
In February 2014, a panel of experts was convened by the
WateReuse Association to evaluate the use of recycled water
for livestock from an animal and human health standpoint.
Their findings were summarized in the report "Risks and
Benefits of Tertiary Sewage Effluent as Drinking Water for
Livestock in California." One of the key concerns identified
by the panel was the presence of various pathogens and
contaminants following the treatment procedure. Although the
panel found that some contaminants would likely be present,
"in this emergency situation [of finding safe drinking
water], the overall benefits of feeding tertiary drinking
water to livestock outweigh the risks." The panel suggested
that monitoring would be an important factor in implementing
a recycled water program, and that additional ongoing
research and study is necessary.
4) Chemicals of emerging concern . One challenge in developing
recycled water policy is how to address new classes of
chemicals, known as chemicals of emerging concern (CECs),
that may enter the environment and appear in recycled water.
The SWRCB has established a Science Advisory Panel to provide
guidance for developing monitoring programs for CECs. The
panel has already identified priority CECs for recycled water
used to recharge groundwater aquifers and is continuing to
evaluate and monitor new CECs.
5) Recommended amendments . The bill describes three sources of
materials for evaluating the use of disinfected tertiary
treated recycled water for pasture animals. However, it is
not clear if DPH may use other materials in considering the
topic.
An amendment is needed to specify that these sources are a
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minimum requirement for consideration.
SOURCE : Author
SUPPORT : California Association of Sanitation Agencies
California Farm Bureau Federation
Marin County Farm Bureau
Sonoma County Farm Bureau
OPPOSITION : None on file