AB 2043, as introduced, Harper. Desalination.
Existing law, the Cobey-Porter Saline Water Conversion Law, states the policy of this state that desalination projects developed by or for public water entities be given the same opportunities for state assistance and funding as other water supply and reliability projects, and that desalination be consistent with all applicable environmental protection policies in the state. The law provides that is it the intention of the Legislature that the Department of Water Resources shall undertake to find economic and efficient methods of desalting saline water so that desalted water may be made available to help meet the growing water requirements of the state.
This bill would state that the Legislature recognizes that desalination is an important local and regional sustainable water supply and reliability option.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Section 12947 of the Water Code is amended to
2read:
(a) The Legislature finds and declares that the growing
2water needs of the state require the development ofbegin delete cost effectiveend delete
3begin insert cost-effectiveend insert and efficient water supply technologies. Desalination
4technology is now feasible to help provide significant new water
5supplies from seawater, brackish water, and reclaimed water.
6Desalination technology can also provide an effective means of
7treating some types of contamination in water supplies.
8Desalination is consistent with both state water supply and
9efficiency policy goals, and joint state-federal environmental and
10water policy and principles promoted by the
Cal-Fed Bay Delta
11Program.
12(b) The Legislature recognizes that desalination is an important
13local and regional sustainable water supply and reliability option
14in order to improve water supply reliability, help reduce reliance
15on imported water, and, in response to climate change, to better
16meet future regional and local needs.
17(b)
end delete
18begin insert(c)end insert It is the policy of this state that desalination projects
19developed by or for public water entities be given the same
20opportunities for state assistance and funding as other
water supply
21and reliability projects, and that desalination be consistent with all
22applicable environmental protection policies in the state.
23(c)
end delete
24begin insert(d)end insert It is the intention of the Legislature that the department shall
25undertake to find economic and efficient methods of desalting
26saline water so that desalted water may be made available to help
27meet the growing water requirements of the state.
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