AB 2617, as amended, Mayes. Water efficiency measures.
The California Constitution requires that the water resources of the state be put to beneficial use to the fullest extent of which they are capable and that the waste or unreasonable use or unreasonable method of use of water be prevented. Existing law requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission), on a biennial basis, to conduct assessments and forecasts of all aspects of energy industry supply, production, transportation, delivery, and distribution. Existing law requires the Energy Commission, beginning November 1, 2003, and biennially thereafter, to adopt an integrated energy policy report containing an overview of major energy trends and issues facing the state.
This bill would require the Energy Commission to develop and solicit comments on a proposed report, in
consultation with certain subject matterbegin delete experts,end deletebegin insert experts and in cooperation with the State Water Resources Control Board and the Department of Water Resources,end insert by December 1, 2017, and, by July 1, 2018, to issue a final report that contains, among other things, the projected benefits of recommended voluntary water efficiency measures and an analysis of any unintended adverse environmental impacts that would result from various water efficiency measures.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Chapter 7.8 (commencing with Section 25685)
2is added to Division 15 of the Public Resources Code, to read:
3
It is the intent of the Legislature that the state identify
7and recommend the most cost-effective water efficiency measures
8that achieve the greatest reduction in water use and avoid any
9unintended adverse environmental impacts.
As used in this chapter:
begin insert
11
(a) “Evapotranspiration” means a loss of water from the soil,
12including losses resulting from evaporation and losses resulting
13from transpiration from the plants growing on the soil.
14(a)
end delete
15begin insert(end insertbegin insertb)end insert “Highly efficient consumer appliances and landscape
16systems”begin delete includes, but isend deletebegin insert include, but areend insert
not limited to, irrigation
17systems, toilets, showers,begin insert pool covers,end insert and clothes washers.
18(b)
end delete
19begin insert(end insertbegin insertc)end insert “Public entity” has the same meaning as defined in Section
20375 of the Water Code.
21(c)
end delete
22begin insert(end insertbegin insertd)end insert “Turfgrass” means any living grass that is used in fields or
23yards at a residential or commercial property, private park, athletic
24field, or public school.
25(d)
end delete
26begin insert(end insertbegin inserte)end insert “Unintended adverse environmental impacts” include, but
27are not limited to, impacts on climate change, net effect on carbon
28sequestration, increased erosion, and impacts to stormwater runoff.
By December 1, 2017, the commission, in consultation
30with persons that include, but are not limited to, subject matter
31experts at the University of California, the California State
32University, and local water districts,begin insert and in cooperation with the
33State Water Resources Control Board and the Department of Water
P3 1Resources,end insert shall develop and solicit comments on a proposed report
2that contains all of the following:
3(a) An analysis of the relative costs and benefits of incentives
4for various water efficiency measures,begin delete including, but not limited begin insert
including
5to, turfgrass removal and replacement with either drought-resistant
6turfgrass or artificial turf, investments in graywater infrastructure
7to supply water to outdoor landscapes, and rebates for highly
8efficient consumer appliances and landscape systems.end delete
9the consideration of the impact of evapotranspiration rates in
10different hydrological regions of the state. The water efficiency
11measures considered shall include, but not be limited to, the
12following:end insert
13
(1) Turfgrass removal and replacement with either
14drought-resistant turfgrass or artificial turf.
15
(2) The use of conservation-based irrigation technology such
16as smart controllers.
17
(3) Investments in graywater infrastructure to supply water to
18outdoor landscapes.
19
(4) Rebates for highly efficient consumer appliances and
20landscape systems.
21(b) An analysis of any unintended adverse environmental
22impacts that would result from the water efficiency measures
23considered pursuant to subdivision (a).
24(c) The projected benefits of recommended voluntary water
25efficiency measures.
By July 1, 2018, the commission shall issue a final
27report that contains all of the following:
28(a) An identification of the most cost-effective incentives for
29water efficiency measures in terms of water use reduction per
30dollar spent.
31(b) Recommendations to public entities to help them prioritize
32the most cost-effective solutions for granting incentives or rebates
33for water efficiency measures.
34(c) An analysis of any unintended adverse environmental
35impacts that would result from the water efficiency measures
36considered pursuant to subdivision (a).
37(d) The projected benefits of recommended voluntary water
38efficiency measures.
O
98