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 matter experts and in cooperation with the State Water Resources Control Board and the Department of Water Resources, 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 andbegin delete avoidend deletebegin insert produce
9net environmental benefits that outweighend insert any unintended adverse
10environmental impacts.
As used in this chapter:
12(a) “Evapotranspiration” means a loss of water from the soil,
13including losses resulting from evaporation and losses resulting
14from transpiration from the plants growing on the soil.
15(b) “Highly efficient consumer appliances and landscape
16systems” include, but are not limited to, irrigation systems, toilets,
17showers, pool covers, and clothes washers.
18(c) “Public entity” has the same meaning as defined in Section
19375 of the Water Code.
20(d) “Turfgrass” means any living grass that is
used in fields or
21yards at a residential or commercial property, private park, athletic
22field, or public school.
23(e) “Unintended adverse environmental impacts” include, but
24are not limited to, impacts on climate change, net effect on carbon
25sequestration, increased erosion, and impacts to stormwater runoff.
By December 1, 2017, the commission, in consultation
27with persons that include, but are not limited to, subject matter
28experts at the University of California, the California State
29University, and local water districts, and in cooperation with the
30State Water Resources Control Board and the Department of Water
31Resources, shall develop and solicit comments on a proposed report
32that contains all of the following:
P3 1(a) An analysis of the relative costs and benefits of incentives
2for various water efficiency measures,
including the consideration
3of the impact of evapotranspiration rates in different hydrological
4regions of the state. The water efficiency measures considered
5shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
6(1) Turfgrass removal and replacement with either
7drought-resistant turfgrass or artificial turf.
8
(2) Turfgrass removal and replacement with native or
9drought-tolerant plants.
10(2)
end delete
11begin insert(end insertbegin insert3)end insert The use of conservation-based irrigation technology such
12as smart controllers.
13(3)
end delete
14begin insert(end insertbegin insert4)end insert Investments in graywater infrastructure to supply water to
15outdoor landscapes.
16(4)
end delete
17begin insert(end insertbegin insert5)end insert Rebates for highly efficient consumer appliances and
18landscape systems.
19(b) An analysis of any unintended adverse environmental
20impacts that would result from the water efficiency measures
21considered pursuant to subdivision (a).
22(c) The projected benefits of recommended voluntary water
23efficiency measures.
By July 1, 2018, the commission shall issue a final
25report that contains all of the following:
26(a) An identification of the most cost-effective incentives for
27water efficiency measures in terms of water use reduction per
28dollar spent.
29(b) Recommendations to public entities to help them prioritize
30the most cost-effective solutions for granting incentives or rebates
31for water efficiency measures.
32(c) An analysis of any unintended adverse environmental
33impacts that would result from the water efficiency measures
34considered pursuant to subdivision (a).
35(d) The projected benefits of recommended voluntary water
36efficiency measures.
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