BILL ANALYSIS Ó SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair 2015 - 2016 Regular Session SB 553 (Wolk) - Water conservation ----------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Version: February 26, 2015 |Policy Vote: G.O. 8 - 0 | | | | |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Urgency: No |Mandate: No | | | | |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Hearing Date: May 11, 2015 |Consultant: Mark McKenzie | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File. Bill Summary: SB 553 would require the Department of General Services (DGS) to identify state properties where it is feasible to reduce water consumption, and to replace landscaping with drought tolerant plants and implement other recommended strategies to save water at those locations based upon a specified water efficient landscape ordinance. Fiscal Impact: Unknown costs to DGS, likely in the low millions, to identify state properties, evaluate the needs at each location, and implement recommended water conservation measures on approximately 2,900 state properties. (General Fund) SB 553 (Wolk) Page 1 of ? Unknown future savings related to reduced water consumption on state properties. Background: Existing law requires DGS to provide planning, acquisition, construction, and maintenance of state buildings and property. Existing law requires DGS to identify each public building in the DGS's state property inventory where it is feasible for that building to reduce energy consumption and achieve energy efficiencies, as specified, and to retrofit those buildings. Existing law, under the Water Conservation in Landscaping Act, required the Department of Water Resources (DWR) to update a model water efficient landscape ordinance to meet specified requirements by January 1, 2009, to the extent funds are appropriated for that purpose. The Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) was updated by DWR in 2010 with the aim to promote water conservation, prevent water waste and protect water quality. It includes provisions for water conservation and the appropriate use of plants that are well adapted to particular environments including climate, soil, or topographic conditions. The MWELO establishes the maximum amount of water used by the irrigation system, based on climate, landscape, size, irrigation efficiency, and plant needs. It also includes provisions for the use of automatic irrigation systems and irrigation schedules based on climatic conditions, specific terrains and soil types, and other environmental conditions as well as references to local, state, and federal regulations regarding standards for water conserving irrigation equipment. Proposed Law: SB 553 would require DGS to implement water saving strategies on state properties, where feasible. Specifically, this bill would: Require DGS to identify each public property in the department's state property inventory where it is feasible for water consumption to be reduced and water efficiencies to be achieved through implementation of the relevant recommendations made in the model water efficient landscape ordinance adopted by the DWR. Explicitly require the implemented recommendations to include the replacement of landscaping with drought tolerant plants. SB 553 (Wolk) Page 2 of ? Require DGS to implement the relevant recommendations for each public property identified to reduce overall water consumption where feasible, except that work on California State University (CSU) property is subject to CSU consent. Define "feasible" as capable of being accomplished in a successful manner within a reasonable period of time, taking into account life-cycle cost analyses, and environmental, social, and technological factors. Staff Comments: This bill would require DGS to implement water conservation on state properties, using DWR's most recently updated Model Water Efficient Landscaping Ordinance. According to DGS's statewide property inventory, there are currently 2,903 real properties and over 24,000 structures across 42 state entities, not all of which are under direct DGS control. SB 553 would require DGS to coordinate closely with these entities to survey the status of each property's landscaping and irrigation, evaluate the needs to make those properties compliant with the MWELO, and replace infrastructure and plants as necessary. DGS indicates that has been in the process of undertaking landscape water conservation measures at over 70 locations, but most of the focus has been on the installation of smart irrigation systems rather than replacing landscaping with drought tolerant plants. DGS costs to identify properties, evaluate the needs at each location, and implement the recommendations of the MWELO are unknown at this time. Staff estimates that such an effort would at least require resources in the low millions of dollars in the aggregate. Actual costs would be informed by an evaluation of the inventory and assessment of needs, which are currently unavailable. -- END -- SB 553 (Wolk) Page 3 of ?