BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 1258|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 1258
Author: Lowenthal (D)
Amended: 5/5/08
Vote: 21
SENATE ENV. QUALITY COMMITTEE : 5-0, 4/7/08
AYES: Simitian, Runner, Aanestad, Kuehl, Lowenthal
NO VOTE RECORDED: Florez, Steinberg
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 12-0, 4/28/08
AYES: Torlakson, Cox, Aanestad, Cedillo, Corbett, Dutton,
Florez, Kuehl, Ridley-Thomas, Runner, Wyland, Yee
NO VOTE RECORDED: Ashburn, Oropeza, Simitian
SUBJECT : Building standards: graywater
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill requires the Department of Housing and
Community Development, at the next triennial building
standards rulemaking cycle that commences on or after
January 1, 2009, to adopt and submit to the California
Building Standards Commission, for approval, building
standards for the construction, installation, and
alteration of graywater systems for indoor use.
ANALYSIS :
Existing law:
CONTINUED
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1. The California Building Standards Law provides for the
adoption of building standards by state agencies by
requiring all state agencies that adopt or propose
adoption of any building standard to submit the building
standard to the California Building Standards Commission
(Commission) for approval and adoption.
2. Requires the Department of Housing and Community
Development (HCD) to propose the adoption, amendment, or
repeal of building standards to the Commission relating
to hotels, motels, lodging houses, apartment houses, and
dwellings, and the buildings and structures accessory
thereto, except as specified.
3. Authorizes a city or county to make changes or
modifications in the building standards proposed by the
HCD and approved by the Commission, to provide for local
variances relating to local climatic, geological, or
topographical conditions, upon making certain findings
and filing those findings with the Commission.
This bill:
1. Defines "graywater" to mean untreated wastewater that
has not been contaminated by any toilet discharge, has
not been affected by infectious, contaminated, or
unhealthy bodily wastes, and does not present a threat
from contamination by unhealthful processing,
manufacturing, or operating wastes. Also includes
wastewater from bathtubs, showers, bathroom washbasins,
clothes washing machines, and laundry tubs, but does not
include wastewater from kitchen sinks or dishwashers.
2. Requires the HCD, at the next triennial building
standards rulemaking cycle that commences on or after
January 1, 2009, to adopt and submit to the Commission,
for approval, building standards for the construction,
installation, and alteration of graywater systems for
indoor use.
3. Requires the HCD in adopting building standards to
promote graywater systems while ensuring reasonable
protection of water quality in accordance with
applicable provisions of state and federal water quality
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law. Provides that HCD may revise and update the
standards adopted.
4. Authorizes a city, county, or other local agency to
adopt, after a public hearing and enactment of an
ordinance or resolution, building standards that
prohibit entirely the use of graywater, or building
standards that are more restrictive than the graywater
building standards adopted by the HCD and published in
the California Building Standards Code.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:
Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2008-09 2009-10
2010-11 Fund
Develop building minor and absorbable
General
standards for gray-
water (HCD)
Review/approve
standards minor and absorbable
General
(Commission)
SUPPORT : (Verified 5/5/08)
California Building Industry Association
California Municipal Utilities Association
California Water Association
East Bay Municipal Utility District
GreenPlumbers USA
Perpetual Water
Planning and Conservation League
Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors of California
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
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ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the author's office:
"Graywater is the waste water that comes from showers,
washing machines, bathtubs, and bathroom sinks. This
water is mostly clean, but contains some bacteria and
some soap. Many of us know of instances, usually during
water rationing, in which people have used this water for
plants in their yards.
"Under existing provisions of the state plumbing code
that date from the early 1990s, however, graywater can
only be used for irrigation through a system that is
entirely buried 9 inches below the surface of the ground.
As you can imagine, this severely limits the use of
graywater in California and makes it ineffective as a
water conservation measure.
"This bill in effect will provide for greater water
conservation by facilitating the use of graywater in
California. As water shortages grow more frequent and
severe, it is crucial that the state re-examine its
opportunities for the use of graywater. This bill is
intended to promote water conservation by making
graywater more readily available in situations where its
use is safe."
TSM:mw 5/5/08 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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