BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 283|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 283
Author: DeSaulnier (D)
Amended: 5/12/09
Vote: 27 - Urgency
SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE : 8-1, 4/14/09
AYES: Lowenthal, Huff, DeSaulnier, Harman, Kehoe, Pavley,
Simitian, Wolk
NOES: Ashburn
NO VOTE RECORDED: Hollingsworth, Oropeza
SENATE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE : 7-0, 4/27/09
AYES: Simitian, Runner, Ashburn, Corbett, Hancock,
Lowenthal, Pavley
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : Senate Rule 28.8
SUBJECT : Building standards: recycled water systems
SOURCE : Irvine Ranch Water District
DIGEST : This bill revises the date the Department of
Water Resources is required to adopt and submit regulations
to the Building Standards Commission to establish a version
of Appendix J of the Uniform Plumbing Code for California
for design standards for both potable and recycled water
systems from July 1, 2010 to December 31, 2009. In
addition, the bill, commencing July 1, 2011, and annually
thereafter, requires the Department of Water Resources to
review and update, as necessary, the regulations.
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ANALYSIS :
Existing law :
1. Requires the Department of Water Resources (DWR), on or
before July 1, 2008 and in consultation with Department
of Public Health (DPH), to adopt and submit to the
Building Standards Commission (BSC) regulations to
establish a version of Appendix J of the Uniform
Plumbing Code for California for design standards for
both potable and recycled water systems (Water Code
Section 13557).
2. Establishes the BSC within the State and Consumer
Services Agency.
3. Requires all state agencies that adopt or propose
adoption of any building standard under the California
Building Standards Code to submit the building standard
to the BSC for review and approval or adoption.
4. States that, where no state agency has authority to
adopt building standards applicable to state buildings,
the BSC must adopt, approve, codify, and publish
building standards for the design and construction of
state buildings.
5. Requires the Department of Housing and Community
Development (HCD) to propose the adoption, amendment, or
repeal of building standards to the BSC relating to
hotels, motels, lodging houses, apartment houses, and
dwellings and the buildings and structures accessory
thereto.
6. Requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and
Development Commission to prescribe building design and
construction standards as well as energy conservation
design standards that increase energy efficiency for new
residential and non-residential buildings.
This bill:
1. Revises the date the DWR is required to adopt and submit
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regulations to the BSC to establish a version of
Appendix J of the Uniform Plumbing Code for California
for design standards for both potable and recycled water
systems from July 1, 2010 to December 31, 2009.
2. Requires, commencing July 1, 2011, and annually
thereafter, the DWR to review and update, as necessary,
the regulations.
3. Exempts the DWR from its obligation to first present the
regulations to the California Water Commission prior to
adopting and submitting them to the BSC.
Comments
Recycled water is highly treated wastewater from various
sources such as domestic sewage, industrial wastewater, and
storm water runoff. Most recycled water treatment plants
produce tertiary treated water, meaning the water has been
through three levels of treatment including filtration and
disinfection. Tertiary-treated recycled water can be used
outdoors for landscape, agricultural irrigation, car
washing, fish ponds, fire fighting, groundwater recharge,
fountains, and recreational lakes where swimming is
allowed. Tertiary-treated recycled water can be used
indoors for toilet and urinal flushing and to prime drain
traps. Recycled water must be delivered through a plumbing
system that is separate from the system carrying potable
water. In addition, all pipes and equipment conveying
recycled water must be purple or have purple markings as a
universal sign to prevent cross connection with potable
supplies.
Green Building Code Development . The BSC, the HCD, the
Division of the State Architect and the Office of Statewide
Health Planning and Development developed a set of
standards for California buildings that they refer to as
their "green" building standards that were adopted in July
2008 and take effect in August 2009. Most of the
standards, especially with respect to non-residential
construction, are voluntary. The mandatory standards in
some cases reflect existing mandates. The BSC state they
intend to start work on a more stringent set of standards
to be adopted in 2010. Staff for the BSC state that the
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second round will include a greater number of mandated
building features. Included in the code is 605 reserved
for Recycled and Graywater.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 5/27/09)
Irvine Ranch Water District (source)
Association of California Water Agencies
California Association of Sanitation Agencies
California Municipal Utilities Association
California Special Districts Association
California State Pipe Trades Council
East Bay Municipal Utility District
Eastern Municipal Water District
International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical
Officials
Los Virgenes Municipal Water District
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Orange County Business Council
Planning and Conservation League
Southern California Water Committee
Three Valleys Municipal Water District
WateReuse Association
Western Municipal Water District
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the author's office,
this bill intends to hasten the adoption of appropriate
Plumbing Code provisions allowing more recycled water
projects to move forward at a time when California needs
creative solutions to its water supply problems.
JJA:do 5/27/09 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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