BILL NUMBER: SB 460	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Wolk

                        FEBRUARY 26, 2009

   An act to add Part 2.3 (commencing with Section 10580) to Division
6 of the Water Code, relating to water conservation.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 460, as introduced, Wolk. Water conservation: urban water use.
   Existing law, the Urban Water Management Planning Act, requires
each urban water supplier to prepare and implement a water management
plan for the efficient use of available water supplies.
   This bill would state the intention of the Legislature to enact
legislation that would achieve a 20% reduction in urban per capita
water use by December 31, 2020.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Part 2.3 (commencing with Section 10580) is added to
Division 6 of the Water Code, to read:

      PART 2.3.  WATER CONSERVATION


      CHAPTER 1.  GENERAL DECLARATIONS AND POLICY


   10580.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
   (a) Adequate water supplies and a healthy ecosystem must be
primary coequal goals for sustainable water management in watersheds
throughout the state.
   (b) Common sense requires substantial changes in the way we invest
in and operate the state's water supply systems.
   (c) A sustainable aquatic environment, and reliable, high quality
water supplies are both of critical importance and one cannot be
accomplished without the other.
   (d) Accomplishing water use efficiency goals will require
statewide action by all water users.
   (e) Water use efficiency programs are best overseen by local
officials who are responsible for designing and implementing them.
   (f) Implementation of water use efficiency must be consistent with
current state law and must not be allowed to undermine the water
rights of agencies implementing water efficient programs.
   (g) Incentive-based water use efficiency programs will be more
effective than programs based on the enforcement of mandates by state
or other entities.
   10581.  It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation
that achieves the Governor's stated goal of reducing urban water use
by 20 percent, on or before December 31, 2020, which translates into
a statewide aggregate of 1,740,000 acre-feet, to be accomplished
through both a reduction in water use and the increased efficient use
of water.