BILL ANALYSIS
SB 918
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 918 (Pavley)
As Amended August 20, 2010
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :24-12
ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 7-0WATER, PARKS & WILDLIFE
10-2
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|Ayes:|Nava, Blakeslee, Chesbro, |Ayes:|Huffman, Anderson, |
| |Davis, Feuer, Monning, | |Arambula, Blumenfield, |
| |Ruskin | |Caballero, De La Torre, |
| | | |Gatto, Bonnie Lowenthal, |
| | | |Salas, Yamada |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Miller, Smyth |Nays:|Fuller, Tom Berryhill |
| | | | |
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APPROPRIATIONS 12-5
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|Ayes:|Fuentes, Bradford, |
| |Huffman, Coto, Davis, De |
| |Leon, Gatto, Hall, |
| |Skinner, Solorio, |
| |Torlakson, Torrico |
| | |
| | |
|-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Conway, Harkey, Miller, |
| |Nielsen, Norby |
| | |
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SUMMARY : Requires the State Department of Public Health (DPH)
to establish standards for various types of water recycling.
Specifically, this bill :
1)Requires the DPH to adopt uniform water recycling criteria for
indirect potable use for groundwater recharge, by December 31,
2013.
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2)Requires the DPH to adopt uniform water recycling criteria for
surface water augmentation by December 31, 2016. The criteria
for surface water augmentation would be subject to review and
approval by an expert panel on uniform water recycling
criteria for indirect potable reuse through surface water
augmentation convened by the DPH.
a) The expert panel made up of members with specified
expertise; include at least six members with following
experts:
i) Toxicologist ;
ii) Engineer with at least three years of experience in
wastewater treatment;
iii) Engineer with at least three years experience in
treatment of drinking water supplies and knowledge of
drinking water standards;
iv) Epidemiologist;
v) Microbiologist; and ,
vi) Chemist.
b) Authorizes the DPH to convene an advisory group or task
force on the development of uniform water recycling
criteria for indirect potable reuse through surface water
augmentation that must include at least nine
representatives of water agencies, local governments,
environmental, public health, environmental justice and
business. Environmental, environmental justice and
non-governmental public health member may be compensated
for travel expenses; and,
c) Requires that the criteria for indirect potable reuse
through surface water augmentation developed by DHS shall
consider 10 specified sources of information on water
reuse.
3)Requires the DPH to investigate and then report to the
Legislature on the feasibility of developing uniform water
recycling criteria for direct potable reuse, by December 31,
2016. The investigation and report to the Legislature shall
include a consideration of a 10 specific factors related to
direct potable reuse.
4)Requires the DPH, in consultation with the State Water
Resources Control Board, to annual report in the budget on
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progress being made toward adoption of water recycling
criteria.
5)Authorizes the expenditure for the implementation of the bill
from the Waste Discharge Permit Fund pursuant to an agreement
with the State Water Resources Control Board.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, this bill would result in a cost of approximately
$500,000 to $700,000 for DPH planning to be paid from the State
Water Resources Control Board Waste Discharge Permit Fund. The
expenditure of these funds by DPH would be subject to an
interagency agreement between DHP and the SWRCB.
COMMENTS:
1)Need for the bill . According to the author, this bill
addresses the need for the increased use of recycled water.
Specifically, the author points out that "California
discharges nearly 4 million acre feet of wastewater into the
ocean - more than the State Water Project delivers to the Bay
Area, the Central Valley, and Southern California. Much of
that water could be recycled. However, because the state has
not adopted uniform safety standards, the permitting and
design processes for building and operating water recycling
facilities are unpredictable, discouraging local communities
from tapping into this major water source."
2)Recycled water . Recycled water, sometimes called reclaimed
water, is former wastewater (sewage) that has been treated to
remove solids and certain impurities, and then allowed to
recharge the aquifer rather than being discharged to surface
water. This recharging is often done by using the treated
wastewater for irrigation. Recycled water is used for many
purposes including agricultural irrigation, landscape
irrigation, groundwater recharge, and seawater intrusion
barriers. Before recycled water can be used for these
beneficial uses, the Regional Water Quality Control Boards and
DPH require treatment to remove pollutants that could be
harmful to the beneficial use.
Analysis Prepared by : Bob Fredenburg / E.S. & T.M. / (916)
319-3965
SB 918
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FN: 0006390