BILL ANALYSIS �
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Kevin de Le�n, Chair
AB 1200 (Levine) - Recycled water: agricultural irrigation
impoundments: pilot project.
Amended: July 2, 2013 Policy Vote: EQ 9-0
Urgency: No Mandate: No
Hearing Date: August 12, 2013 Consultant:
Marie Liu
This bill does not meet the criteria for referral to the
Suspense File.
Bill Summary: AB 1200 would allow the San Francisco Bay Regional
Water Quality Board (SFRWQB) to authorize a pilot project to
investigate potential water quality impacts and water supply
benefits associated with supplementing agricultural irrigation
impoundments with disinfected tertiary treated recycled water.
Fiscal Impact:
One-time costs up to $65,000 to the Waste Discharge Permit
Fund (special) for the SFRWQB to permit the pilot project
and participate in the stakeholder advisory group.
Ongoing cost pressures of $65,000 annually for three years
to the Waste Discharge Permit Fund (special) for the SFRWQB
to consider the development of a formula for future waste
discharge permits for discharges similar to the pilot
project.
Background: The Porter-Cologne Water Quality Act, requires the
State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) and the Regional
Water Quality Control Boards to enforce water quality laws and
regulations for the state's waterways. The SWRCB adopted a
resolution in 2009 that set a statewide policy for water quality
control for recycled water. The purpose of the policy is to
increase the use of recycled water from municipal wastewater
sources in a manner that implements state and federal water
quality laws.
Proposed Law: This bill would allow the SFRWQB to authorize a
pilot project that supplements agricultural irrigation
impoundments with disinfected tertiary treated recycled water.
The pilot project would be required to:
AB 1200 (Levine)
Page 1
Be consistent with any applicable waste discharge
requirements.
Measure, analyze, and report water quality data upstream
and downstream of the agricultural impoundments.
Select four agricultural irrigation impoundments for the
purpose of the pilot project that meet specified conditions.
Incorporate a stakeholder advisory group to review and
provide input on the pilot project. The stakeholder group
would include the SFRWQB, private landowners, a
representative of agricultural organization, nongovernmental
organizations, and specified local districts.
Submit a final report to the SFRWQB and the stakeholder
group.
Following the review of the final report, the SFRWQB would be
authorized to develop a formula for future waste discharge
requirements to be issued for similar purposes. The SFRWQB would
be required to submit its recommendations regarding this formula
to the SWRCB and the Legislature.
Staff Comments: According to the author, Sonoma County Water
Agency pays for one staffer at the SFRWQB. Presumably this
staffer could be the SFRWQB's representative on the stakeholder
group, which may allow costs to the SFRWQB to be below estimated
maximum cost of $65,000.
Proposed Author Amendments: Amendments that clarify that the
pilot project proponents will identify and secure all costs
associated with pilot project development and implementation.
Amendments would also remove the sunset date.