The strides made by local agencies in water recycling and water use efficiency have been dramatic over the past two decades. Given the clear statewide interest in promoting these water management tools, ACWA’s Blueprint recommends that the state and federal governments continue to support local options such as recycling and conservation through appropriate technical and financial assistance.

Background

Local water agencies have been on the leading edge of water recycling for decades, and today they recycle well over 500,000 acre-feet of water a year, thereby reducing demand for freshwater supplies and cutting down on wastewater discharges into sensitive ecosystems. With the help of substantial funding from federal sources as well as voter-approved state bond measures, many large recycling projects have come on line in recent years and more are on the horizon. In many cases, grants and loans to match local funds have tipped the balance to make local recycling efforts cost-effective.

Gains in water use efficiency have been dramatic as well. Urban water agencies, irrigation districts and farmers have adopted water use efficiency practices that compare favorably with those found anywhere in the world. Most of the state’s large urban agencies are implementing conservation programs through the Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Urban Water Conservation in California, an agreement that commits signatories to carry out a series of water conservation best management practices (BMPs). On the agricultural side, efficient water management practices are being institutionalized through the work of the Agricultural Water Management Council and its signatory agricultural water agencies, environmental groups and other agricultural water use interests.

ACWA’s Recommendations

ACWA recommends that the state and federal governments take the following actions to further support local water recycling and water use efficiency efforts:

• Provide appropriate technical and financial assistance, including future water bonds, and necessary implementing legislation.

• Provide support and resources to help remove the regulatory and financial constraints that often impede development of recycling and water use efficiency projects.

• Continue to help fund programs and practices that may not be locally cost-effective but which, if implemented, provide broad benefits throughout California and the Western states.

• Work with water suppliers to seek collaborative arrangements with private enterprise to accelerate the development of water use efficiency technologies.

• Actively follow up on the 2003 California Recycled Water Task Force Report and implement its recommendations for addressing impediments and expanding the use of recycled water.

Other Blueprint Recommendations

In addition to the above actions, ACWA recommends that state and federal leaders take a number of other actions to ensure California can meet its future water needs.

• Improve the existing Delta water conveyance system to increase flexibility and enhance water supply, water quality, levee stability and environmental protection.

• Evaluate long-term threats to the Delta levee and conveyance system and pursue actions to reduce risks to the state’s water supply and the environment.

• Ensure delivery of adequate Colorado River supplies for Southern California and defend California’s rights on the Colorado River.

• Implement and fund the Sacramento Valley Water Management Program.

• Develop additional groundwater and surface water storage, including proposed surface storage projects now under study if they are determined to be feasible.

• Improve the quality of California’s drinking water supplies to safeguard public health and enhance water quality for agriculture and the environment.

• Work with local agencies to overcome constraints to developing seawater and brackish groundwater desalination.

• Modernize the federal Endangered Species Act and other laws and regulations to allow water-related projects to proceed while protecting species and their habitats.

• Expedite the approval process for voluntary water transfers.

• Clarify and expand the state’s role in flood control and promote multi-benefit flood control projects.

• Support integrated regional water management plans.

About the Blueprint

ACWA’s Blueprint reflects extensive input from hundreds of public water agencies charged with delivering water to cities, farms and communities throughout the state. In addition to the recommended actions, the Blueprint includes a detailed discussion of pressing regional needs and actions to help address them. For more on the Blueprint, see www.acwa.com.