ACWA e-News for June 6, 2012

State leaders are making progress on planning for solutions in the Delta, but lack any significant action on fixing the problems there, according to a report card released today by the Delta Vision Foundation.

Members of ACWA’s Ag-Urban II Coalition will participate on a stakeholder panel to discuss the Delta Stewardship Council’s final staff draft Delta Plan at the council’s meeting June 14-15.

The U.S. Environemental Protection Agency will kick off a series of webcasts June 12 expanding on its recent handbook, "Planning for Sustainability: A Handbook for Water and Wastewater Utilities."

ACWA-supported bills aimed at advancing desalination and curbing metal theft and the spread of quagga mussels were approved on recent floor votes as the June 1 deadline for legislative action approached.

The Assembly approved a measure May 31 that would create a task force to recommend ways to improve the permitting process for seawater desalination facilities. AB 2595 by Assembly Member Isadore Hall (D-Los Angeles) is sponsored by CalDesal and supported by ACWA and a number of water agencies.

The Pacific Institute is launching a survey of urban and agricultural water agencies to gather information on how water is priced in California.  The water supplier survey is aimed at getting a better understanding of what goes into determining the price of water.

According to a release from the Pacific Institute, the survey results will inform a series of workshops and a report on how water rates are set, targeted for release in the fall of 2012.

In-depth coverage of ACWA’s 2012 spring conference programs is now exclusively available in the latest issue of ACWA News.

Other highlights in this issue are:

California has the tools to cope with periodic water shortages but its economy is vulnerable to catastrophic supply interruptions and long-term water uncertainty, according to a new report by the Public Policy Institute of California.

In a new analysis of the role water plays in California’s economy, economy, the PPIC found that the state can continue to grow and prosper despite tightening water supplies. But a number of risk factors must be addressed to make the state more resilient and support California’s economic vitality.

The California Legislature has taken action on bills aimed at regulating hydraulic fracturing in recent weeks.

The Senate rejected SB 1054 by Sen. Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills) yesterday on a 17-18 vote. The measure would have required energy firms to notify property owners before using fracking to tap oil deposits on or near their land.