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Turn the Knob on Leaky Water Management
The best way to meet water demands is to lessen consumption
As California’s population continues to grow, so does its unrealistic demand for water. At the same time, climate change is taking its toll, producing one of the driest winters on record and intensifying the state’s drought. The dwindling size of the snowpack in the Sierras and the precipitous collapse of the San Francisco Bay-Delta ecosystem mean large sources of fresh water are becoming more and more limited. While the governor is quick to suggest building additional dams, the greener and cost-effective approach is to cut back water use. Assembly Bill 2175 (Laird and Feuer) would promote increased water use efficiency by establishing numeric water savings targets for urban and agricultural water use.
There is huge untapped, cost-effective potential for water efficiency in California. The State Water Plan has identified water efficiency as the single largest pool of water available to meet California’s future water needs. Despite this, we are not currently on track to achieve those savings.
Saving water will also save tremendous amounts of energy. The California Energy Commission has estimated that 19% of the state’s electricity and over 30% of the non-power plant natural gas use is associated with water use. Achieving these water savings is critical both to meet the state’s water supply needs and to help meet the state’s AB 32 targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Here’s what AB 2175 would do:
- Require a 20% reduction in statewide urban water use per capita by 2020 and establish specific savings targets for each urban water agency.
- Reduce the target for those agencies that have already implemented specific water conservation best management practices or that already have low per capita water use.
- Require the Department of Water Resources to set a target for agricultural water efficiency.
- Require agricultural water suppliers to identify their cost-effective water conservation potential and adopt 5 and 10 year numeric water savings targets.
- Make compliance with these requirements a condition for receiving state water management grants or loans.
Everyone recognizes that water efficiency needs to be a primary component of California’s water management strategy. The governor has called for a 20% reduction in per capita water use by 2020, and has invited legislation to achieve that goal. AB 2175 would implement the governor’s target, and would also establish policies to accelerate agricultural water conservation.
What You Can Do
AB 2175 has passed the Assembly and is now being heard in the State Senate. Please call or write your Senator, urging him or her to vote yes for AB 2175 in committee and on the floor.
See our sample letter and send one to your State Senator!
Your State Senator
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-40_ _
(fill in the last two digits with your Senate district number)
Fax: varies (look up your State Senator)
To find out who your State Senator is, use the legislature's "Find Your Representatives" page and enter your address in the form in the bottom left corner of the page.
© 2008 California League of Conservation Voters. Contact us.
