By Sheryl Hamlin
Not only did Governor Brown sign the landmark Strategic Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) in 2014 for the management and sustainability of local groundwater, but in 2018 he signed a pair of laws for the preservation of locally delivered water supplies.
From the State website:
AB 1668 and SB 606 build on Governor Brown’s ongoing efforts to make water conservation a way of life in California and create a new foundation for long-term improvements in water conservation and drought planning. SB 606 and AB 1668 establish guidelines for efficient water use and a framework for the implementation and oversight of the new standards, which must be in place by 2022.
Staff Presentation Summarizing Plans and Objectives to Implement Laws
As the timeline shows, the burden of implementation is a regional approach much like the SGMA Basin Management plans.
Basically, the two bills call for new efficiency standards, such as leakage. The State has issued this Fact Sheet:
Water Bill Fact Sheet: Water Efficiency Bill Fact Sheet
The next milestone is 2020 when each agency will present is own standards for implementation of these two bills. CalEPA held a meeting in late 2019 to hear public comments. See meeting notice here.
Efficiency Framework: Are you ready for $1000 fine?
The State envisions standards for both indoor and outdoor use. The challenge in such delivery is the metering to the individual user which does not delineate between indoor and outdoor usage, so some algorithm must be devised or new meters installed.
This article discusses the challenges to implementation of the 55 gallon per day specified in the bills for indoor use . And the 55 decreases to 50 gallons per day plus includes a $1000 fine.
When the local Water Board posts its implementation suggestions for this law, there will be an updated report.