Photo: Department of Water Resources

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Water Conservation (Senate Bill No. 7)

SB 7 creates a framework for future planning and actions by urban and agricultural water suppliers to reduce California's water use. For the first time in California's history, this bill requires the development of agricultural water management plans and requires urban water agencies to reduce statewide per capita water consumption 20 percent by 20. Specifically, this bill:

• Establishes multiple pathways for urban water suppliers to achieve the statewide goal of a 20 percent reduction in urban water use. Specifically, urban water suppliers may:
  
  
  • Set a conservation target of 80 percent of their baseline daily per capita water use;
  • Utilize performance standards for water use that are specific to indoor, landscape, and commercial, industrial and institutional uses;
  • Meet the per capita water use goal for their specific hydrologic region as identified by DWR and other state agencies in the 20 percent by 2020 Water Conservation Plan; or
  • Use an alternate method that is to be developed by DWR before December 31, 2010.
    
    
• Requires urban water suppliers to set an interim urban water use target and meet that target by December 31, 2015 and meet the overall target by December 31, 2020.
  
  
• Requires DWR to cooperatively work with the California Urban Water Conservation Council to establish a task force that shall identify best management practices to assist the commercial, industrial and institutional sector in meeting the water conservation goal.
  
  
• Requires agricultural water suppliers to measure water deliveries and adopt a pricing structure for water customers based at least in part on quantity delivered, and, where technically and economically feasible, implement additional measures to improve efficiency.
  
  
• Requires agricultural water suppliers to submit Agricultural Water Management Plans beginning December 31, 2012 and include in those plans information relating to the water efficiency measures they have undertaken and are planning to undertake.
  
  
• Makes ineligible for state grant funding any urban or agricultural water supplier who is not in compliance with the requirements of this bill relating to water conservation and efficient water management.
  
  
• Requires DWR to, in 2013, 2016 and 2021, report to the Legislature on agricultural efficient water management practices being undertaken and reported in agricultural water management plans.
  
  
• Requires DWR, the State Water Resources Control Board, and other state agencies to develop a standardized water information reporting system to streamline water reporting required under the law.
  

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