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July 1, 2009
Chamber Supports Salinity Pollution Proposal
The Garden Grove
Chamber of Commerce SUPPORTS AB 1366 (Feuer). AB 1366 addresses
one of the major sources of salinity pollution in the state and
one of the greatest impediments to the use of recycled water:
the unregulated release of salts into community wastewater
systems through the residential use of self-regenerating water
softeners.
Existing law allows local government to control salt inputs from
agricultural, industrial and commercial sources. However, under
existing law, salt releases from every one of these sources must
be controlled first before communities can consider action to
protect their local water supplies from salt releases from the
residential use of self-regenerating water softeners. This
places an inappropriate and heavy burden on cities and local
agencies at the same time that it jeopardizes local water
supplies that are being impacted by rising levels of salt.
AB 1366 authorizes the state’s Regional Boards to evaluate local
conditions and to make a finding, where warranted, that the
control of residential salinity sources will contribute to the
achievement of water quality for that region. AB 1366 further
allows a local agency that maintains a community sewer system
within the region to enact an ordinance to control residential
salinity inputs based upon the Regional Board’s finding. This
provision provides regulatory parity with other sources of salt
(agricultural, commercial and industrial) and ensures that all
sectors are doing their part to protect local water supplies.
AB 1366 appropriately respects private property rights and
requires local agencies to provide fair compensation in the
event that the removal of existing self-regenerating water
softeners is necessary to meet local water quality and water
supply goals. This bill does NOT allow Regional Boards to have
eminent domain powers over personal property and rights of
homeowners.
California is facing a dire water crisis and cannot afford to
waste a single drop of water. The implementation of this bill
will help stretch the state’s drinking water supplies and
reserve them for essential potable needs while making recycled
water available for non-potable uses.
June 15, 2009
Chamber Supports Water Conservation Efforts
The Garden Grove
Chamber of Commerce SUPPORTS AB 474 (Blumenfield), which reduces
water use by allowing voluntary financing programs between
public entities and property owners.
California is in the third year of a drought. Businesses and
residents are being asked to conserve and reduce water usage as
much as possible. Supplies are so limited in some areas of the
state that mandatory outdoor restrictions are already in place.
As the warmer summer months approach water districts are warning
that further reductions are in order. Also due to the increasing
costs of obtaining water supplies and treatment technologies;
water districts are poised to impose rate hikes.
AB 474 will help alleviate some of the water shortage by
allowing public entities to provide initial funding for the
installation of water use efficiency projects on the property of
willing property owners. This allows for the use of advanced,
large-scale technologies and products that are effective, but
normally out of reach for most homeowners and businesses because
of the large upfront investment. Property owners will be
required to repay the public entity but over a longer period of
time making the technologies affordable. The reduction in water
usage benefits businesses and property owners through lower
costs by virtue of using less supply.
June 10, 2009
Chamber Leads the Way on Water Solution Proposal
As California completes its third year of a water drought,
Garden Grove businesses are being asked to reduce water usage as
much as possible while watching water rates climb. The Garden
Grove business community, much like other business communities
throughout the state, continues to seek relief. There are a
number of methods available to businesses to aid efforts to
conserve water in order to help offset the increase cost of
water. However, many conservation efforts do carry a large price
tag potential placing businesses at a competitive disadvantage.
As reasonable solution is a legislative proposal supported by
the Garden Grove Chamber. AB 474 will mitigate the initial
outlay for any business willing to increase their conservation
efforts.
“This is a prime example of how we can get involved in the
legislative process in Sacramento in order to enact positive
change for our members and the Garden Grove business community,”
stated Dr. Les Malo, Chair of the Garden Grove Chamber’s
Government Affairs Committee. “This legislative proposal is good
sound legislative policy, which is to keep the business
community in mind while helping to conserve water and give
business owners an option to pay for these conservation efforts
instead of a mandate that happens so much of the time,”
continued Malo.
The key provision of AB 474 allows commercial and residential
property owners to enter into an agreement with public agencies
(in this case, water agencies) to receive upfront financing for
the installation of permanent water use efficiency improvements.
Property owners will then be allowed to pay an annual assessment
until all costs associated with the project are repaid to the
public agency. Assembly Bill 474 expands upon last year’s AB
811, which authorized the use of voluntary assessment agreements
between cities, counties and property owners for financing
energy efficiency projects.
The passage of AB 474 will help California and Garden Grove
mitigate its chronic water needs.
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