ITEM 3: DECLARATION OF SUPPORT FOR USING RECYCLED WATER IN AGRICULTURE

DISCUSSION: California's future demand for water cannot be met by its current supply. Water recycling is one of several alternatives for meeting the State's future water demand. For instance, the CalFed plan to resolve the problems of the Delta will include a water recycling component. Additionally, the legislature adopted goals for beneficial reuse of 700,000 acre-feet per year by 2000 and 1,000,000 acre-feet per year by 2010. We are two years away from the first goal and yet are only slightly over halfway to the goal. Thus there is an urgent need to increase the amount of water recycled.

The largest user of developed water in the State is agriculture. Thus it has the greatest potential for the use of recycled water. The Agricultural Outreach Committee of the California WateReuse Association is working with agriculture to increase the amount of recycled water used by agriculture.

In June of 1994 the SWRCB and six other organizations, the US Environmental Protection Agency, the California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health, the Department of Water Resources, the US Bureau of Reclamation, the Department of Health Services, and the WateReuse Association of California, signed the Statement of Support for Water Reclamation, which committed the organizations to "work to overcome and reduce institutional and regulatory disincentives, and to promote public acceptance of water reclamation." The Agricultural Outreach Committee of the California WateReuse Association has requested that these same organizations sign a Declaration of Support for Using Recycled Water in Agriculture. A copy of the Declaration is attached. This statement of support commits the organizations to "endorse the use of recycled water for agriculture", and "cooperate to implement policies, secure funding, and educate the public to ensure the continued use of recycled water in agriculture". The statement of support by these organizations will help the Committee in its very important work.

POLICY ISSUE: Should the SWRCB authorize the Chair to sign the Declaration of Support for Using Recycled Water in Agriculture?

FISCAL IMPACT: The Declaration may increase the number of applications for water recycling planning grants, and design and construction loans, which in turn could lead to the SWRCB making more grants and loans for water recycling projects. Currently the water recycling funding program has approximately $56,000,000 available to fund planning grants and loans. The State Revolving Fund is currently fully committed, but should have funds available in subsequent fiscal years to fund water recycling programs

RWQCB IMPACT: None.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION: That the SWRCB authorize the Chair to sign the Declaration of Support for Using Recycled Water in Agriculture.

(Declaration of Support is not available electronically but can be obtained by calling Wayne Pierson at (916) 227-4553)