Diversified Supply Sources Essential Component of Long-Term Solution to Chronic State Water Shortage

The 2016–2017 water year will be remembered as the year it rained and rained and rained. After five years of drought, parched landscapes, sinking aquifers, mandatory water conservation, it rained. Most of California is out of drought status except the South Central Coast and parts of Southern California. Those areas are considered abnormally dry or a few spots are in moderate drought status, but none are in extreme drought status requiring continuation of a declaration of drought. The state’s reservoirs have recovered although Oroville Dam is below average storage levels due to repairs on the spillways.

Water

Water Storage Investment – Letter to California Water Commission (1/26/2018)

The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) and the California Department of Water Resources have partnered to develop and carry out the Save Our Water program.

Encourage responsible water quality goals and water development policies to meet the increasing demand for reliable water supplies.

The CalChamber supports a comprehensive solution to California’s chronic water shortage. It is vitally important that all Californians have an adequate and reliable source of water while safeguarding the environment. Developing additional water supplies and conveyance facilities can no longer be postponed without subjecting the state to long-term economic damage. One serious earthquake or a series of Delta levee failures could leave millions of people and businesses without a water supply for the foreseeable future. Every means of providing more water should be vigorously pursued. Preparedness through diversification is the path to a comprehensive solution to California’s water future.

Protecting Vital Public Works Projects by opposing an initiative rejected by voters in 2016 that would have delayed or stopped vitally needed infrastructure projects all over the state—including water reliability projects, road safety and bridge repairs, university and college buildings—as well as impeded the state’s ability to make emergency repairs after a natural disaster (Proposition 53).

Promoting Availability and Security of California Water Supplies

• Supported landmark federal legislation in 2016 containing much-needed funding for water projects and allowing water regulators to make the best use of water to benefit all parts of the state (S. 612).

Improving Management of California Water Supply

• Supported follow-up legislation in 2015 to the landmark 2014 groundwater management law to improve judicial proceedings in comprehensive adjudications of groundwater rights without changing the law or existing water rights.
• In 2015, stopped misguided proposals to increase the excise tax on water use, publicize a business’ water and energy use and require labeling of agricultural products irrigated with cleaned wastewater from oil fields (SB 789, AB 1520, ABX2 14).

Investing in Water Supply Reliability

• Supported voter-approved Proposition 1 in 2014, providing funding for needed water storage projects, enabling the state to save in wet years for the inevitable droughts.

• Preserved ability for voters to consider a legislative and bond package putting the state on a pathway to long-term water supply reliability and ensuring a safe drinking water supply (AB 1265). Instrumental in developing that package in 2009 (SBX7 1, SBX7 2, SBX7 6, SBX7 7, SBX7 8).

Desalination

Position: The California Chamber of Commerce supports a balanced approach to securing a safe and reliable supply and conveyance of water for all businesses and residents of California. Desalination, like recycling, water reuse, water use efficiency, conservation, conveyance and new storage, should be pursued to help increase water supply. Permit streamlining amongst the various agencies should be undertaken to expedite the approval process.

Desalination is a viable option for the state’s future water supply picture. In order to meet its water supply challenges, California needs to pursue desalination where appropriate and feasible. Desalination will provide an invaluable addition to a well-balanced local or regional water portfolio with a reliable drought-proof component. Desalination