Your 2017 Legislative Round-Up
We work year-round to serve as the leading voice for our members and public wastewater agencies on regulatory, legislative and legal issues. With the legislative session ending Friday, here’s a recap of the priority legislation we followed and helped shape on the state level. The bills are now on Governor Brown’s desk for consideration. The Governor has until October 15 to sign or veto the bills before him. 

SB 5 (DeLeon) – A $4 billion park and water bond that includes $80 million for water recycling projects

SB 229 (Wieckowski) – Makes Accessory Dwelling Units law applicable to all special districts

AB 574 (Quirk) – Directs State Water Board to adopt statewide regulations for potable reuse for raw water augmentation

AB 967 (Gloria) – Legalizes and creates new licensure and regulatory processes for biocremation

AB 109 – Includes budget appropriations for $1.5 billion Cap & Trade Spending Plan

Your Regulatory Updates
No Increases Proposed for Water Quality Permit Fees
The State Water Board will consider adopting the proposed fees for waste discharge permits on September 19. Water Board staff is proposing use of the fund reserve to offset fee increases required due to insufficient revenue. This will allow the State Water Board to keep most fees at the FY 2016-17 levels, meet budgetary expenditures and maintain a prudent fund reserve. If adopted, CASA members holding NPDES permits or WDRs will pay the same fees for FY2018 that they paid this fiscal year.

Advocating for Our Members
CASA Weighs in on Surface Water Augmentation Draft Regulations
Alongside WateReuse California, we recently submitted joint comments to the State Water Board on the surface water augmentation draft regulations. We voiced our support for the proposed regulations to allow placing highly treated recycled water in drinking water reservoirs.
Member News
IEUA Announces New General Manager
The Inland Empire Utilities Agency will welcome Halla Razak as its new general manager starting December 1. She currently serves as the City of San Diego Public Utilities Department Director where she helped lead initiatives for Pure Water San Diego. She replaces Joe Grindstaff who is retiring after almost five years with the agency and a 40-plus year career at the local, regional and state levels. 
Jeff Mosher Selected as 2017 WateReuse Person of the Year
Congratulations to Jeff Mosher, the Water Environment & Reuse Foundation’s chief research officer. The National Water Research Institute, Orange County Water District and WE&RF honored him as the 2017 WateReuse Person of the Year at the 32nd Annual WateReuse Symposium in Phoenix. He received the award for his leadership in advancing vital research and addressing significant challenges in the field of water reuse and potable reuse.
Mark Your Calendar
PPIC Event – Priorities for California’s Water
Thursday, October 26; 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Sheraton Grand Hotel, Sacramento

Join PPIC Water Policy Center researchers and a diverse group of experts for a thought-provoking discussion about policy priorities for the coming water year. This conference looks at issues that are front and center for managing California’s water supply and natural environment. Topics include:
  • Legislative priorities for cities, farms and rural communities
  • Partnerships for healthy ecosystems
  • Critical decisions for the Colorado River and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
 
The event is free to attend but space is limited.  Registration is required.
Dates
Event & Location
September 30 - October 4          
WEFTEC Chicago, IL
October 12
November 1 & 2
November 14 & 15
December 4              
BAC Member Meeting Oakland, CA
January 24-26             
CASA Winter Conference Palm Springs, CA
February 26-28     
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