BILL NUMBER: SB 407INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Padilla FEBRUARY 26, 2009 An act to add Section 379 to the Water Code, relating to water conservation. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 407, as introduced, Padilla. Plumbing fixtures: high water use. Existing law authorizes public entities that supply water, by the adoption of an ordinance or resolution pursuant to specified procedures, to adopt and enforce a water conservation program. Existing law authorizes these public entities to undertake water conservation and public education programs using an information booklet or materials for use in connection with the use or transfer of real estate. This bill would declare that it is the intent of the Legislature that these public entities exercise authority pursuant to those provisions to enact ordinances that require the retrofitting of outdated, high water use plumbing fixtures, and the disclosure thereof, in connection with the transfer of real estate. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (a) Adequate water supply reliability for all uses is essential to the future economic and environmental health of California. (b) Developing environmentally sound strategies to meet future water supply and wastewater treatment needs is key to protecting and restoring aquatic resources in California. (c) There is a pressing need to address water supply reliability challenges raised by expanding urban areas. (d) Urban water agencies, using economic analyses, have identified urban water conservation as a cost-effective approach to addressing water supply needs. (e) There are many water conservation practices that produce significant energy and other resource savings that should be encouraged as a matter of state policy. (f) Since the signing of the "Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Urban Water Conservation in California" in 1991, many urban water agencies and wastewater treatment agencies have gained valuable experience that can be applied to produce significant statewide savings of water, energy, and associated infrastructure costs. This experience indicates a need to regularly revise and update water conservation methodologies and practices. SEC. 2. Section 379 is added to the Water Code, to read: 379. It is the intent of the Legislature that public entities exercise authority pursuant to this chapter to enact ordinances that require the retrofitting of outdated, high water use plumbing fixtures, and the disclosure thereof, in connection with the transfer of real estate.