BILL NUMBER: SB 460INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Wolk FEBRUARY 26, 2009 An act to add Part 2.3 (commencing with Section 10580) to Division 6 of the Water Code, relating to water conservation. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 460, as introduced, Wolk. Water conservation: urban water use. Existing law, the Urban Water Management Planning Act, requires each urban water supplier to prepare and implement a water management plan for the efficient use of available water supplies. This bill would state the intention of the Legislature to enact legislation that would achieve a 20% reduction in urban per capita water use by December 31, 2020. 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. Part 2.3 (commencing with Section 10580) is added to Division 6 of the Water Code, to read: PART 2.3. WATER CONSERVATION CHAPTER 1. GENERAL DECLARATIONS AND POLICY 10580. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (a) Adequate water supplies and a healthy ecosystem must be primary coequal goals for sustainable water management in watersheds throughout the state. (b) Common sense requires substantial changes in the way we invest in and operate the state's water supply systems. (c) A sustainable aquatic environment, and reliable, high quality water supplies are both of critical importance and one cannot be accomplished without the other. (d) Accomplishing water use efficiency goals will require statewide action by all water users. (e) Water use efficiency programs are best overseen by local officials who are responsible for designing and implementing them. (f) Implementation of water use efficiency must be consistent with current state law and must not be allowed to undermine the water rights of agencies implementing water efficient programs. (g) Incentive-based water use efficiency programs will be more effective than programs based on the enforcement of mandates by state or other entities. 10581. It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that achieves the Governor's stated goal of reducing urban water use by 20 percent, on or before December 31, 2020, which translates into a statewide aggregate of 1,740,000 acre-feet, to be accomplished through both a reduction in water use and the increased efficient use of water.