Urban water use objectives: indoor residential water use.
This bill seeks to modernize water usage standards, which are crucial as California faces ongoing challenges with water scarcity and the need for sustainable water management. The amendments will streamline existing laws without changing their substantive nature, while still allowing for input from various stakeholders, including environmental groups and water agencies. The anticipated modifications aim to reflect best practices concerning indoor water use, impacting how water conservation efforts are implemented across urban residential areas.
AB2157, introduced by Assembly Member Blanca Rubio, aims to amend Section 10609.4 of the California Water Code, specifically addressing urban water use objectives related to indoor residential water consumption. Current law mandates that the Department of Water Resources and the State Water Resources Control Board work together with stakeholders to recommend a standard for indoor residential water use. The existing standard allows for 55 gallons per capita per day until January 1, 2025, after which the standard will be adjusted. As of 2025, it will set a new benchmark that is the greater of 52.5 gallons per capita daily, or a recommended standard from the respective agencies, and by 2030, this will further lower to 50 gallons or a new recommendation.
While the bill appears to facilitate a collaborative approach towards setting water standards, potential points of contention may arise among stakeholders regarding what constitutes 'best practices.' Different groups may have competing interests, such as conservationists advocating for stricter standards to conserve water more effectively, while others may push for flexibility in regulations to accommodate varied housing situations. The degree of collaboration and the weight given to different stakeholder inputs could also be debated, raising concerns about whose recommendations will ultimately influence the standards set.