State Water Board Releases Draft Sacramento/Delta Updates to the Bay-Delta Plan
On Oct. 25, the State Water Resources Control Board released a draft of potential updates for the Sacramento/Delta portions of the Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta Watershed (Bay-Delta Plan). The draft changes include options for incorporating a regulatory pathway, which features tributary inflow and cold water habitat provisions and inflow-based Delta outflows, or a pathway based on the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program, formerly referred to as the Voluntary Agreements. Additionally, the draft updates include options for two modular alternatives (Alternatives 5a and 6a) that were described in the State Water Board’s 2023 draft staff report.
The State Water Board has not yet selected a pathway for updating the Sacramento/Delta portions of the Bay-Delta Plan. State Water Board staff will develop a revised draft of proposed updates based on comments on this draft.
The State Water Board will hold a multiday workshop, with dates scheduled in November, December, and January, to discuss the draft changes. Written comments on the draft updates are due to the State Water Board by Dec. 19. The notice includes additional information about the workshop and instructions for submitting comments to the State Water Board.
ACWA has long supported the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes as the best approach for protecting, restoring, and enhancing the Bay-Delta. ACWA is reviewing the draft changes and plans to provide oral and written comments to the State Water Board. ACWA staff will continue to engage with its Bay-Delta Working Group to guide ACWA’s advocacy on the Sacramento/Delta update to the Bay-Delta Plan.
Background
The Bay-Delta Plan identifies beneficial uses of water in the Bay-Delta, water quality objectives to reasonably protect those uses, and a program of implementation for achieving the objectives, including monitoring and reporting requirements. The Clean Water Act and Porter-Cologne Act requires the State Water Board to review the Bay-Delta Plan every three years and update the plan as necessary.
For more information, a timeline of the Bay-Delta Plan update process, and FAQs, visit ACWA’s website.
Questions
For questions regarding the draft changes and POI, please contact ACWA State Relations Advocate Stephen Pang at (916) 669-2369.
ACWA Continues to Advocate for Advanced Clean Fleets Regulation Amendments Allowing Greater Flexibility for Public Agencies
ACWA continues to advocate for amendments to the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) Advanced Clean Fleet (ACF) regulation to ensure it reflects the provisions of AB 1594 (Garcia), signed into law last year and which requires greater flexibility for public agencies faced with challenges in upgrading to zero-emission vehicles.
The ACF requires vehicle fleet owners and operators, including all public agencies, to begin purchasing zero-emission vehicles. However, a key issue is allowing flexibility in the purchase of replacements for traditional utility-specialized vehicles that are at the end of their life, but are also vital to maintaining reliable service and responding to major foreseeable events.
ACWA’s advocacy priorities in this ongoing effort to amend the ACF regulation include:
- Removing a 13-year requirement to purchase a new vehicle
- Allowing greater flexibility to use ACF regulation exemptions for “traditional utility-specialized vehicles” used by public water agencies
- Empowering public agencies to determine the end-of-useful life of current vehicles when purchasing new vehicles
- Expanding usable data to justify daily usage exemption requests for public water agencies
CARB has requested that ACWA act as a resource by compiling a list of member agencies’ TRUCRS IDs. All public agencies were required to submit this information by April 1, as part of a compliance report. Compiling ACWA member agency TRUCRS IDs separately will enable CARB to verify ACWA’s advocacy priorities listed above.
Please submit your agency’s TRUCRS IDs to ACWA by July 19 using this online link.
Resources
ACWA encourages member agencies to take the necessary steps to comply with the ACF regulation and explore available resources to determine the best path forward. Resources available online include:
- Fact sheets
- Online training webinars to help entities work toward compliance
- Reporting guidance documents
- An email address for frequently asked questions
- A new Cal Fleet Advisor, as part of the Clean Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project, which is a partnership between CARB and the nonprofit organization CALSTART. Cal Fleet Advisor is a no-cost one-to-one service available to public agencies that includes resources to find the best options for fleets of all types and sizes.
Questions
For questions about the ACF regulation, please contact ACWA State Relations Advocate Nick Blair at (916) 441-4545. For questions about AB 1594, please contact ACWA State Relations Director Adam Quiñonez at (916) 441-4545.
State Water Board Adopts Making Conservation a California Way of Life Regulation
The State Water Resources Control Board today adopted the Making Conservation a California Way of Life regulation. The regulation is intended to achieve long-term water use efficiency with the purpose of adapting to climate change by establishing unique goals for each urban retail water supplier in California.
Under the regulation, urban retail water suppliers must comply with three major components:
- An urban water use objective, which is a supplier specific water budget that is the sum of water use efficiency standards that are applied to unique local characteristics (e.g. population, landscape area, etc.)
- Commercial, industrial and institutional (CII) performance measures
- Annual reporting
ACWA worked extensively with its members and coalition partners over the last year to secure extensive amendments that have resulted in a more feasible and cost-effective regulation, including:
- Changes to timelines for the outdoor water use standard and CII performance measures
- Inclusion of feasible alternative compliance pathways
- Modifications to compliance start date
- Inclusion of 20% of suppliers’ irrigable not irrigated area
- Changes to processes requesting variances and temporary provisions and the inclusion of a tree variance
Under the regulation, suppliers must work with their customers to achieve water savings. Individual customers are not required to comply with the urban water use objective.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2025 and by Jan. 1 every year thereafter, each supplier is required to calculate its urban water use objective for the previous year. Additionally, beginning Jan. 1, 2027, each urban retail water supplier must also demonstrate compliance with its urban water use objective.
Resources
ACWA is encouraging member agencies to maintain clear and frequent communication with customers and the media on the adopted regulation to avoid confusion and the spreading of misinformation. ACWA has created the following resources to assist member agencies as they engage with the media, customers and stakeholders. The complete toolkit is available for members to download from ACWA’s website and includes the following items on the regulation:
- Fact sheet
- Frequently asked questions
- Talking points
- Social media posts and graphics
- Customizable newsletter article or blog post
Background
In 2018, the Legislature passed and the governor signed two key policy bills — SB 606 and AB 1668 — to implement a new framework for long-term water conservation and drought planning for water suppliers. The two bills provided new and expanded authorities and requirements that affect water conservation and drought planning for water suppliers, agricultural water suppliers, and small water suppliers and rural communities.
In October 2022, DWR submitted 21 technical reports to the State Water Board with recommendations for implementation of Making Water Conservation a California Way of Life and the State Water Board adopted the water loss regulation last year.
The State Water Board reviewed DWR’s recommendations and, in March 2023, released a Draft Regulatory Framework for Making Water Conservation a California Way of Life. The Draft Regulatory Framework indicated the water use efficiency goals for each urban retail water supplier that would be included in the formal rulemaking.
Also related, Gov. Gavin Newsom last year signed SB 1157 into law. The bill reduces the standard for indoor residential water use to 47 gallons per capita daily (gpcd) by 2025 and 42 gpcd by 2030.
In August 2023, the State Water Board initiated the formal rulemaking for Making Conservation a California Way of Life and released the draft regulatory text. Under the California Administrative Procedure Act, the State Water Board has one year, or until Aug. 2024, to adopt the regulation. In March 2024 and May 2024, the State Water Board released revised drafts for Making Conservation a California Way of Life that reflected several amendments recommended by ACWA.
Questions
For questions regarding the adopted regulation, please contact ACWA Regulatory Relations Manager Chelsea Haines at (916) 669-2431. For questions regarding the resources, please contact ACWA Senior Communications Specialist Caroline Meade at (916) 669-2383.
State Water Board to Consider Adoption of Making Conservation a California Way of Life Regulation July 3
The State Water Resources Control Board on July 3 will hold a board meeting to consider adoption of the proposed Making Conservation a California Way of Life regulation.
The regulation outlines unique water use efficiency goals for each urban retail water supplier, including urban water use efficiency standards, variances, an urban water use objective, and commercial, industrial, and institutional (CII) performance measures.
The State Water Board on June 14 released the fourth version of the revised draft regulation for Making Conservation a California Way of Life with written comments due by noon on July 1.
ACWA, its member agencies, and coalition partners have been highly engaged on the state’s pre-rulemaking efforts to inform the Making Conservation a California Way of Life Regulation. ACWA continues to advocate for a water use efficiency framework that is feasible and cost-effective and does not impair water agencies’ ability to make long-term investments for climate resilience. More information is available on ACWA’s Water Use Efficiency web page.
Background
In 2018, the Legislature enacted two key policy bills — SB 606 (Hertzberg) and AB 1668 (Friedman) — to implement a new framework for long-term water conservation and drought planning for water suppliers. The two bills provide new and expanded authorities and requirements that affect water conservation and drought planning for water suppliers, agricultural water suppliers, and small water suppliers and rural communities.
In October 2022, DWR submitted 21 technical reports to the State Water Board with recommendations for implementation of Making Water Conservation a California Way of Life and the State Water Board adopted the water loss regulation last year.
The State Water Board reviewed DWR’s recommendations and, in March 2023, released a Draft Regulatory Framework for Making Water Conservation a California Way of Life. The Draft Regulatory Framework indicated the water use efficiency goals for each urban retail water supplier that would be included in the formal rulemaking.
Also related, Gov. Gavin Newsom last year signed SB 1157 (Herzberg) into law. The bill reduces the standard for indoor residential water use to 47 gallons per capita daily (gpcd) by 2025 and 42 gpcd by 2030.
In August 2023, the State Water Board initiated the formal rulemaking for Making Conservation a California Way of Life and released the draft regulatory text. Under the California Administrative Procedure Act, the State Water Board has one year, or until Aug. 2024, to adopt the regulation. In March 2024 and May 2024, the State Water Board released revised drafts for Making Conservation a California Way of Life.
Questions
For questions regarding the regulation, please contact ACWA Regulatory Relations Manager Chelsea Haines at (916) 669-2431.
State Water Board Releases New Revised Draft Regulation for Making Conservation a California Way of Life
The State Water Resources Control Board on Friday released the fourth version of the revised draft regulation for Making Conservation a California Way of Life with written comments due by noon on July 1. The State Water Board is expected to adopt the regulation this summer.
Several of the recent changes were in response to ACWA’s June 4 comment letter. ACWA staff is reviewing the revised draft regulation and determining next steps.
The draft regulation outlines unique water use efficiency goals for each urban retail water supplier, including urban water use efficiency standards, variances, an urban water use objective, and commercial, industrial, and institutional (CII) performance measures.
ACWA, its member agencies, and coalition partners have been highly engaged on the state’s pre-rulemaking efforts to inform the Making Conservation a California Way of Life Regulation. ACWA will continue to advocate for a water use efficiency framework that is feasible and cost-effective and does not impair water agencies’ ability to make long-term investments for climate resilience. More information is available on ACWA’s Water Use Efficiency webpage.
Background
In 2018, the Legislature enacted two key policy bills — SB 606 (Hertzberg) and AB 1668 (Friedman) — to implement a new framework for long-term water conservation and drought planning for water suppliers. The two bills provide new and expanded authorities and requirements that affect water conservation and drought planning for water suppliers, agricultural water suppliers, and small water suppliers and rural communities.
In October 2022, DWR submitted 21 technical reports to the State Water Board with recommendations for implementation of Making Water Conservation a California Way of Life and the State Water Board adopted the water loss regulation last year.
The State Water Board reviewed DWR’s recommendations and, in March 2023, released a Draft Regulatory Framework for Making Water Conservation a California Way of Life. The Draft Regulatory Framework indicated the water use efficiency goals for each urban retail water supplier that would be included in the formal rulemaking.
Also related, Gov. Gavin Newsom last year signed SB 1157 (Herzberg) into law. The bill reduces the standard for indoor residential water use to 47 gallons per capita daily (gpcd) by 2025 and 42 gpcd by 2030.
In August 2023, the State Water Board initiated the formal rulemaking for Making Conservation a California Way of Life and released the draft regulatory text. Under the California Administrative Procedure Act, the State Water Board has one year, or until Aug. 2024, to adopt the regulation. In March 2024 and May 2024, the State Water Board released revised drafts for Making Conservation a California Way of Life.
Questions
For questions regarding the updated draft regulations, please contact ACWA Regulatory Relations Manager Chelsea Haines at (916) 669-2431.
State Water Board Releases Revised Draft Regulation for Making Conservation a California Way of Life
The State Water Resources Control Board today released the third version of the revised draft regulation for Making Conservation a California Way of Life with a 15-day written comment period. The revised text includes further changes in response to ACWA and water suppliers’ concerns.
ACWA staff is reviewing the revised draft regulation and plans to submit written comments to the State Water Board by the June 4 deadline.
The revised draft regulation outlines unique water use efficiency goals for each urban retail water supplier, including urban water use efficiency standards, variances, an urban water use objective, and commercial, industrial, and institutional (CII) performance measures.
ACWA, its member agencies, and coalition partners have been highly engaged on the state’s pre-rulemaking efforts to inform the Making Conservation a California Way of Life Regulation. ACWA will continue to advocate for a water use efficiency framework that is feasible and cost-effective and does not impair water agencies’ ability to make long-term investments for climate resilience.
Background
In 2018, the Legislature enacted two key policy bills — SB 606 (Hertzberg) and AB 1668 (Friedman) — to implement a new framework for long-term water conservation and drought planning for water suppliers. The two bills provide new and expanded authorities and requirements that affect water conservation and drought planning for water supplies, agricultural water suppliers, and small water suppliers and rural communities.
In October 2022, DWR submitted 21 technical reports to the State Water Board with recommendations for implementation of Making Water Conservation a California Way of Life and the State Water Board adopted the water loss regulation last year.
The State Water Board reviewed DWR’s recommendations and, in March 2023, released a Draft Regulatory Framework for Making Water Conservation a California Way of Life. The Draft Regulatory Framework indicated the water use efficiency goals for each urban retail water supplier that would be included in the formal rulemaking.
Also related, Gov. Gavin Newsom last year signed SB 1157 (Herzberg) into law. The bill reduces the standard for indoor residential water use to 47 gallons per capita daily (gpcd) by 2025 and 42 gpcd by 2030.
In August 2023, the State Water Board initiated the formal rulemaking for Making Conservation a California Way of Life and released the draft regulatory text. Under the California Administrative Procedure Act, the State Water Board has one year, or until Aug. 2024, to adopt the regulation. In March 2024, the State water Board released a revised draft regulation for Making Conservation a California Way of Life.
Questions
For questions regarding the updated draft regulations, please contact ACWA Regulatory Relations Manager Chelsea Haines at (916) 669-2431.
State Water Board Adopts Chromium-6 MCL
The State Water Resources Control Board today adopted a new Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 10 parts per billion (ppb) for Hexavalent Chromium (Chromium-6) in drinking water.
The regulation applies to all water suppliers, including small public water systems (PWS). Prior to taking effect, the regulation must first be approved by the Office of Administrative Law. Once approved, it is expected that the regulation will take effect by October. Water suppliers will be required to comply with the regulation in accordance with the following specified timelines:
- PWS with 10,000 or more connections will be required to comply within two years after the MCL takes effect;
- PWS with 1,000-9,999 connections will be required to comply within three years after the MCL takes effect; and
- PWS with less than 1,000 connections will be required to comply within four years after the MCL takes effect.
ACWA and its coalition partners have engaged with State Water Board and its staff on this process for several years. This advocacy focused on ensuring the economic and technical feasibility of water suppliers’ compliance with the MCL, ensuring compliance timeline flexibility for PWS, ensuring funding availability to assist with compliance needs, and considering alternative treatment methods.
Past ACWA comment letters can be found on the ACWA website.
Questions
For questions regarding the adopted regulation, please contact ACWA State Relations Advocate Nick Blair at (916) 669-2377.
State Water Board Releases Revised Draft Regulation For Making Conservation a California Way of Life
The State Water Resources Control Board today released a revised draft regulation for Making Conservation a California Way of Life. The revised text includes significant changes to address ACWA and water suppliers’ concerns.
The revised draft regulation outlines unique water use efficiency goals for each urban retail water supplier, including urban water use efficiency standards, variances, an urban water use objective, and commercial, industrial, and institutional (CII) measures.
ACWA is reviewing the revised draft regulation and plans to submit written comments to the State Water Board and convene its water use efficiency working groups to inform its advocacy. Written comments are due March 27 to the State Water Board.
The State Water Board will also host a board workshop on March 20. Though the Board will not take action on the proposed regulation, ACWA is encouraging members to attend the workshop and provide oral comments.
ACWA, its member agencies, and coalition partners have been highly engaged on the state’s pre-rulemaking efforts to inform the Making Water Conservation a California Way of Life Regulation. ACWA will continue to advocate for a long-term water use efficiency framework that is feasible and cost-effective and does not impair water agencies’ ability to make long-term investments for climate resilience.
Background
In 2018, the Legislature enacted two key policy bills — SB 606 (Hertzberg) and AB 1668 (Friedman) — to implement a new framework for long-term water conservation and drought planning for water suppliers. The two bills provide new and expanded authorities and requirements that affect water conservation and drought planning for water supplies, agricultural water suppliers, and small water suppliers and rural communities.
In October 2022, DWR submitted 21 technical reports to the State Water Board with recommendations for implementation of Making Water Conservation a California Way of Life and the State Water Board adopted the water loss regulation last year.
The State Water Board reviewed DWR’s recommendations and, in March 2023, released a Draft Regulatory Framework for Making Water Conservation a California Way of Life. The Draft Regulatory Framework indicated the water use efficiency goals for each urban retail water supplier that would be included in the formal rulemaking.
Also related, Gov. Gavin Newsom last year signed SB 1157 (Herzberg) into law. The bill reduces the standard for indoor residential water use to 47 gallons per capita daily (gpcd) by 2025 and 42 gpcd by 2030.
In August 2023, the State Water Board initiated the formal rulemaking for Making Conservation a California Way of Life and released the draft regulatory text. A Public Workshop was held on Oct. 4, 2023 and written comments were due Oct. 17, 2023. Under the California Administrative Procedure Act, the State Water Board has one year, or until Aug. 2024, to adopt the regulation.
Questions
For questions regarding the updated draft regulations, please contact ACWA Regulatory Relations Manager Chelsea Haines at (916) 669-2431.
New Division of Drinking Water Reference Guide Outlines Reporting Requirements
The State Water Resources Control Board’s (State Water Board) Division of Drinking Water (DDW) has expanded its reporting requirements and moved some reporting to the SAFER Clearinghouse. ACWA has produced a reference guide and frequently asked questions document to help member agencies understand existing and new reporting requirements.
The easy-to-follow guide includes important dates and key links to the State Water Board’s Clearinghouse Reporting User Guide.
Toolkit
The ACWA toolkit includes the following items:
- 2024 State Water Board Department of Drinking Water Reporting Requirements Reference Guide provides recommendations for reviewing the updated Clearinghouse Reporting User Guide and a summarized list of the sections.
- 2024 State Water Board Department of Drinking Water Reporting Requirements Frequently Asked Questions provides answers to common questions and key dates for DDW Reporting Requirements.
Background
Senate Bill 552, passed and signed by the governor in September 2021, required small water suppliers and non-transient non-community schools to enhance their advance drought planning, including reporting requirements under Water Code Section 10609.61 for water supply condition information. The bill also required, subject to funding availability, the implementation of monitoring systems sufficient to detect production well groundwater levels.
Additionally, urban water suppliers are required to report conservation and usage information to the State Water Board pursuant to Section 991 of Title 23 of the California Code of Regulations.
Rather than update older applications to address new requirements, the State Water Board decided to move requirements from these separate databases into the Clearinghouse in an effort to reduce duplicative and redundant reporting.
Questions
For questions about State Water Board Department of Drinking Water reporting requirements, please contact ACWA Regulatory Advocate Nick Blair.
New Clean Fleet Regulation in Effect for 2024
The California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) new Advanced Clean Fleets Regulation (ACF) went into effect Jan. 1, requiring vehicle fleet owners and operators, including all public agencies, to start purchasing zero-emission vehicles.
ACWA has been actively engaged in the development of the regulation for several years and last year advocated on behalf of member agencies in the Legislature for a bill that provides flexibility in complying with the regulation. In addition, ACWA State Relations Advocate Nick Blair was selected to participate in CARB’s Truck Regulation Implementation Group, which is meeting quarterly to help CARB work through ACF implementation issues as they arise for public water agencies.
ACWA recommends that member agencies take the necessary steps to comply with the regulation and explore the resources available to determine a best path forward for your agency. CARB resources available online include:
- fact sheets;
- online training webinars to help entities work toward compliance;
- reporting guidance documents; and
- an email address for frequently asked questions.
The Regulation
CARB adopted the regulation in April 2023, requiring all fleet owners and operators to start purchasing zero-emission vehicles in 2024, with the goal to move California’s medium- and heavy-duty trucks to zero emission, where feasible, by 2045.
ACWA led an active coalition that helped ensure CARB built exemption pathways in the regulation for situations where available zero-emission vehicles do not meet fleet needs and when charging infrastructure is not yet built to support fleet electrification.
Staff also led a coalition in support of AB 1594 (Garcia), which was designed to help local governments comply with the new regulation without compromising critical services to customers. The bill, which was passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, will offer greater flexibility to public agency utilities to purchase replacements for traditional utility-specialized vehicles that are at the end of their useful life —without regard to the model year of the vehicle being replaced — to maintain reliable service and respond to major foreseeable events, including severe weather, wildfires, natural disasters, and physical attacks.
ACWA’s coalition advocated to expand the bill to include more than just drinking water systems. As a result, the law going into effect now includes water districts, irrigation districts, flood control agencies, water authorities, reclamation districts, and others.
Public agencies not subject to ACF purchase requirements until 2027 must still submit annual reports to CARB prior to that year.
CARB has stated a need to amend the Advanced Clean Fleets Regulation to accommodate AB 1594 requirements, and will do so at a future date. ACWA will participate in this process when it occurs.
Questions
For questions about the Advanced Clean Fleets Regulation, please contact ACWA State Relations Advocate Nick Blair at (916) 441-4545.
For questions about AB 1594, please contact ACWA State Relations Director Adam Quiñonez at (916) 441-4545.