Laird Targets Sea Rise Impacts and Water Conservation with New Climate Change Bills

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) today announced the introduction of three bills that highlight an expansion of the fight against the effects of climate change by focusing on coastal preparation for the effects of sea rise and increased indoor and outdoor water conservation—the movement of water is the single greatest consumer of electricity in California, the generation of which creates greenhouse gas emissions.

“The success of last year’s climate change legislation changed the debate in Sacramento and across the state. Californians have never been more focused on our environment than we are today,” said Assemblymember Laird.  “We’re learning quickly how important it is to expand the climate change discussion to include preparing for future impacts, while also working today to reduce consumption that results in global warming.  Water conservation is a key strategy in the fight, since pumping, purifying, flushing and treating water consumes massive energy in California.”

AB 1066 Local Coastal Plans

The objective of this bill is to increase local coastal preparedness for impacts to climate change, such as sea level rise, by revising local plans and seeking financial assistance for local communities.  A recent survey of local coast managers by the National Center for Atmospheric Research indicates these communities are highly vulnerable to climate change impacts and need state and federal assistance to adequately prepare or mitigate for these impacts.

The bill requires coastal cities and counties to consider climate change impacts when preparing, updating or amending a Local Coastal Plan as required by the Coastal Commission. The bill also requires the Commission to assist local governments in obtaining state and federal financial assistance to understand, mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts.

AB 715 Water Conservation/High-efficiency toilets

This bill would set new water flush volume standards by making use of existing high-efficiency toilet technology.  All new homes, schools, office buildings and other construction would be required to utilize high-efficiency toilets. 

The average Californian uses an estimated 70 to 80 gallons of water a day indoors, with toilets accounting for approximately one-third of water use—more than any other indoor source.  The new standards are expected to save California 200 million gallons of water in the first year alone, enough water to fill 300 Olympic-sized swimming pools.  By the tenth year the new standards will be in place, the state is expected to save over 8 billion gallons of water per year—more than the total amount of bottled water that Americans consumed in 2005.

Because water is pumped over hundreds of miles in California, treated, pressurized, flushed and eventually pumped to the ocean, there are also significant energy savings that will result from implementation of the bill.  The Pacific Institute estimates 19 percent of California’s electricity is consumed by water systems.

AB 1420 Water Conservation/Outdoor

The intent of this bill is to use water as efficiently as possible in urban areas by increasing the implementation of urban water conservation measures.  Compliance with conservation measures in urban areas is estimated to result in an annual water savings of approximately 98 billion gallons statewide—nearly the capacity of Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.  Currently, state law requires 14 conservation measures to be included in a local water supplier’s Urban Water Management Plan. Examples of the conservation measures include retrofit toilet programs, school education, and water system audits.

The bill requires, as a condition of eligibility for state grants, that urban water suppliers implement the water conservation measures.