SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) today announced Governor Schwarzenegger signed his measure, AB 1881, to significantly increase water conservation in California through new landscape irrigation requirements. The measure implements Task Force recommendations resulting from Mr. Laird’s AB 2717, which asked the California Urban Water Conservation Council to convene a stakeholder task force charged with making recommendations for reducing landscape water use.

“Water conservation is the one approach to addressing water supply that works in every area of California,” said Mr. Laird. “Because the pumping, movement and storage of water is energy-intensive, this bill should also be considered part of California’s unfolding strategy to combat climate change.”

AB 1881 aims to reduce water use by:

· Requiring landscape water meters for all new water connections, except single family homes and agricultural connections;

· Requiring the California Department of Water Resources to develop—and local agencies to adopt—an updated landscape water conservation ordinance;

· Requiring the California Energy Commission to adopt performance standards for irrigation equipment; and

· Prohibiting common interest developments (such as condominiums) from restricting the use of low water-using plants.

The bill is supported by a wide variety of environmental groups, landscape and irrigation interests, water agencies and other local government agencies including:

Association of CA Water Agencies
CA Association of Nurseries & Growers
CA Farm Bureau Federation
CA Landscape Contractors Association
CA Sod Producers Association
CA Urban Water Conservation Council
Council for a Green Environment
Delta Bluegrass Company
East Bay Municipal Utilities District
Eastern Municipal Water District
Friends of the River
Irrigation Association
Metropolitan Water District of Southern CA
Mono Lake Committee
Natural Resources Defense Council
Olivenhain Municipal Water District
Planning and Conservation League
San Diego County Water Authority
Santa Clara Valley Water District
Sonoma County
Sierra Club
Water Replenishment District of Southern CA