Sacramento, CA - California State Assemblymember Dr. Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina) saw his bill to help continue groundwater cleanup in the San Gabriel Valley signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger today.

"This bill is essential to the San Gabriel Valley having its own source of safe, clean water and I am glad the Governor has signed it into law" said Hernandez.

Assembly Bill 1010 is of critical importance to groundwater cleanup efforts in the San Gabriel Valley and would extend the sunset date of the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority (WQA) to July 1, 2017, allowing time for the WQA to further its efforts.

"The Water Quality Authority has worked to ensure that we have a safe and reliable source of drinking water for local residents of the San Gabriel Valley," added Hernandez, "despite the success of the cleanup effort to date, the WQA remains more than $420 million short of accomplishing its mission. We need to take the time to do the job right. With the potential for a water shortage on the horizon for our region, it is essential we continue the cleanup of our own source of water here in the San Gabriel Valley."

The WQA in the last 6 years has secured over $300 million in legal settlements to fund cleanup efforts in the San Gabriel Valley, and has also procured $71 million through the federal appropriations process in the last five years. The WQA has now secured the first $620 million needed to restore the basin. These sources of funding have allowed the WQA to build 6 treatment facilities in the basin that total over $230 million in construction costs.

"This extension allows us to continue the progress and seek additional sources of revenue." said Gabriel Monares, Director of Resource Development for the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority, "Assemblyman Hernandez's efforts on this extension will benefit all residents of the San Gabriel Valley for the next 30 years."

If the WQA had been allowed to sunset the San Gabriel Valley would have lost its primary advocate for groundwater cleanup. Of the water used in the San Gabriel Basin, 92% comes from local groundwater.

"We must retain a stable rate structure to ensure economic vitality and quality of life for local residents", said Hernandez, "without additional funding local rate payers may see their water bills increase and potentially triple."

The San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority was established by the State Legislature (SB1679) on February 11, 1993 to develop, finance and implement groundwater treatment programs in the San Gabriel Basin. Working with local water agencies the WQA has removed over 20 tons of contaminants and their sponsored projects are responsible for removing perchlorate, nitrates, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's) and other industrial contaminants in the basin since discovery of the contamination in 1979.