Ocean Standards

State Water Resources Control Board - Resolution No. 77-1

Policy With Respect To Water Reclamation In California

Whereas:

  1. The California Constitution provides that the water resources of the State be put to beneficial use to the fullest extent of which they are capable, and that waste or unreasonable use or unreasonable method of use of water be prevented, and that conservation of such waters is to be exercised with a view to the reasonable and beneficial use thereof in the interest of the people and for the public welfare;

  2. The California Legislature has declared that the State Water Resources Control Board and each Regional Water Quality Control Board shall be the principal state agencies with primary responsibility for the coordination and control of water quality;

  3. The California Legislature has declared that the people of the State have a primary interest in the development of facilities to reclaim water containing waste to supplement existing surface and underground water supplies;

  4. The California Legislature has declared that the State shall undertake all possible steps to encourage the development of water reclamation facilities so that reclaimed water may be made available to help meet the growing water requirements of the State;

  5. The Board has reviewed the document entitled "Policy and Action Plan for Water Reclamation in California", dated December 1976. This document recommends a variety of actions to encourage the development of water reclamation facilities and the use of reclaimed water. Some of these actions require direct implementation by the Board; others require implementation by the Executive Officer and the Regional Boards. In addition, this document recognizes that action by many other state, local, and federal agencies and the California State Legislature would also encourage construction of water reclamation facilities and the use of reclaimed water. Accordingly, the Board recommends for its consideration a number of actions intended to coordinate with the program of this Board;

  6. The Board must concentrate its efforts to encourage and promote reclamation in water-short areas of the State where reclaimed water can supplement or replace other water supplies without interfering with water rights or instream beneficial uses or placing an unreasonable burden on present water supply systems; and

  7. In order to coordinate the development of reclamation potential in California, the Board must develop a data collection, research, planning, and implementation program for water reclamation and reclaimed water uses.

Therefore, Be It Resolved:

  1. That the State Board adopt the following Principles:
    1. The State Board and the Regional Boards shall encourage, and consider or recommend for funding, water reclamation projects which meet Condition l, 2, or 3 below and which do not adversely impact vested water rights or unreasonably impair instream beneficial uses or place an unreasonable burden on present water supply systems;
      1. Beneficial use will be made of wastewaters that would otherwise be discharged to marine or brackish receiving waters or evaporation ponds,
      2. Reclaimed  water will replace or supplement the use of fresh water or better quality water,
      3. Reclaimed water will be used to preserve, restore, or enhance instream beneficial uses which include, but are not limited to, fish, wildlife, recreation and esthetics associated with any surface water or wetlands.
    2. The State Board and the Regional Boards shall (1) encourage reclamation and reuse of water in water-short areas of the State, (2) encourage water conservation measures which further extend the water resources of the State, and (3) encourage other agencies, in particular the Department of Water Resources, to assist in implementing this policy.
    3. The State Board and the Regional Boards recognize the need to protect the public health including potential vector problems and the environment in the implementation of reclamation projects.
    4. In implementing the foregoing Principles, the State Board or the Regional Boards, as the case may be, shall take appropriate actions, recommend legislation, and recommend actions by other agencies in the areas of (1) planning, (2) project funding, (3) water rights, (4) regulation and enforcement, (5) research and demonstration, and (6) public involvement and information.
  2. That, in order to implement the foregoing Principles, the State Board:
    1. Approves Planning Program Guidance Memorandum No. 9, "PLANNING FOR WASTEWATER RECLAMATION",
    2. Adopts amendments and additions to Title 23, California Administrative Code Sections 654.4, 761, 764.9, 783, 2101, 2102, 2107, 2109, 2109.1, 2109.2, 2119, 2121, 2133(b)(2), and 2133(b)(3),
    3. Approves Grants Management Memorandum No. 9.01, "WASTEWATER RECLAMATION",
    4. Approves the Division of Planning and Research, Procedures and Criteria for the Selection of Wastewater Reclamation Research and Demonstration Projects,
    5. Approves "GUIDELINES FOR REGULATION OF WATER RECLAMATION",
    6. Approves the Plan of Action contained in Part III of the document identified in Finding Five above,
    7. Directs the Executive Officer to establish an Interagency Water Reclamation Policy Advisory Committee. Such Committee shall examine trends, analyze implementation problems, and report annually to the Board the results of the implementation of this policy, and
    8. Authorizes the Chairperson of the Board and directs the Executive Officer to implement the foregoing Principles and the Plan of Action contained in Part III of the document identified in Finding Five above, as appropriate.
  3. That not later than July 1, 1978, the Board shall review this policy and actions taken to implement it, along with the report prepared by the Interagency Water Reclamation Policy Advisory Committee, to determine whether modifications to this policy are appropriate to more effectively encourage water reclamation in California.
  4. That the Chairperson of the Board shall transmit to the California Legislature a complete copy of the "Policy and Action Plan for Water Reclamation in California".

Certification

The undersigned, Executive Officer of the State Water Resources Control Board, does hereby certify that the foregoing is a full, true, and correct copy of a resolution duly and regularly adopted at a special meeting of the State Water Resources Control Board held on January 6, 1977.

 Dated: January 6, 1977

/signed/

Bill B. Dendy

Executive Officer