Legislative Solutions

While there are no current legislative matters at this time, it's important to note that on September 6, 2011, California Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill (AB) 134 into law.

AB 134 - authored by Assemblymember Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) and coauthored by Senate President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), Senator Lois Wolk (D-Davis) and Assemblymember Alyson Huber (D-El Dorado Hills) - gives the Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District (SRCSD) the ability to apply for a water rights permit for an amount of water equal to the amount it treats and discharges to the Sacramento River. SRCSD now has the ability to market and sell that water both in and out of the Sacramento region to generate revenue that could help lessen the $2 billion burden on ratepayers and enhance SRCSD's role as a positive partner in Delta ecosystem restoration and water supply reliability.

Background Information

In December 2010, the Central Valley Water Board adopted a new wastewater discharge permit for SRCSD. The permit contains new, very strict requirements resulting in the need for new treatment processes at SRCSD's wastewater treatment plant that will cost Sacramento ratepayers approximately $2 billion. SRCSD filed a lawsuit in the Sacramento Superior Court on December 30, 2011 requesting relief from the filtration, disinfection, and ammonia removal requirements contained in its new permit. Although SRCSD is requesting relief from permit requirements, efforts like AB 134 have the potential over the long term to assist with costs associated with treatment facility upgrades.

Here are resources with more information on AB 134:

Legislative support letters from regional community leaders >>>

Newsletter on Governor Brown's action on AB 134 >>>

Assemblymember Dickinson on AB 134 >>>

Fact sheet on AB 134 >>>

Copy of AB 134 bill text >>>