SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — California is in the midst of a historic drought, and Calif. Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Glendale) has continued his focus on delivering new sources of clean water. Gatto’s legislation to help reduce the barriers for onsite-water recycling and allow more Californians to participate in safe and sustainable recycled-water practices was approved by the Assembly’s Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee on a 15-0 vote.
“Having access to recycled water will cut back on the use of drinking water for non-potable tasks such as irrigation, toilet-flushing, and cleaning,” said Gatto. “AB 1463 would help homeowners, businesses, and municipalities meet California’s water-quality standards and water-supply needs.”
This is the latest in a series of efforts by Gatto, regarding the drought, to increase California’s stewardship of water resources, remove unnecessary barriers to creative technologies, and cut costs to consumers.
“Californians will have to be both proactive and innovative in preserving one of this state’s most essential and precious resources,” said Gatto. “This legislation will not only provide the state and local municipal agencies like Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena with savings in their water-supply, it will save homeowners and businesses where it matters most, their pocketbooks.”
AB 1463 continues Gatto’s previous legislative efforts to address California’s water shortage:
– In 2011, the Legislature passed Gatto’s AB 849, which require cities to permit the use of graywater unless there was a demonstrated threat to public health or the environment.
– In 2012, the Legislature passed Gatto’s AB 2230, requiring all new carwashes to use 60% recycled water by 2014.
– In 2014, Gatto’s AB 2282 established requirements for new buildings in areas served by recycled water systems to be plumbed to use recycled water.
– Just last month, the Legislature’s and Governor Brown’s emergency drought relief package funded Gatto’s CalConserve legislation (AB 2636 became law in 2015), a revolving loan fund for water-use efficiency retrofits.
– Gatto was also a principal co-author of the $7.5 billion water bond approved by voters last November.
Mike Gatto is the Chairman of the Consumer Protection and Privacy Committee, and the longest-serving current member of the State Assembly. He represents California’s 43rd Assembly District, which includes Burbank, Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta, Montrose, and the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Atwater Village, East Hollywood, Franklin Hills, Hollywood Hills, Los Feliz, and Silver Lake. www.asm.ca.gov/gatto
