House Approves Inland Empire
Water Recycling Initiative
July 19, 2004
WASHINGTON, DC- Congressman David Dreier (R-San Dimas), Chairman of the
House Rules Committee, today praised the bipartisan passage of legislation
that will provide federal support to two new water recycling projects in the
Inland Empire. The Inland Empire Water Recycling Initiative,
H.R. 2991,
was approved by voice vote.
“With the passage of the CalFed authorization less than two weeks ago, it is
imperative that we continue to approve measures preventing water supply
shortages in the Western United States,” Dreier said. “This recycling
initiative will help meet the water needs of the Inland Empire and begin a
strategic federal-local partnership to bring a significant amount of new water
supply to the region.”
H.R. 2991
authorizes two new water recycling projects under the U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation’s Title XVI program. When combined, the two projects will produce
75,000 acre feet of new water annually. The legislation has the support of all
member agencies of the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA), as well as the
water agencies downstream in Orange County. The IEUA produces recycled water
for a variety of non-potable purposes, such as landscape irrigation,
agricultural irrigation, construction, and industrial cooling. By replacing
these water-intensive applications with high-quality recycled water, fresh
water can be conserved or used for drinking, thereby reducing the dependence
on expensive imported water. Additionally, by recycling water which would
otherwise be wasted and unavailable, IEUA provides that the water available
goes through at least one more cycle of beneficial use before it is ultimately
returned to the environment. The IEUA encompasses approximately 242 square
miles and serves the cities of Chino, Chino Hills, Fontana, Ontario, Upland,
Montclair, and Rancho Cucamonga.
Dreier thanked many colleagues for their support in moving the legislation to
the floor, including House Resources Chairman Richard Pombo (R-CA),
Subcommittee on Water and Power Chairman Ken Calvert (R-CA), as well as
Congressmen Gary Miller (R-CA) and Joe Baca (D-CA) and Congresswoman Grace
Napolitano (D-CA). He also thanked Mr. Robert DeLoach, General Manager of the
Cucamonga County Water District, and Mr. Rich Atwater, CEO and General Manager
of the Inland Empire Utilities Agency, for their tireless work on behalf of
the Inland Empire.
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