Dreier Introduces Water Recycling Initiative
Bill Would Authorize $30 million for Inland Empire Water Project
See Also: Water & Power Subcommittee Hearing Statement (9/10/03)
September 4, 2003
WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman David Dreier (R-CA), Chairman of the House Rules Committee, introduced legislation this week that would authorize $30 million in funding for a water recycling initiative designed to dramatically expand the water supply for the Inland Empire. The Inland Empire Regional Water Recycling Initiative, H.R. 2991, will be considered before the House Committee on Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power next week.
"Water supply issues are of paramount importance in California and we need to come up with unique and innovative solutions to deal with them," Dreier said. "In order to meet the water needs of the Inland Empire, and to help alleviate California's over-dependence on the Colorado River, I introduced this legislation. I view it as a key federal-local partnership to bring a significant amount of new water supply to the region."
H.R. 2991 includes two projects, the first of which will be constructed by the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA) and will produce 70,000 acre-feet of new water annually. The second of these projects, to be constructed by the Cucamonga County Water District (CCWD), will produce an additional 5,000 acre-feet of new water annually. Both projects contribute to water supply reliability and drought proofing immediate region by being a part of regional groundwater basin conjunctive use projects. The legislation enjoys the support of local water officials.
"The Inland Empire Regional Water Recycling Project would develop 75,000 acre-feet per year of new supplies for the most rapidly growing region in California. That is enough new water to meet the needs of 300,000 new residents in San Bernardino County," said Director Wyatt Troxel representing the Rancho Cucamonga area of the Inland Empire Utilities Agency and a member of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. "Given the issues related to the long term availability and adequacy of the imported water supplies from the Colorado River and northern California to southern California coastal plain it is imperative that new local, environmentally sound recycled water supplies be developed."
"The recycled water will provide a 'drought proof' supply for industrial non-potable uses like the Reliant power plant in Rancho Cucamonga and the Inland Paper cardboard manufacturing plant in Ontario plus outdoor landscape irrigation needs at golf courses, parks, school turf and other greenbelts," said Richard Atwater, General Manager of Inland Empire Utilities Agency. "In addition, this will result in lower costs for water and will ensure that our community residents will have a reliable, local supply that will enhance our quality of life."
IEUA and CCWD serve the Cities of Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, Montclair, Chino, Chino Hills, Ontario, and Fontana.
