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H.B. 153

             1     

WATER CONSERVATION PLAN UPDATES

             2     
1999 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Sponsor: Judy Ann Buffmire

             5      AN ACT RELATING TO WATER AND IRRIGATION; REQUIRING WATER
             6      CONSERVATION PLANS TO BE UPDATED AT LEAST EVERY FIVE YEARS.
             7      This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
             8      AMENDS:
             9          73-10-32, as enacted by Chapter 305, Laws of Utah 1998
             10      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             11          Section 1. Section 73-10-32 is amended to read:
             12           73-10-32. Water conservation plan required.
             13          (1) As used in this section:
             14          (a) "Board" means the Board of Water Resources created under Section 73-10-1.5 .
             15          (b) "Division" means the Division of Water Resources created under Section 73-10-18 .
             16          (c) "Retail" means the level of distribution of culinary water that supplies culinary water
             17      directly to the end user.
             18          (d) "Retail water provider" means a supplier of culinary water to the end user.
             19          (e) (i) "Water conservation plan" means a written document that contains ideas,
             20      suggestions, or recommendations as to what can be done by state and local governments, retail
             21      water providers, and the end user of culinary water to help conserve water and limit or reduce its
             22      use in the state in terms of per capita consumption so that adequate supplies of water are available
             23      for future needs.
             24          (ii) Each "water conservation plan" shall contain recommendations for water saving
             25      measures that may include:
             26          (A) the installation and use of water efficient fixtures and appliances, including toilets,
             27      shower fixtures, and faucets;


             28          (B) residential and commercial landscapes and irrigation that require less water to
             29      maintain;
             30          (C) more water efficient industrial and commercial processes involving the use of water;
             31          (D) water reuse systems, both potable and not potable;
             32          (E) distribution system leak repair;
             33          (F) dissemination of public information regarding more efficient use of water, including
             34      public education programs, customer water use audits, and water saving demonstrations;
             35          (G) water rate structures designed to encourage more efficient use of water;
             36          (H) statutes, ordinances, codes, or regulations designed to encourage more efficient use
             37      of water by means such as water efficient fixtures and landscapes;
             38          (I) incentives to implement water efficient techniques, including rebates to water users to
             39      encourage the implementation of more water efficient measures; and
             40          (J) other measures designed to conserve water.
             41          (2) (a) Before April 1, 1999, each water conservancy district under Title 17A, Chapter 2,
             42      Part 14, Water Conservancy Districts, and each retail water provider shall:
             43          (i) (A) prepare or adopt a water conservation plan if one has not already been adopted; or
             44          (B) if the district or provider has already adopted a water conservation plan, review the
             45      existing water conservation plan to determine if it should be amended and, if so, amend the water
             46      conservation plan; and
             47          (ii) file a copy of the water conservation plan or amended water conservation plan with the
             48      division.
             49          (b) Before adopting or amending a water conservation plan, each water conservancy
             50      district or retail water provider shall hold a public hearing with reasonable, advance public notice.
             51          (3) (a) The board shall:
             52          (i) study ways to implement the water conservation plans of the water conservancy districts
             53      and the retail water providers;
             54          (ii) develop recommendations on how to implement those plans; and
             55          (iii) report its recommendations to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment
             56      Interim Committee of the Legislature at its meeting in November 1999.
             57          (b) The board's report to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim
             58      Committee may include a recommendation:


             59          (i) that each water conservancy district and retail water provider devote part of at least one
             60      regular meeting of its governing body to a discussion of the water conservation plan and allow
             61      public comment on it;
             62          (ii) to implement a notification procedure that includes the delivery of the water
             63      conservation plan to the media and to the governing body of each municipality and county served
             64      by the water conservancy district or retail water provider;
             65          (iii) that certain eligibility requirements, including the adoption of a water conservation
             66      plan, be met before a water conservancy district or retail water provider may receive any state
             67      funds for water development;
             68          (iv) for the coordination of conservation and drought management plans; and
             69          (v) regarding any other measure designed to conserve water.
             70          (4) Each water conservancy district and retail water provider specified under Subsection
             71      (2)(a) shall:
             72          (a) update its water conservation plan no less frequently than every five years; and
             73          (b) follow the procedures required under Subsection (2) when updating the water
             74      conservation plan.
             75          [(4)] (5) It is the intent of the Legislature that the water conservation plans, amendments
             76      to existing water conservation plans, and the study and recommendations by the board be handled
             77      within the existing budgets of the respective entities or agencies.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-27-99 1:20 PM


A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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