AB 836

Bill Subjects

Abstract

(1) The California Building Standards Law provides for the adoption of building standards by state agencies by requiring all state agencies that adopt or propose adoption of any building standard to submit the building standard to the California Building Standards Commission for approval and adoption. Existing law requires the commission to conduct research to assist in the development of mandatory green building standards for the installation of recycled water systems for newly constructed commercial and public buildings, in consultation with the State Water Resources Control Board and other interested parties. This bill would require, on or before January 1, 2023, the commission to adopt mandatory building standards requiring that a newly constructed nonresidential building be constructed with dual plumbing to allow the use of recycled water for all applicable nonpotable water demands, as defined, if that building is located within an existing or planned recycled water service area, as specified. This bill would require, on or before January 1, 2023, the commission to adopt mandatory building standards requiring that a newly constructed nonresidential building with a total gross floor area of 100,000 square feet or more be constructed with dual plumbing to allow the use of nonpotable water sources for all applicable nonpotable water demands and provide for the collection, onsite treatment, and reuse of available onsite rainwater, graywater, and foundation drainage. The bill would establish exemptions to these requirements, including waiver by the board on a project-by-project basis if the board finds that strict compliance would have a significant adverse impact on public health, downstream water rights, water quality, operation of a sewer collection or treatment system, or plant life, fish, or wildlife. (2) Existing law requires the State Water Resources Control Board to establish uniform statewide recycling criteria for each varying type of use of recycled water where the use involves the protection of public health. Existing law requires the board, in consultation with the California Building Standards Commission and the Department of Housing and Community Development, to adopt regulations for risk-based water quality standards for the onsite treatment and reuse of nonpotable water, as provided. Existing law requires a local jurisdiction that elects to establish a program for onsite treated nonpotable water systems to, among other things, adopt, through ordinance, a local program that includes the risk-based water quality standards established by the board. Existing law prohibits the board from administering a local jurisdiction's program in place of a local jurisdiction that is unable to effectively implement its program while protecting public health or that decides to terminate its program. This bill would delete that prohibition. The bill would require the board, on or before January 1, 2024, to establish a program for large onsite treated nonpotable water systems, as defined, for local jurisdictions that do not have a local program for onsite treated nonpotable water systems. The bill would authorize the board to establish a reasonable schedule of fees for reimbursement of its costs of establishing and operating the program.