What’s happening with water treatment and water conservation in California?
article The California Department of Water Resources says it is on the verge of launching a pilot program to provide water treatment facilities for the state’s nearly 500,000 households, businesses, and other public entities that don’t have access to tap water.
The program will be implemented beginning in 2019, when the state aims to have 100,000 homes with at least one tap water treatment facility.
“It’s a very good start,” said John Hoey, a spokesman for the DWR.
“The goal is to get it going and see how it works.”
Hoey noted that the DPR already provides water treatment for the entire state, and that many residents have access only to municipal tap water, and do not have access at home.
California, the second-most populous state in the United States, has a long history of relying on tap water for drinking and cooking, and the drought has exacerbated that situation.
The state has been struggling to meet the statewide goal of achieving 100 percent of its residents and businesses having access to drinking water by the end of 2019.
The DWR estimates that about 2 million homes, businesses and households would benefit from the pilot program.
It said that in order to provide the most cost-effective solution, the pilot will be managed by an independent contractor that would ensure that the cost of providing the water treatment is reasonable and that the state has the appropriate technical infrastructure in place to handle the operation.
“We will be making decisions about how we do this,” Hoe, the DBR spokesman, said.
“It’s an interim step, but it’s an important one.
We hope to see the program come to fruition in the next few years.”
The state has set aside $100 million to help pay for the water supply pilot program, which will require the payment of a one-time fee for households, business and individual customers.
The cost of the program is estimated at $6.3 billion.
California’s water treatment program was announced in October, and is intended to make the state a leader in water conservation and to protect water quality, according to a press release.
The program has the support of the Sierra Club, the League of Conservation Voters, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and local water conservation groups.
The DWR, which has a mission to improve the quality of water and ensure water is treated safely, will lead the program.
In addition to providing the state with water, the water program will help address the state and local costs associated with water quality and other water-related issues.
The California Department for Public Utilities and Water Supply said that it is seeking public comment on the pilot’s pilot program by March 11.
A public hearing is scheduled for March 26.