It All Starts With Water

For all the talk about sound planning and smart growth, California has had precious little of either. The Legislature has an opportunity now to make a small but significant step toward that goal. SB 221, by Sen. Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica), would require developers of large new housing tracts to provide evidence that adequate water supplies were available before they could begin construction. The only puzzling thing about this bill is its difficulty in getting through the Legislature--this is the third time Kuehl has tried to get it passed.

Nothing is more basic than having enough water to meet the needs of new development. There are no more Owens Valleys or Hoover Dams. California long ago tapped its largest and most available water supplies. Many ground-water basins already are over-drafted, giving up more water each year than is replenished naturally.

Some developers have claimed in their environmental impact reports that they would get their water from the State Water Project, but the project has no water to spare. Much of the state’s future supply will have to come from conservation of existing supplies and reclamation of used water.

The Kuehl bill passed the Senate earlier this year but failed to win the approval of the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee on June 26. The vote was 7 to 0 in the 15-member committee, one short of the eight votes needed to pass. Clearly some members present sided with opponents but did not want to be on the record.

The bill is up for reconsideration Tuesday. If it passes, as by rights it should, it must be approved by the Assembly Local Government Committee on Wednesday to meet a legislative deadline.

The building industry continues to oppose the measure with all the clout of its lobbyists and campaign contributions, while promising to reconsider if its provisions are eased. But if the bill is weakened it will not prevent growth from outstripping the water supply.

No one should buy a new house in California without having in hand assurance of an adequate water supply. With the Kuehl bill, at least buyers in large new subdivisions would have that promise.