Water-conserving plumbing fixtures: CalConserve Water Use Efficiency Revolving Fund.

Existing law includes specified requirements to replace plumbing fixtures that are not water conserving, defined as "noncompliant plumbing fixtures," to residential and commercial real property built and available for use on or before January 1, 1994, as specified. Existing law defines "commercial real property," "multifamily residential real property," and "water-conserving plumbing fixture" for purposes of these provisions. This bill would apply these requirements, as specified, to commercial real property regardless of when it was built. Existing law requires on and after January 1, 2014, replacement of noncompliant plumbing fixtures in specified multifamily residential real property and commercial real property. Existing law requires on or before January 1, 2019, replacement of noncompliant fixtures in all multifamily residential real property and commercial real property. This bill would, for commercial property, instead require, on and after January 1, 2017, the replacement of any noncompliant plumbing fixture or fitting in specified additions, alterations, and improvements to commercial real property and, on or before January 1, 2021, the replacement of any noncompliant plumbing fixture or fitting in all commercial real property in accordance with a specified schedule based on the amount of floor space. The bill would define "noncompliant plumbing fixture" and "water-conserving plumbing fixture" for purposes of these requirements to refer to compliance with the State Energy Conservation and Development Commission standards. The bill would also encourage retail water providers to provide on-bill financing options to customers to assist with funding for water efficiency improvements and would make legislative findings in support of these provisions. Existing law establishes the CalConserve Water Use Efficiency Revolving Fund and provides that the moneys in the fund are available to the Department of Water Resources, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the purpose of water use efficiency projects. Existing law requires moneys in the fund to be used for specified purposes including for local agencies, as defined, to provide low-interest loans to customers to finance the installation of onsite improvements to repair or replace, as necessary, cracked or leaking water pipes to conserve water. This bill would authorize county offices of education and governing boards of school districts to receive moneys from the fund by including those entities in the definition of a local agency.