AB 1366 signed by Gov. Schwarzenegger
Monday, October 12, 2009
SACRAMENTO, CA — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed Assembly Bill 1366 (AB 1366) into law, the Pacific Water Quality Association (PWQA) said in an October 12 press release. News of the signing was also carried in an
October 12 report on California Newswire®.
The law will make it easier for regional water and wastewater agencies in California to impose local bans or restrictions
on water softeners. Some of the agencies have been seeking to reduce salt discharges from water softeners into local
wastewater streams, saying those discharges make it difficult to remove enough salt to be in compliance with state
wastewater regulations. They also say softener discharges return unwanted salt to natural water supplies which are
already stressed.
In a few communities in the state, bans on new softener installations or orders to remove existing ones have been
implemented in the past few years under the older process, which required extensive studies and public ballot
approvals. Under the new law, agencies would have to go through a less extensive “findings” process to implement
softener bans.
Sponsored by Assemblyman Mike Feuer (D- Los Angeles ), AB 1366 was opposed by the Water Quality Association and
the PWQA , whose lobbying efforts resulted in some modifications of the original bill. However, the two organizations,
representing the national and regional point-of-use/point-of-entry water treatment industry, including water softener
dealers and manufacturers, remained unsatisfied with the bill the governor signed.
The bill was supported by California water/wastewater agencies and environmental advocacy groups.
The PWQA says it will hold discussions about the new law immediately for its members and others attending its
annual convention and trade show this week (October 13-16) in Palm Springs , CA .
California Newswire reported that that new law applies to these hydrologic regions of California : South Coast , Central
Coast , San Joaquin Valley , Tulare Lake and the lower half of the Sacramento Valley