Improve Water Supply With Proposition 84

John Anderson
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
09/19/2006

Doctors always said drinking eight glasses of water daily is good for our health. But in the Inland Empire, there could come the day that there simply is not enough safe drinking water for all our residents.

This is a fate the Inland Empire Utilities Agency, public health officials, and elected leaders are working hard to change.

Today, the Inland Empire has its unfortunate share of water contamination, such as perchlorate, a solid rocket fuel found in wells and groundwater that must be eliminated. As one of the fastest growing areas in California, the Inland Empire also has its unfortunate share of strained natural resources, such as water supplies and parks, of which we need much more to keep pace with population growth.

We need to implement strategies that invest in our natural resource infrastructures to keep pace with the enormous population growth expected in the coming years, and programs to protect the public health of this burgeoning population.

With state funding for water quality, water supply reliability, natural resources and environmental protection programs critically low, and past bond funds running out as early as this year, we need feasible solutions now.

An important part of this strategy is Proposition 84 on the November ballot.

Proposition 84 provides critical funding for specific issues facing the Inland Empire. It protects our water sources – rivers, lakes, wells and reservoirs – from potential contamination by toxic pollutants. These funds enable local water agencies and treatment facilities to clean up water contamination quickly.

Recently the State Department of Health Services set new standards for perchlorate levels in drinking water. Local water agencies will need to dedicate significant resources to meet these new levels, especially those agencies responsible for cleaning up the more than 450 contaminated groundwater sites – many of which are in San Bernardino County. Proposition 84 funding will help.

Under Proposition 84, local water agencies and water-related programs have access to more than $1.5 billion for safe drinking water, water quality and water management programs. This includes emergency drinking water projects, a safe drinking water revolving fund, a clean water revolving fund, groundwater cleanup loans and grants, and agricultural pollution reduction programs.

Proposition 84 will also generate 1 million to 1.2 million acre-feet of new water for California, according to the Department of Water Resources. One acre-foot of water equals 326,000 gallons; the average California household uses anywhere from half of this to a full one acre-foot each year.

It also helps pay for unfunded mandates to meet new water standards. This will go a long way to help the Inland Empire provide for the water needs of its growing region.

With the passage of Proposition 84, state funds will continue to be available to support the construction of critically needed water supply projects in IEUA's service area, such as the regional Chino Basin Groundwater Recharge Program that is being implemented in partnership with the Chino Basin Watermaster, Chino Basin Water Conservation District and San Bernardino County Flood Control Department.

For fast-growing areas like ours, Proposition 84 also provides funds to improve planning in ways that reduce sprawl and regulatory conflict. Funds would be available to develop regional and local land use plans promoting water conservation, reducing automobile use and fuel consumption, encouraging greater infill and compact development, protecting natural resources and agricultural lands, and revitalizing urban and community centers.

These are all reasons why IEUA was the first water agency in Southern California to officially endorse Proposition 84, which now has more than 300 bipartisan supporters that include Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the Association of California Water Agencies, the League of California Cities, Riverside County, Coachella Valley Association of Governments, Coachella Valley Water District, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Cucamonga Valley Water District, Friends of the Desert Mountain, and Southern California Public Health Association.

More information on Proposition 84 is available at www.yeson84.com.

– John Anderson is board president of Inland Empire Utilities Agency.