GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2011

H                                                                                                                                                   D

HOUSE DRH80182-TA-22  (03/01)

 

 

 

Short Title:        NC Water Efficiency Act.

(Public)

Sponsors:

Representatives McGrady and Samuelson (Primary Sponsors).

Referred to:

 

 

 

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to improve the efficiency of use of North CAROLINA'S water resources.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 143-355(l) reads as rewritten:

"(l)        Local Water Supply Plans. - Each unit of local government that provides public water service or that plans to provide public water service and each large community water system shall, either individually or together with other units of local government and large community water systems, prepare a local water supply plan and submit it to the Department for approval. The Department shall provide technical assistance with the preparation of plans to units of local government and large community water systems upon request and to the extent that the Department has resources available to provide assistance. At a minimum, each unit of local government and large community water system shall include in local water supply plans all information that is readily available to it. Plans shall include present and projected population, industrial development, and water use within the service area; present and future water supplies; an estimate of the technical assistance that may be needed at the local level to address projected water needs; current and future water conservation and water reuse programs; a description of how the local government or large community water system will respond to drought and other water shortage emergencies and continue to meet essential public water supply needs during the emergency; and any other related information as the Department may require in the preparation of a State water supply plan. A unit of local government or large community water system shall submit a revised plan that (i) includes a local water efficiency plan under subsection (l1) of this section and (ii) specifies how the water system intends to address foreseeable future water needs when eighty percent (80%) of the water system's available water supply based on calendar year average daily demand has been allocated to current or prospective water users or the seasonal demand exceeds ninety percent (90%). Local plans shall be revised to reflect changes in relevant data and projections at least once each five years unless the Department requests more frequent revisions. The revised plan shall include the current and anticipated reliance by the local government unit or large community water system on surface water transfers as defined by G.S. 143-215.22G. Local plans and revised plans shall be submitted to the Department once they have been approved by each unit of local government and large community water system that participated in the preparation of the plan."

SECTION 2.  G.S. 143-355 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:

"(l1)      Local Water Efficiency Plans. - Each unit of local government that prepares a local water supply plan under subsection (l) of this section shall prepare a detailed local water efficiency plan that provides for reducing the long-term per capita demand for potable water and submit it to the Department for approval. The local water efficiency plan under this section shall include policies and practices that by the year 2016 will result in residential water use at a level that does not exceed 100 gallons for each person each day, by 2025 will result in residential water use at a level that does not exceed 75 gallons for each person each day, and by 2035 will result in residential water use at a level that does not exceed 45 gallons for each person each day."

SECTION 3.  G.S. 143-355.4(b) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:

"(8)      Has implemented a water fixture and appliance retrofit and incentive program."

SECTION 4.  G.S. 159-52(a) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:

"(13)    If a unit has prepared a local water efficiency plan under G.S. 143-355, the unit's compliance with the local water efficiency plan."

SECTION 5.  G.S. 159G-36 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:

"(d)      DWSRF Set Aside for Water Use Reduction Goals. - Not less than twenty percent (20%) of the Drinking Water Reserve shall be used for loans or grants for projects that would assist recipients in achieving the residential water use reduction goals set out in local water efficiency plans under G.S. 143-355."

SECTION 6.  The Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall provide statewide outreach and technical assistance as needed regarding water efficiency, which shall include the development of best management practices for community water efficiency and conservation. These best management practices shall address at least all of the following practices:

(1)        Integrating water efficiency and conservation into water supply plans.

(2)        Conducting regular water audits to identify revenue and nonrevenue water and water losses.

(3)        Adopting water loss abatement programs.

(4)        Metering and submetering of existing multiunit residential, commercial, and industrial complexes.

(5)        Retrofitting fixtures, equipment, and irrigation systems to make them more water efficient.

(6)        Landscaping in a manner that conserves water use and is regionally appropriate.

(7)        Employing water reuse practices that include harvesting rainwater and using grey water.

(8)        Pricing water to achieve comprehensive conservation and adopting full-cost accounting in line with the recommendation approved by the State Water Infrastructure Commission in November 2010.

SECTION 7.  The State Water Infrastructure Commission, in consultation with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the School of Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the North Carolina Utilities Commission, the Public Staff of the North Carolina Utilities Commission, and the Local Government Commission shall examine the impacts and benefits of water conservation and efficiency on utilities and users and develop recommendations for mitigating any of the financial impacts of implementing this act for a unit of local government or public water supplier and for assuring sustainable revenues to operate and maintain its water system.

SECTION 8.  The State Water Infrastructure Commission and the North Carolina Utilities Commission shall work together to develop recommendations for electric utility and water utility coordination to increase both water efficiency and energy efficiency within their systems.  The State Water Infrastructure Commission and the North Carolina Utilities Commission shall report to the Environmental Review Commission annually on the progress and effectiveness of this coordination no later than November 1, 2012.

SECTION 9.  This act becomes effective October 1, 2011.