Local Water Bill Awaits President's Signature

Press Release

The U.S. House of Representatives, last night, passed legislation 291-117 that includes provisions authored by Rep. Darrell Issa to authorize the use of federal funds to construct a water pressurization system that will deliver water from Eastern Municipal Water District's reclamation plants. When constructed, the project will provide greater local protection from drought and reduce the district's need to import water.

S. 2739, Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008, which passed through the Senate on April 10 contains the language of Rep. Issa's H.R. 30.

"The area that the Eastern Municipal Water District provides water for is one of the fastest growing in the country," said Rep. Issa. "Riverside County is facing constantly increasing pressure to find new sustainable ways to meet the areas water supply needs and to accommodate future growth. I'm pleased that Congress has finally passed this project that will lead to an increased use of reclaimed water in Southern California where the threat of shortages and drought are almost always present."

H.R. 30, which was included in S. 2739, authorizes the appropriation of up to $12 million for the federal share of the project up to 25 percent of the total cost. The Bureau of Reclamation estimates that the project will cost $49 million and it expects the project to take 10 to 15 years to build.

Rep. Issa, while pleased that the water pressurization system project will be authorized, voted against S. 2739 because the legislation combined contentious land restrictions with non-controversial projects like H.R. 30 and permanently blocks exploration for natural energy resources on millions of acres of federal land.

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