[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 16 (Tuesday, February 15, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E242]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           INLAND EMPIRE REGIONAL WATER RECYCLING INITIATIVE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DAVID DREIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 15, 2005

  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to re-introduce the Inland 
Empire Regional Water Recycling Initiative, to authorize water 
recycling projects under the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Title XVI 
program. This legislation, which passed the House in the 108th 
Congress, is an important component of southern California's regional 
water management.
  This Initiative includes two projects, the first of which will be 
constructed by the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA) and will 
produce 90,000 acre feet of new water annually. The second of these 
projects, to be constructed by the Cucamonga Valley Water District 
(CVWD), will produce an additional 5,000 acre feet of new water 
annually. Between these two projects, 95,000 acre feet of new water 
will be produced annually before the end of the decade.
  With the recent passage of the CalFed authorization, it is imperative 
that we continue to approve measures preventing water supply shortages 
in the Western United States. The Inland Empire region is one of the 
fastest growing areas in the nation. Reducing our dependence on 
imported water from the Colorado River and northern California will 
have significant regional benefits including reduced water shortages, 
energy savings, improved water quality, and job creation. The passage 
of the Inland Empire Water Recycling Initiative will continue the 
federal-local partnership to bring a significant amount of new water 
supply to the region.
  IEUA produces recycled water for a variety of non-potable purposes, 
such as landscape irrigation, agricultural irrigation, construction, 
and industrial cooling. By replacing these water-intensive applications 
with high-quality recycled water, fresh water can be conserved or used 
for drinking, thereby reducing the dependence on expensive imported 
water. In addition, by recycling water which would otherwise be wasted 
and unavailable, IEUA provides that the water available goes through at 
least one more cycle of beneficial use before it is ultimately returned 
to the environment.
  The Inland Empire Regional Water Recycling Initiative has the support 
of all member agencies of lEUA, as well as the water agencies 
downstream in Orange County. IEUA encompasses approximately 242 square 
miles and serves the cities of Chino, Chino Hills, Fontana (through the 
Fontana Water Company), Ontario, Upland, Montclair, Rancho Cucamonga 
(through the Cucamonga Valley Water District), and the Monte Vista 
Water District.
  I want to thank the House Resources Committee, and Chairman Richard 
Pombo, for moving this bill to successful passage on the House floor 
during the last Congress. I look forward to working closely with him 
again, and with the new Water and Power Subcommittee Chairman George 
Radanovich. I also want to thank my colleagues, Ken Calvert, Grace 
Napolitano, Gary Miller, and Joe Baca for cosponsoring the Inland 
Empire Water Recycling Initiative. And last but certainly not least, I 
commend the hard work and dedication of Mr. Robert DeLoach, General 
Manager of the Cucamonga Valley Water District, and Mr. Rich Atwater, 
CEO and General Manager of the Inland Empire Utilities Agency, who both 
work tirelessly on behalf of the Inland Empire.

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