[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 44 (Wednesday, March 14, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E539]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     INTRODUCTION OF THE BAY AREA REGIONAL WATER RECYCLING PROGRAM 
                       AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 14, 2007

  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Madam Speaker, today I am pleased to 
be joined by many of my colleagues in introducing legislation to help 
the San Francisco Bay Area to solve its water challenges. The bill is a 
revision of legislation I first introduced in the 109th Congress, and 
will provide local agencies with the Federal partner that they need to 
implement an ambitious and forward-thinking regional water recycling 
program.
  The City of Pittsburg and the Delta Diablo Sanitation District, in my 
congressional district, have been leading the charge, investing time, 
energy, and local funds in developing water recycling projects to help 
meet regional water needs.
  My new legislation, the Bay Area Regional Water Recycling Program 
Authorization Act of 2007, would authorize a federal partner for the 
effort in Pittsburg, as well as for similar programs in Antioch, Palo 
Alto, Mountain View, Pacifica, South Santa Clara County, Redwood City, 
and San Jose.
  We put the tools for these Federal-local water recycling partnerships 
in place with the historic Reclamation Projects Authorization and 
Adjustment Act of 1992, which not only included my Central Valley 
Project Improvement Act but featured a provision now known simply as 
the ``Title XVI'' water recycling program.
  In my introductory remarks for last year's version of the bill, I 
made the case for the Title XVI program and the importance of water 
recycling. Although the Bush administration continues to oppose funding 
water recycling, the case has only gotten stronger since then, as 
evidenced by the breadth of local support for this bill and for the Bay 
Area Regional Water Recycling Program. I am also including in the 
record an editorial from the Contra Costa Times supporting the earlier 
bill.
  The Bay Area Regional Water Recycling Program is a collaboration of 
public utilities that helps to meet our region's and state's growing 
water needs through a set of recycling and reclamation projects. The 
projects in this coalition have been repeatedly vetted, both internally 
at the local level and through each step of the Title XVI review 
process.
  Although these worthy projects have supplied local funding, and 
secured matching State funding, they still need the Federal partner to 
step up. There is a clear Federal interest in these projects, as there 
is in the other successful regional recycling programs like those of 
Southern California. A good water recycling program stretches existing 
supplies and provides certainty to all of the water users in the area; 
conflict can be reduced even in a critically dry year. As we all know, 
a stable and reliable regional water supply makes good neighbors.

  This new bill authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to participate 
in the following Bay Area water reuse projects: Antioch Recycled Water 
Project (Delta Diablo Sanitation District, City of Antioch); Pacifica 
Recycled Water Project (North Coast County Water District); Mountain 
View/Moffett Area Water Reuse Project (City of Palo Alto, City of 
Mountain View); Pittsburg Recycled Water Project (Delta Diablo 
Sanitation District, City of Pittsburg); Redwood City Recycled Water 
Project; South Santa Clara County Recycled Water Project (Santa Clara 
Valley Water District, South County Regional Wastewater Authority); and 
South Bay Advanced Recycled Water Treatment Facility (Santa Clara 
Valley Water District, City of San Jose).
  These seven projects are estimated to make 12,205 acre-feet of water 
available annually in the short term, and 37,600 acre-feet annually in 
the long term, all while reducing demand on the Delta and on existing 
water infrastructure. The new bill also directs the U.S. Bureau of 
Reclamation to fully fund the San Jose Area Water Reclamation and Reuse 
Project, first authorized in the original Title XVI legislation.
  These programs are a fiscal and environmental win-win, and 
encouraging them is sound federal policy. I commend my original 
cosponsors for joining in this effort to support our region's water 
recycling initiative: Reps. Anna Eshoo, Ellen Tauscher, Tom Lantos, 
Mike Honda, Zoe Lofgren, Jerry McNerney, and Pete Stark.
  I'm glad to be working with my Bay Area colleagues to help our 
region's water reuse program, and I urge my colleagues to support this 
legislation.

              [From the Contra Costa Times, Jan. 25, 2007]

                          Fund Water Recycling

       One of the most effective ways to protect our environment 
     and efficiently use natural resources is recycling. It is 
     particularly true of water, which can be used more than once.
       There is no good reason to flush wastewater into rivers, 
     bays, estuaries and the ocean if it can be treated and used 
     again for other purposes such as irrigating parks and golf 
     courses.
       That is the philosophy behind six Bay Area water recycling 
     projects ready to begin once they are fully funded. They are 
     in Pittsburg, Antioch, Pacifica, Palo Alto-Mountain View, 
     Redwood City and South Santa Clara County.
       The recycled water will be treated and piped to water golf 
     courses, parks, school grounds and roadway medians, and will 
     be used by some businesses.
       Half of the money for the projects will come from local 
     sources. One-fourth will come from the state, including 
     Proposition 50 funds. Another one-fourth will come from the 
     federal government under a bill sponsored by Rep. George 
     Miller, D-Martinez.
       Pittsburg has taken the lead in the recycling effort, has 
     raised local money, has some of the infrastructure in place 
     and already is doing some recycling. Antioch is not far 
     behind.
       Both cities are at the top of the list for the second round 
     of state funding for recycled-water projects.
       However, the Department of Water Resources, which can 
     approve the money by administrative decision, needs a bit of 
     prodding by local legislators.
       Miller's bill, HR 6218, which has bipartisan support, also 
     needs quick approval.
       Together, the six Bay Area projects would recycle nearly 
     10,000 acre-feet of water per year. That is not a large 
     percentage of the total volume of water used in the area, but 
     it is a significant amount and would help spur more recycling 
     efforts.
       The total cost of the six projects is $74.8 million. But 
     the state and federal governments' share is only $18.7 
     million each. The state money already is available, and there 
     is no reason to believe the federal funds will not be 
     forthcoming.
       Recycling is not the only way to meet the Bay Area's and 
     California's water needs, but it must be part of the 
     solution. Not only does it use water effectively, it also 
     reduces pollution of the Delta, San Pablo Bay and San 
     Francisco Bay.
       We trust state and federal officials will agree and act 
     quickly to help local efforts to recycle an essential 
     resource.

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