Current Status: Chaptered

FindHOALaw Quick Summary:

Existing law requires the Department of Water Resources (DWR) and the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to take appropriate actions to prevent unreasonable uses or wasting of water. Existing law authorizes a public entity that supplies water to adopt and enforce water conservation programs to reduce water usage and conserve water.

SB 814 (Hill) would add Section 1 to Chapter 3.3 of Division 1 of the Water Code to prohibit excessive water use by a residential customer during a drought. It would require “urban water suppliers” to establish methods to identify and restrict excessive water use (i.e., the establishment of a rate structure using block tiers, water budgets, penalties for prohibited uses, or rate surcharges). The Bill will also authorize the establishment of excessive use water ordinances and make violations of such ordinances punishable by a fine of at least $500 per 100 cubic feet of water above established thresholds. SB 814 would also specify that the State is not required to reimburse local agencies or school districts for any costs they incur in adopting and/or complying with State-mandated water conservation measures. SB 814’s changes to the law would apply only during periods of government-declared droughts.

**UPDATE: SB 814 was signed by the Governor on August 30, 2016. It’s changes to the law will become operative on January 1, 2017. 

View more info on SB 814
from the California Legislature's website