Section 13451 Of Chapter 6.1. Water Conservation And Water Quality Bond Law Of 1986 From California Water Code >> Division 7. >> Chapter 6.1.
13451
. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) An abundant supply of clean water is essential to the public
health, safety, and welfare.
(b) An abundant supply of clean water fosters the beauty of
California's environment, the expansion of industry and agriculture,
maintains fish and wildlife, and supports recreation.
(c) The state's growing population has increasing needs for clean
water supplies and adequate treatment facilities.
(d) It is of paramount importance that the water resources of the
state be protected from pollution and conserved, and that the
groundwater basins of the state be recharged whenever possible to
ensure continued economic, community, and social growth.
(e) The chief cause of water pollution is the discharge of
inadequately treated waste into the waters of the state.
(f) Local agencies have the primary responsibility for the
construction, operation, and maintenance of facilities to cleanse our
waters, to conserve water, and recharge groundwater basins.
(g) Rising costs of construction have pushed the costs of
constructing treatment facilities and facilities to conserve water
and recharge groundwater basins beyond the ability of local agencies
to pay.
(h) Because water knows no political boundaries, it is desirable
for the state to contribute to the construction of these facilities
in order to meet its obligations to protect and promote the health,
safety, and welfare of its people and the environment.
(i) Voluntary, cost-effective capital outlay water conservation
programs can help meet growing demand for clean and abundant water
supplies.
(j) Recharge of groundwater basins is an effective way to maximize
availability of scarce water supplies throughout the state.
(k) California's abundant streams, rivers, bays, estuaries, and
groundwater are threatened with pollution from agricultural drainage
water which could threaten public health and fish and wildlife
resources and impede economic and social growth if left unchecked.
Proper containment structures and treatment facilities could provide
for the handling of agricultural drainage water in an environmentally
sensitive manner.
(l) (1) It is the intent of this chapter to provide funds for the
construction of cost-effective containment structures and treatment
facilities for the treatment, storage and disposal of agricultural
drainage water.
(2) It is the further intent of this chapter to provide funds for
voluntary, cost-effective capital outlay water conservation programs
and groundwater recharge facilities cooperatively carried out by
local agencies and the department.