Article 3. Water Recycling Program of California Water Code >> Division 24. >> Chapter 5. >> Article 3.

Unless the context otherwise requires, the following definitions govern the construction of this article:
  (a) "Eligible recycling project" means a water reclamation project that meets applicable reclamation criteria and water reclamation requirements and that complies with applicable water quality standards, policies, and plans.
  (b) "Subaccount" means the Water Recycling Subaccount created by Section 78621.

(a) (1) There is hereby created in the account the Water Recycling Subaccount. The sum of sixty million dollars ($60,000,000) is hereby transferred from the account to the subaccount for the purpose of implementing this article.
  (2) All money repaid to the state pursuant to any contract executed under the Clean Water and Water Reclamation Bond Law of 1988 (Chapter 17 (commencing with Section 14050) of Division 7) shall be deposited in the Water Recycling Subaccount in the Clean Water and Water Recycling Account in the Safe Drinking Water, Clean Water, Watershed Protection, and Flood Protection Bond Fund created by Section 79136, for the purposes set forth in Article 4 (commencing with Section 79135) of Chapter 7 of Division 26.
  (b) Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, the money in the subaccount is hereby continuously appropriated, without regard to fiscal years, to the board for loans to public agencies to construct, operate, and maintain eligible recycling projects, for loans to aid in the design and construction of eligible recycling projects, for grants in accordance with Section 78628, and for the purposes described in Section 78629 and subdivision (a) of Section 78630.

The board may enter into contracts to make loans to public agencies for the purposes set forth in this article. Factors to be considered by the board in determining whether to enter into a contract under this article may include, but are not limited to, whether the project is cost-effective or necessary to protect water quality.

Any contract for a loan entered into pursuant to Section 78622 may include those provisions determined by the board to be necessary for purposes of this chapter and shall include both of the following provisions:
  (a) An estimate of the reasonable cost of the eligible recycling project.
  (b) An agreement by the public agency to proceed expeditiously with, and complete, the eligible recycling project, commence operation of the project in accordance with applicable provisions of law, and provide for the payment of the public agency's share of the cost of the project, including the principal of, and interest on, the loan.

(a) A contract for a loan may not provide for a moratorium on the payment of the principal of, or interest on, the loan.
  (b) Any loan made pursuant to Section 78622 shall be for a period not to exceed 20 years.
  (c) The board may enter into a contract for a loan of up to 100 percent of the total eligible cost of design and construction of an eligible recycling project.

(a) The board shall establish the interest rate for a loan made pursuant to this article at a rate equal to 50 percent of the interest rate paid by the state on the most recent sale of state general obligation bonds, to be computed according to the true interest cost method.
  (b) If the interest rate so determined is not a multiple of one-tenth of 1 percent, the interest rate shall be set at the next higher multiple of one-tenth of 1 percent.
  (c) The interest rate set for each contract shall be applied throughout the repayment period of the contract. There shall be a level annual repayment of principal and interest on the loans.

Unallocated funds remaining in the subaccount on March 8, 2000, and any funds deposited into the subaccount after that date, shall be transferred to, and all money repaid to the state pursuant to any loan contract executed under this article shall be deposited in, the Water Recycling Subaccount in the Clean Water and Water Recycling Account in the Safe Drinking Water, Clean Water, Watershed Protection, and Flood Protection Bond Fund for the purposes set forth in Section 79140.

All interest earned by assets in the subaccount shall be deposited in the subaccount.

The board may make grants to public agencies for facility planning studies for water reclamation projects. The amount of the grants may not exceed seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) per study.

The board may, by contract or otherwise, undertake plans, surveys, research, development, and studies necessary, convenient, or desirable to carry out the purposes of this article, and may prepare recommendations with regard thereto, including the preparation of comprehensive statewide or areawide studies and reports on water recycling and the collection, treatment, disposal, and distribution of wastewater under a comprehensive cooperative plan.

Not more than 3 percent of the total amount deposited in the subaccount may be used to pay for both of the following purposes:
  (a) To pay the costs incurred in connection with the administration of this article.
  (b) For the purposes of Section 78629.