CALVERT ADDRESSES ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA WATER AGENCIES

WASHINGTON, DC - Yesterday Congressman Ken Calvert (R-CA), Chairman of the Water and Power Subcommittee, addressed the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) about water issues in the West and plans for the remainder of the legislative year.

"California and the West will need multiple components such as water reclamation, transfers and desalination in order to provide a solution to increasing water demand," said Rep. Calvert. "My bill, H.R. 2828, incorporates all these parts and I look forward to marking up the bill in full committee next month."

Congressman Calvert called on the water agencies to support his bill and support the Bureau of Reclamation and Title XVI water reclamation projects. He recognized water agencies, such as the Long Beach Water Department, for working on projects to further California's water supply and new water technologies.

"In the weeks ahead, it will be essential that California's congressional delegation unite behind Chairman Calvert's bipartisan legislation to put these options to work in our state," said ACWA's Executive Director Steve Hall. "With his leadership, we've come very far toward revitalizing the federal commitment to California water. We need to get this bill passed and get the commitment confirmed."

"New technology, such as improving desalination to the point where it is an affordable option and finding new ways to reclaim water, will be crucial to sustain the population growth in California," stated Rep. Calvert. "There is no such thing as wastewater; we need to reuse every drop again and again."