Adequate supplies are currently maintained only by intensive management of complex, overtaxed, and aging water infrastructure. By 2020, California's population is projected to grow almost 50 percent, to more than 47 million people. Drinking water standards are expected to become more stringent. The cost of drinking water treatment and water recycling continues to increase.
Water is vital to virtually all parts of our diverse economy.
Funding should be provided for technical assistance and implementation. The combined economic effect of conservation, recycling, other water efficiency efforts, water transfers, and new water supply development should be considered collectively, not just on individual merit, so that optimum system-wide solutions are achieved. Such an improvement would have the added benefit of reduced treatment costs at the local level. Stage One investments and other actions must help resolve what needs to be done to meet present and future water quality standards. The increase in new pollution loading in the watershed must be mitigated.