ACWA Adopts Principles on Conservation, Water Use Efficiency

SACRAMENTO, CA, Mar 30 (MARKET WIRE) --
The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) has formally adopted
policy principles supporting the goal of reducing per capita water use by
20% statewide by 2020 and committing the association to aggressively
support water conservation and water use efficiency as part of a
comprehensive solution to the state's water challenges.

The principles, adopted today by ACWA's Board of Directors, express strong
support for achieving the 20% aggregate reduction in water use statewide
in a manner that recognizes local conditions. The conservation and water
use efficiency principles give urban and agricultural water agencies
flexibility to implement programs that work for their service areas.

The principles are intended to expand on ACWA's 2005 water policy
document, "No Time to Waste: A Blueprint for California Water," and guide
the association as it considers legislative and regulatory proposals on
conservation.

"With these principles, we are significantly raising the bar on
conservation as an industry," ACWA Executive Director Timothy Quinn said.
"We are making a strong statement in support of achieving real reductions
in water use statewide. We want to own the goal, but ensure local
flexibility to get there. We are committed to working with the
Legislature, state agencies and other stakeholders to create a policy
framework and sound technical foundation to do that."

The principles state ACWA's support for measuring, reporting and
monitoring water use statewide as a way of providing accountability and
transparency toward meeting conservation goals. They also state ACWA's
support for the use of volumetric pricing wherever appropriate for urban
and agricultural water supplies to encourage conservation and efficiency.

The ACWA Board also adopted a formal policy statement on proposals related
to Delta Vision. The statement expresses support for the physical
solutions laid out by the Delta Vision Blue Ribbon Task Force and the
cabinet-level Delta Vision Committee and commits ACWA to work
cooperatively to develop an effective governance approach to the Delta.

ACWA is a statewide association of public agencies whose 450 members are
responsible for about 90% of the water delivered in California. For more
information, visit www.acwa.com.

Contact:
Jennifer Persike
ACWA Director of Strategic Coordination and Public Affairs
916/441-4545
916/296-3981 (cell)

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