| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to state policies and the evaluation of practices |
|
|
regarding water development and conservation. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 1.003, Water Code, is amended to read as |
|
|
follows: |
|
|
Sec. 1.003. PUBLIC POLICY. It is the public policy of the |
|
|
state to provide for the conservation and development of the |
|
|
state's natural resources, including: |
|
|
(1) the control, storage, preservation, and |
|
|
distribution of the state's storm and floodwaters and the waters of |
|
|
its rivers and streams for irrigation, power, and other useful |
|
|
purposes; |
|
|
(2) the reclamation and irrigation of the state's |
|
|
arid, semiarid, and other land needing irrigation; |
|
|
(3) the reclamation and drainage of the state's |
|
|
overflowed land and other land needing drainage; |
|
|
(4) the conservation and development of its forest, |
|
|
water, and hydroelectric power; |
|
|
(5) the navigation of the state's inland and coastal |
|
|
waters; |
|
|
(6) the maintenance of a proper ecological environment |
|
|
of the bays and estuaries of Texas and the health of related living |
|
|
marine resources; |
|
|
(7) the voluntary stewardship of public and private |
|
|
lands to benefit waters of the state; [and] |
| |
|
|
(8) the promotion of rainwater harvesting for potable |
|
|
and nonpotable purposes at public and private facilities in this |
|
|
state, including residential, commercial, and industrial |
|
|
buildings; |
|
|
(9) the facilitation of the efficient and effective |
|
|
use of innovative and alternative water treatment technologies |
|
|
whenever possible to meet the natural resource needs of this state; |
|
|
and |
|
|
(10) the promotion of direct reuse of reclaimed water |
|
|
for nonpotable purposes whenever possible to enhance and preserve |
|
|
the state's freshwater supply. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Section 10.010, Water Code, is amended to read as |
|
|
follows: |
|
|
Sec. 10.010. POWERS AND DUTIES OF COUNCIL. (a) The council |
|
|
shall: |
|
|
(1) monitor trends in water conservation |
|
|
implementation; |
|
|
(2) monitor and evaluate new technologies for possible |
|
|
inclusion by the board as best management practices in the best |
|
|
management practices guide developed by the water conservation |
|
|
implementation task force under Chapter 109, Acts of the 78th |
|
|
Legislature, Regular Session, 2003; |
|
|
(3) monitor the effectiveness of the statewide water |
|
|
conservation public awareness program developed under Section |
|
|
16.401 and associated local involvement in implementation of the |
|
|
program; |
|
|
(4) develop and implement a state water management |
|
|
resource library; |
|
|
(5) develop and implement a public recognition program |
|
|
for water conservation; |
|
|
(6) monitor the implementation of water conservation |
|
|
strategies by water users included in regional water plans; and |
|
|
(7) monitor target and goal guidelines for water |
|
|
conservation to be considered by the board and commission. |
|
|
(b) New technologies evaluated for possible inclusion in |
|
|
the best management practices guide under Subsection (a)(2) must |
|
|
include technologies associated with agricultural and landscaping |
|
|
irrigation, plumbing retrofits, and hydraulic shock-prevention |
|
|
systems. |
|
|
SECTION 3. Section 10.011, Water Code, is amended to read as |
|
|
follows: |
|
|
Sec. 10.011. REPORT. Not later than December 1 of each |
|
|
even-numbered year, the council shall submit to the governor, |
|
|
lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives a |
|
|
report on progress made in water conservation in this state. The |
|
|
report must include specific statutory, budgetary, and policy |
|
|
recommendations to improve water conservation and management. |
|
|
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |