Amended  IN  Senate  July 12, 2023
Amended  IN  Senate  June 12, 2023
Amended  IN  Assembly  May 04, 2023
Amended  IN  Assembly  March 13, 2023

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 676

Introduced by Assembly Member Bennett

February 13, 2023

An act to amend Section 106 of the Water Code, relating to water.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 676, as amended, Bennett. Water: general state policy.
Existing law establishes various state water policies, including the policy that the use of water for domestic purposes is the highest use of water and that the next highest use is for irrigation.
This bill would specify that the use of water for domestic purposes includes water use for human consumption, cooking, sanitary purposes, and care of household livestock, animals, and gardens. gardens, fire suppression and other safety purposes, and any other purpose determined to be a domestic purpose by a court, as specified.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NO   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 106 of the Water Code is amended to read:

106.
 (a) It is hereby declared to be the established policy of this state that the use of water for domestic purposes is the highest use of water and that the next highest use is for irrigation.
(b) Domestic purposes include water use for purposes such as all of the following:
(1) Human consumption, cooking, or sanitary purposes.
(2) Care of household livestock and animals.
(3) Care of household gardens.
(4) Fire suppression and other safety purposes.
(5) Any other purpose a court finds would be appropriately considered a domestic purpose based on the circumstances in existence and what is generally accepted as a domestic purpose at the time of the litigation before the court.

(4)

(6) Deliveries of water for purposes such as those purposes listed in paragraphs (1) to (3), (5), inclusive, by water corporations regulated by the Public Utilities Commission, community water systems, and other public, municipal, and industrial water agencies.