By CPSA

The California Pool and Spa Association (CPSA) opposes a new water regulation proposed by the State Water Resources Control Board and has filed comments criticizing the proposed regulation entitled “Making Conservation a California Way of Life.”

The association opposes the proposed regulations on behalf of its members as well as the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) and the International Hot Tub Association (IHTA).

According to John Norwood, CPSA lobbyist, the state’s Water Resources Control Board did not follow proper legal protocols while drafting the potential regulations. Norwood said that California law requires state agencies to perform outreach to stakeholders potentially affected by new regulations.

“Despite 12 stakeholder hearings, the Water Board did not contact CPSA until March of this year when the regulations were all but written,” Norwood said. “As such, the board was unaware of the magnitude that the proposed regulation could have on the swimming pool and spa industry; they did not look at potential alternatives to mitigate such adverse effects; and they were unaware of the economic impact of our industry on the California economy.”

The proposed water regulations seek to limit the amount of water that each water supplier can deliver to their customers annually. If a water supplier violates the limits set by the board, it could be subject to fines of up to $10,000 per day. The regulation does not mandate steps for water suppliers to take to reduce consumption but assume suppliers will use rebates, consumer education, and other means to achieve their goal.

Once enacted, water suppliers must reduce water consumption by 20 percent. Those limits are ratcheted down again in 2030 and again in 2035.

As written, CPSA views the regulation as erroneous by treating swimming pools and spas the same as plant-based landscaping.

The problem with that approach is that it does not factor in the huge reduction in current water deliveries because of the installation of pools and the associated hardscape and fixtures installed to enhance the pool project. Those areas of the project are taken out of irrigation forever, saving an estimated 120,000 acre-feet of water annually. That number grows every year with the installation of new swimming pools.

The Wa t e r B o a r d ’s own background paper indicates that the elimination of turf will be the No. 1 factor in reaching water conservation goals. The installation of swimming pools and spas do just that — eliminate turf.

Norwood said that the Water Board also failed to look at the economic impact of their proposed regulation on the entire pool industry, including small businesses associated with it, and the potential adverse effect on employment within the industry, as mandated by law.

The Water Board must now respond to all written comments submitted relative to the proposed regulations. CPSA takes an active role to this process and will work to educate the board relative to its proposed alternative approach.

Additional hearings on these regulations will be held over the coming months.