[ca-gw] opportunity_down_the_drain?

Tue Apr 14 07:39:03 PDT 2009

It doesn't take a hundred legislators to change DHCD's course.  It only
takes a couple.  If you find one who is not interested, go to another.  You
have several to chose from that represent you, and you aren't constrained by
even that.  Find one who sits on the Water, or Environmental ,Committee who
"gets it".

From: ca-standard-bounces at graywater.org
[mailto:ca-standard-bounces at graywater.org] On Behalf Of Sonia Diermayer
Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 12:08 AM
To: linda at sandrabird.com
Cc: ca-standard at graywater.org
Subject: Re: [ca-gw] opportunity_down_the_drain?

Hi Linda--

One graywater stakeholder I talked to seemed to feel that talking to the
legislators would be a waste of energy--they are "not that interested".
Anybody else have experiences to confirm/refute that?

But, if you do try to set up meetings about graywater in Sacto, I'd like to
join you (Adam might remember me from my volunteer work w/FWW last year). 

I have written a general informative article about the graywater code
revision (sent in a separate email). You're welcome to use any or all of it
as background material. (Eventually it will be published in the Sierra Club
Yodeler, but since it has not yet been edited/approved, please cite me
individually as the author, not Sierra Club!)

Thank you for working to rekindle the fire here!

Sonia 

On Apr 13, 2009, at 10:53 PM, linda at sandrabird.com wrote:

A well connected woman has offered to help- this is what she sent me:

I am going to be going up to Sacramento with Adam Scow and others from the
water coalition to lobby Mark Leno's office about desal.  Obviously Adam
will be leading the meeting, so I would have to check with him about this,
but perhaps we can also educate his staff about this code, the hearing on
the 27th and what needs to be changed in it.  We could also try to arrange
an appt with Jared Huffman about this as well- let them know this means
something to their constituents.

Nice work

Do you think you could send a quick summary of the process so far, the first
stakeholders meeting, the letter writing and the next meeting, what's
already happening and what's going to happen soon.  And also, a brief
summary of what the code says now and how it might change- for better or
worse.  Who the opponents to gray water are now and who the allies are.
Doesn't need to be any longer than a page.

Guys- do we have a collective response? Do we want to meet with politicians?
(Notes:  Adam Scow is involved in Food and Water Watch- A National
Organization.  Marin water department has proposed a Desal Plant)

I can respond on my own- but I'd love some back-up.
Linda Nave 

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [ca-gw] opportunity_down_the_drain?
From: linda at sandrabird.com
Date: Mon, April 13, 2009 8:48 pm
To: "Steve Bilson" <stevebilson at rewater.com>
Cc: 'Juliet Lamont' <jlamont at creekcats.com>, ca-standard at graywater.org

Thanks Steve for redirecting us back to the codes.
So.. let's think outside the tank.  What can those of us who can speak,
interpret but not write in the language of code do to support the effort of
changing this code? 
Should we compose a letter to send to... who?- to get their support.  The
gov? All of our senators.  What if all of us emailed a target audience on
the same day?
Ideas- anyone?
Steve (the whole list) the email I sent about what is going in in Marin was
not intentioned as 'support me' I wanted to reopen our dialogue.  The Grey
water group had gone silent.  
I celebrate our re-opening of conversation.
Lets take forth to the masses the embodied power of water- as Steve has
wisely pointed out- we cannot let this opportunity to change the codes go
down the drain!!!
What happened to the support of a tiered system?  Should simple residential
systems be in the same mesh of codes intentioned for larger systems?

Linda Nave

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [ca-gw] EBMUD Board Meetings tomorrow--water pricing!
From: "Steve Bilson" <stevebilson at rewater.com>
Date: Mon, April 13, 2009 7:23 pm
To: "'Sonia Diermayer'" <sodier at mindspring.com>,
<ca-standard at graywater.org>
Cc: 'Juliet Lamont' <jlamont at creekcats.com>

I'm starting to see a lot of tangential matters discussed on the
greywater/org tool. While those other matters are important to water
conservation, we need to stay focused and actively engaged on the state
greywater irrigation code revision process. Looking back on California's
history, this opportunity only comes around once every 14 years or so.

-----Original Message-----
From: ca-standard-bounces at graywater.org
[mailto:ca-standard-bounces at graywater.org
<http://email.secureserver.net/pcompose.php#Compose> ] On Behalf Of Sonia
Diermayer
Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 5:00 PM
To: ca-standard at graywater.org
Cc: Juliet Lamont
Subject: [ca-gw] EBMUD Board Meetings tomorrow--water pricing!
Importance: High

The underpricing of water is a key impediment for all water 
conserving strategies/technologies.
If you are in EBMUD's service area this may interest you!

EBMUD Board Special Meetings (both meetings have impacts on future 
water pricing and both include public comment periods)--
Tues, Apr 14:
1) 8:30am, re: Drought Management Program (see staff report at this 
link)--
https://portal.ebmud.com/about_ebmud/board_of_directors/ 
board_meetings/special_meeting_agenda/staff_reports/ 
041409_drought_workshop_staff_reports.pdf

2) 9:30am, re: Budget and Rates (info about 2010/2011 rates 
interspersed throughout this report)--
https://portal.ebmud.com/about_ebmud/board_of_directors/ 
board_meetings/special_meeting_agenda/staff_reports/ 
041409_budget_rates_staff_reports.pdf

Hope to see others there to speak up for steeper, tiered water rates!
Sonia
Sierra Club SF Bay Chapter Water Committee

As per Juliet Lamont (Sierra Club):
************************************************************************ 
**********************************************
Let's "urge EBMUD to implement aggressive, progressive (e.g. tiered) 
pricing mechanisms (NOT just in droughts!) similar to - or better 
than - Irvine County Ranch District's 5-tier system, where "water 
wasters" at the top levels really get dinged with high prices. This 
is combined with a base level ("water conserver") rate, which allows 
everyone to get a basic amount of water at an affordable rate...but 
anything above that, you are going to start paying, and pay more 
exponentially as your use goes up the tier curve. Fifth (top) tier 
is very expensive.

This program has been extremely successful in promoting water 
conservation in the Irvine Ranch District's area (conservative 
southern CA), and has been very popular with consumers, thanks to an 
excellent PR and education/outreach program implemented along with 
the tiered rates. So, fully possible!

We should be doing at LEAST that here. Water is too cheap!!!"
************************************************************************ 
*************************************************
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