PUB00146 ‎(2)‎

• Year: 2005
• Title: Western States Water Council - San Antonio, TX., October 18-21, 2005
• CWCB Section: Administration
• Description: Western States Water Council - San Antonio, TX., October 18-21, 2005
• Publications - Doc Type: Water Policy

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ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES
500 North Third Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85004
Telephone [phone]
Fax [phone]

Western States Water Council (WSWC)
Executive Committee
San Antonio, Texas
October 20, 2005

5)

Janet Napolil"O
Goveraor

Herbert R. Gunther
Director

Concepts to consider for presentation to Western Governor's Association (WGA):

AwnS! Water Infrastructure
Establish a revolving fund or "growing trust" to help fund renovation or replacement of water
infrastructure that has exceeded or is nearing the end of its functional life. The corpus of the
fund could 'be created over several years from a mix of Federal, State and Local funding. The
sources of funding could include general fund appropriations, surcharges, user fees or other
appropriate long term fund raising methods. The concept of a "growing trust" involves
limiting use to a percentage of dividends earned to support the renovation program. For
instance, you could partition the fund 75 percent permanent corpus, 25 percent low interest
revolving loans and no more than 90 percent of annual dividends used for grants. The
oversight of the fund could be provided by an appointed board of trustees. This type of fund
demands both patience and discipline, but once the corpus is large enough, it will keep up
with both demand and inflation indefinitely.

Desalination
WSWC and WGA join forces to petition major science groups and universities to investigate
problems associated with desalination. Current issues include brine stream disposal, both
ocean and interior, reliable and affordable energy sources, membrane fouling and low
pressure membrane development. The world's oceans are the most plentiful source of water
for desalination. The oceans cover 71 % of the earth's surface with an estimated volume of
1.11 quadrillion acre-feet. As a result of advances in membrane technology, the cost of
desalination has decreased from about $2000 per acre-foot in 1995 to $800 per acre-foot
today. Desalination will be extremely important in long-term water supplies globally, but
especially to the western United States, both coastal and interior.

Drou2ht Relief Act
Working with WGA, draft a Drought Relief Act patterned after the Stafford Disaster Relief
Act with emphasis on preparedness and mitigation programs ahead of drought. Prepare an
action plan for congressional sponsorship, introduction and lobby efforts. While initial
efforts would be western, the proposed Act and action plan should be National in scope.

Cerebrating 25 years