With the passage of California SB 790, also known as the Stormwater Resource Planning Act, ozone treatment programs like the one being piloted in Agoura Hills, CA to clean up pollution in local streams could become a popular alternative to building large, expensive water treatment facilities.
The bill, authored by Sen. Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills) and recently signed into law, creates a new framework for California cities to deal with storm water issues. Storms carry fast moving water as it races through the streets, picking up trash, oil, and other pollutants and carrying them to the sea.
The bond includes billions of dollars for cleaning up groundwater, recycling and reusing water, improving watershed programs, restoring the L.A. River, and other regional water projects. The bill will allow cities to tap bond funds from the state and use the money for projects that reduce or reuse storm water.