West Basin advances 2026 policy slate targeting reuse funding and PFAS liability protections

West Basin advances 2026 policy slate targeting reuse funding and PFAS liability protectionsThe Water Policy & Legislation Committee has recommended board adoption of new legislative priorities designed to safeguard ratepayer interests amid evolving federal regulations and to support the massive Pure Water Southern California program.

Committee recommends Board adoption of 2026 Legislative & Regulatory Priorities, emphasizing 'polluter pays' protections for passive receivers.

District actively tracking HR 6204 to reauthorize funding for large-scale recycling projects like Pure Water Southern California.

Metropolitan Water District analysis indicates potential new recharge basins could increase yield by 7,700 acre-feet per year.

Staff monitoring federal push to increase Delta pumping, which conflicts with state operating guidelines.

Support noted for the PERMIT Act (H.R. 3898) to extend NPDES permit terms from five to ten years.

On December 15, 2025, the West Basin Municipal Water District’s Water Policy & Legislation Committee moved to recommend that the full Board of Directors adopt the District’s Draft Policy Principles and 2026 Legislative & Regulatory Priorities. The updated policy platform focuses heavily on securing funding for regional recycled water infrastructure and mitigating financial risks associated with emerging contaminants. Water Policy and Resources Analyst Augustine Hahn presented the updates, noting specific changes regarding the 'polluter pays' principle. The revised language explicitly identifies water and wastewater facilities as 'passive receivers' to ensure they are exempt from cleanup costs associated with PFAS and other constituents of concern. This policy stance aligns with the District’s monitoring of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2026, which Hahn noted would delay a ban on the military’s use of PFAS-containing firefighting foams for at least two years. A primary driver for the District’s legislative engagement is the Pure Water Southern California program. This initiative marks a strategic pivot for Metropolitan, which has historically funded member agency recycling efforts but is now advancing its first self-led large-scale project, targeting 150 million gallons of treated wastewater per day. Hahn highlighted the introduction of the Large-Scale Water Recycling Reauthorization Act (H.R. 6204) by Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV), which would extend the Bureau of Reclamation’s Title XVI grant program for another five years. This program has already provided more than $125 million to the partnership between the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Metropolitan) and the Southern Nevada Water Authority. Providing a simultaneous update on Metropolitan’s activities, Senior Water Policy and Resources Analyst Tammy Hierlihy reported on the progress of Pure Water Southern California. Metropolitan staff recently completed an evaluation of purchasing new recharge basins near Irwindale, which could provide an additional 7,700 acre-feet per year of deliveries. Hierlihy noted that the return on investment for these basins is projected to be net positive, with costs recovered within six to 12 years. The final Environmental Impact Report for the program is expected in early 2026, a critical step toward the targeted start of water deliveries in 2033. The Committee also discussed the shifting regulatory landscape regarding imported water. Hahn reported that on December 4, 2025, the Trump Administration announced a plan to increase pumping from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to Central Valley farmers. Supporters estimate this could increase supplies by 129,000 acre-feet annually, while opponents argue it conflicts with state environmental protections. Hahn noted that the State of California plans to release revised operating guidelines in late December to address these contradictions. Regarding permitting reform, Hahn informed the Committee that the House of Representatives passed the PERMIT Act (H.R. 3898). The bill includes a provision long supported by West Basin to extend the terms of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits from five years to ten years. The Committee, consisting of Chair Gloria Gray and Director Donald Dear, approved moving the action item to the full Board for final adoption.