Bill would require water meters

 

Residential water meters would be required in Sacramento and various other communities under legislation sent Tuesday to the governor.

The Assembly voted 56-18 to concur in Senate amendments on AB 2572 and send it to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has not yet taken a position.

The bill, proposed by Assemblywoman Christine Kehoe, D-San Diego, would allow meters to be installed gradually over a 20-year period.

AB 2572 would apply to unmetered cities or towns with 3,000 or more customers. Communities would be required to base water charges on usage by January 2011 for homeowners who have meters by that date.

Within Northern California, AB 2572 would affect Sacramento, Modesto, South Lake Tahoe, Woodland, Lodi, Elk Grove, Galt, Marysville, Oroville and other communities.

If the bill is signed into law, any community that refuses to install meters could see the state reject future requests for financial assistance or permits for projects involving wastewater treatment, water efficiency or water storage.