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Senator Dianne Feinstein introduced a revised drought relief water bill that puts California one step closer to comprehensive water policy reform, according to California Citrus Mutual (CCM) President Joel Nelsen.

“The introduction of the California Long-Term Provisions for Water Supply and Short-Term Provisions for Emergency Drought Relief Act by Senator Dianne Feinstein identifies several paths by which California can improve its water infrastructure and create a more reliable water system for all water users,” says Nelsen.  “Everybody wants something.  Most want to help people and the environment as well as sustain the production of food and fiber. But, the stakeholders who are singularly focused have been an impediment to improving California’s water crisis.”

Many water users had hoped that February would be the final month for water budgets. However, the use of water budgets continues. The next review will be April 1 when the state looks again at the amount of snow in the mountains.

Customers of California Water Service in Chico and Oroville may notice they have a box on their bill that states: “water bank.” When a customer does not use the full amount of water allowed each month under the current water budgets, the extra water goes into a “water bank.” Customers may want to use those units of water later this year, when the weather is extremely hot.

Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Wednesday relaunched a big California water bill, in what might be cast as the triumph of hope over experience.

Unveiling her third proposal in the past two years for ways to divide California’s water supply among many competing interests, Feinstein packaged her latest 184-page measure as a reasonable compromise that draws the best from past Capitol Hill efforts.

The need to find new water sources is critical, according to Stan Williams, vice president of project development for Poseidon Water in Carlsbad.

“Global water consumption is doubling every 20 years, and all accessible fresh-water resources are already allocated,” Williams told the Rotary Club of Los Altos Jan. 28.

Williams, who moved to the private sector after 13 years as CEO of the Santa Clara Valley Water District, mentioned desalination of seawater as a solution to the state’s pressing water needs.

Despite a wet winter, California’s historic drought continues to spark fierce — even bitter — debate over how the state’s water needs should be met in the future.

The core issue is whether we should primarily rely on conservation of what may be a permanently diminished water supply, or make more energetic efforts to increase the supply with new dams and reservoirs, desalination plants, etc.