(a)
It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to encourage local agencies and private enterprise to implement potential water conservation and reclamation projects by establishing a state program to finance or assist in financing projects which meet state criteria and will result in additional supplies of water for use in areas of need. Water conservation and reclamation projects, including facilities for municipal and industrial advanced waste water treatment, regulatory impoundments, improvements to water supply and delivery systems, tailwater recovery systems, and sprinkler or drip irrigation systems, may result in increased quantities of usable water for beneficial purposes, but may be financially unattractive at the local level if the cost of additional fresh water is less than the cost to conserve or reclaim water.
(b)
It is in the interests of both the users of water supplied by the state and the users of local water supplies to undertake water conservation and reclamation projects which supply water for purposes of the State Water Resources Development System at a cost less than the cost of new state water development facilities, and which provide benefits to local water users, including decreased salt concentrations, resulting from increased irrigation efficiency and reduced problems of pollution from waste water discharges. It is not the intent of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to affect or otherwise defer the construction of water facilities necessary to meet the requirements of the people of this state, and nothing in this chapter shall be construed to affect the authority of the department under any other provision of law.