(a)
The Legislature finds and declares that the growing water needs of the state require the development of cost effective and efficient water supply technologies. Desalination technology is now feasible to help provide significant new water supplies from seawater, brackish water, and reclaimed water. Desalination technology can also provide an effective means of treating some types of contamination in water supplies. Desalination is consistent with both state water supply and efficiency policy goals, and joint state-federal environmental and water policy and principles promoted by the Cal-Fed Bay Delta Program.
(b)
It is the policy of this state that desalination projects developed by or for public water entities be given the same opportunities for state assistance and funding as other water supply and reliability projects, and that desalination be consistent with all applicable environmental protection policies in the state.
(c)
It is the intention of the Legislature that the department shall undertake to find economic and efficient methods of desalting saline water so that desalted water may be made available to help meet the growing water requirements of the state.