The Morning Report
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I talked again today with Craig Benedetto, a spokesman and lobbyist for several developers, about the implications of the city of San Diego’s steps to require un-forecasted developments to offset their water use.
I looked at the issue in a story today, which examined the city’s use of offsets as a way to keep long-term water demand on track with forecasts.
Benedetto said:
They’re making policy by executive fiat, and it’s coming at significant expense. Retailers are going to be paying the cost of what I consider to be targeted, expensive mechanisms, rather than looking at the bigger picture: How we’re going to address our regional needs. They’re forcing this policy on people without any policymaker saying, ‘This is what we should do.’
Benedetto questioned why the city should look at broader solutions — such as wide-scale water reuse, including the connection of sewage recycling facilities to the city’s aquifers.