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This legislation might be hard to swallow: Lawmakers are considering a bill that would clear the way for California communities to put highly treated wastewater directly into the drinking water supply.

“The media likes to start off with the catchy phrase toilet to tap,” said Jennifer West, managing director of Water Reuse, about the intensive purification process. “But there’s a lot that goes on between toilet and tap.”

Those criteria could incorporate a level of public health protection as good as or better than what is currently provided by conventional drinking water supplies.” — Water Resources Control Board.

Assembly Bill 574, authored by Assembly Member Bill Quirk, D-Hayward, would require the State Water Resources Control Board to develop regulations in four years for “direct potable reuse” provided research on public health issues is completed.

Anne C. Mulkern, E&E News reporter

California's Legislature passed a 10-year extension of the state's cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gas emissions with a robust, bipartisan two-thirds vote, a move leaders hailed as evidence that the Golden State will lead on climate change.

"Tonight, California stood tall and once again, boldly confronted the existential threat of our time," Gov. Jerry Brown (D) said in a statement after yesterday's vote. "Republicans and Democrats set aside their differences, came together and took courageous action. That's what good government looks like."

Lawmakers approved A.B. 398, which extends cap and trade through 2030, and partner measure A.B. 617, which sets up rules aimed at cutting local pollution. They also passed A.C.A. 1, a constitutional amendment. Starting in 2024, the Legislature have a say in how all program revenues are spent.

By BRIAN ROKOS | brokos@scng.com | The Press-Enterprise

Southern California Edison officials don’t want to pop your balloon.

Actually, they want you to do it.

With hundreds more electrical outages attributed to metallic balloons short-circuiting power lines in 2015 and 2016 than in previous years, Edison is mounting a campaign in large type on roadside billboards and movie theater screens, asking revelers to party carefully.

That means weighing down those metallic helium balloons you’re buying for Father’s Day on June 18, never releasing them outside and cutting them into pieces to dispose of them.

‘It’s about being responsible’