As part of their 2009 legislative priorities, the Metropolitan Water District's Board of Directors last Tuesday adopted a position of support for a state mandated retrofit at the point of sale on interior home fixtures, such as toilets, shower heads and faucets. According to the staff report, the aim of the legislation is that:

"Public agencies shall require that no new or existing structures within their respective jurisdictions shall be sold or transferred unless all existing plumbing fixtures in the structure are retrofitted exclusively with water-conserving plumbing fixtures. Compliance with this section shall be included as a condition of escrow for any sale or transfer."

This proposal is not a new idea, just a retread of failed nanny state policies. With the housing market struggling mightily, do we really need another barrier to buying a home?

There are already incentive programs in place to address replacement of older toilets and shower heads. Why not use existing programs before putting another hurdle in front of people trying to sell their homes in the worst housing market in recent memory?

Of the  agencies that weighed in MWD, Anaheim led the charge and voted against this boneheaded policy. Kudos to their rep, Marcie Edwards for voting to protect ratepayers. Hopefully this legislation gets crushed down the road.