Senate BillNo. 552


Introduced by Senator Wolk

February 26, 2015


An act to add Section 116325.5 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to water.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 552, as introduced, Wolk. Public water systems: disadvantaged communities: drinking water standards.

Existing law, the California Safe Drinking Water Act, requires the State Water Resources Control Board to administer provisions relating to the regulation of drinking water to protect public health, including, but not limited to, conducting research, studies, and demonstration programs relating to the provision of a dependable, safe supply of drinking water, enforcing the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, adoption of enforcement regulations, and conducting studies and investigations to assess the quality of water in domestic water supplies. Existing law requires the state board to ensure that all public water systems are operated in compliance with the act.

This bill would require, by January 1, 2017, the state board to develop a plan, including enforcement mechanisms, to ensure that disadvantaged communities have water systems that are in compliance with state and federal drinking water standards. The bill would require the plan to identify strategies to help bring disadvantaged communities into compliance with safe drinking water standards.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

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SECTION 1.  

The Legislature finds and declares all of the
2following:

3(a) An estimated 500 public water systems in disadvantaged
4communities rely on, and have to pay high rates for, sources of
5drinking water that do not meet state and federal safe drinking
6water standards.

7(b) Although funding sources are available to assist
8disadvantaged communities with needed capital improvements,
9these communities often lack governance infrastructure, technical
10expertise, and the ability to pay for the ongoing operations and
11maintenance costs necessary to continue to meet the state and
12federal drinking water standards.

13

SEC. 2.  

Section 116325.5 is added to the Health and Safety
14Code
, to read:

15

116325.5.  

(a) On or before January 1, 2017, the State Water
16Resources Control Board shall develop a plan, including
17enforcement mechanisms, to ensure that disadvantaged
18communities have water systems that are in compliance with state
19and federal drinking water standards.

20(b) The plan shall identify strategies to help bring the
21disadvantaged communities into compliance with safe drinking
22water standards, including the following:

23(1) Improved, effective governance structure.

24(2) Access to technical assistance.

25(3) Implementation of capital improvements.

26(4) Sources of revenue to fund ongoing operations and
27maintenance costs.



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