BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 2737
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Date of Hearing: May 14, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
AB 2737 (Committee on ESTM) - As Amended: April 21, 2014
Policy Committee: Environmental
Safety and Toxic Materials Vote: 6-1
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill requires the California Department of Public Health
(DPH) to establish an unspecified number of pilot projects to
improve drinking water. Specifically, this bill:
1)Requires DPH to develop and implement drinking water pilot
projects in the Salinas Valley, Tulare Lake Basin, and
Coachella Valley, in economically disadvantaged areas in which
high levels of arsenic or nitrate contamination have been
detected in the drinking water. Requires the pilot projects
to remain in effect for a minimum of three years and requires
DPH to report pilot project results to the Legislature.
2)Requires the pilot projects to do the following:
a) Collect data to determine the drinking water needs of
schools and communities in economically disadvantaged areas
with high levels of arsenic or nitrate contamination.
b) Collect data or information necessary to develop
regulations to implement effective solutions to
contamination of the drinking water, including regulations
governing water treatment devices.
c) Authorize community-based nonprofit organizations to
develop and implement effective interim and long-term
solutions designed to ensure safe drinking water in those
communities.
d) Provide technical assistance to community-based
nonprofit organizations to improve drinking water.
e) Include installation water treatment costs including
operations and maintenance costs for a minimum of three
years.
AB 2737
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f) Consider the use of point-of-use or point-of-entry water
treatment systems based on cost and system effectiveness.
FISCAL EFFECT
Unknown, potentially significant increased costs between
$500,000 and $1 million per pilot project for DPH to conduct
pilot projects in the three specified regions of the state.
COMMENTS
1)Rationale. According to the author, community-based
non-profit organizations are helping to create
community-driven pilot filtration projects in areas, such as
the San Joaquin Valley, that have high levels of nitrate and
arsenic. This effort helps provide access to interim sources
of safe drinking water while long-term solutions are being
developed.
A University of California, Davis (UCD) study released in
January 2012 found nitrate contamination in the four county
Tulare Lake Basin and the Monterey County portion of the
Salinas Valley to be widespread and chronic, and the result of
crop and animal agricultural activities. The impact of
nitrates on groundwater resources will likely worsen in scope
and concentration for several decades.
According to the author, this bill requires the State
Department of Public Health to establish community-based safe
drinking water projects in the most impacted areas of the
State.
2)Background. The federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
authorizes the United States Environmental Protection Agency
(US EPA) to set standards for drinking water quality and to
oversee the states, localities, and water suppliers who
implement those standards. The SDWA makes funds available to
drinking water systems to finance infrastructure improvements.
The California Safe Drinking Water Act requires DPH to
regulate drinking water, enforce state and federal drinking
water laws, and provide funding to correct public water system
deficiencies.
3)Transfer of Drinking Water Program. The Governor's 2014-15
AB 2737
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proposed budget would transfer the drinking water program from
DPH to SWRCB as of July 1, 2014. Under the proposal,
regulatory and technical assistance activities would be housed
in a newly created Division of Drinking Water Quality within
SWRCB. The program proposes to retain existing staff and
field offices.
Analysis Prepared by : Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)
319-2081