This chapter is intended to provide the funds necessary to address the most critical water needs of the state including the provision of safe drinking water to all Californians, the protection of water quality and the environment, and the improvement of water supply reliability.
Chapter 2Safe Drinking Water and Water Quality Projects
Section § 75020
This law is about providing funding to tackle California's most urgent water issues. It aims to ensure everyone has access to safe drinking water, protect water quality and the environment, and enhance the reliability of the water supply.
safe drinking water water quality protection environmental protection water supply reliability funding for water needs California water issues drinking water access state water resources water supply improvement critical water needs water quality improvement environmental sustainability state funding water infrastructure California water funding
Section § 75021
This law sets aside $10 million for the California Department of Health Services to fund urgent initiatives ensuring all residents have access to safe drinking water. Money can be used for projects like supplying bottled water, upgrading water systems to prevent contamination, connecting to nearby systems, and installing water treatment equipment.
No individual project can get more than $250,000. The spending can bypass usual contracting rules if needed to quickly protect public health.
(a)CA Public Resources Code § 75021(a) The sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) shall be available to the Department of Health Services for grants and direct expenditures to fund emergency and urgent actions to ensure that safe drinking water supplies are available to all Californians. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1)CA Public Resources Code § 75021(a)(1) Providing alternate water supplies including bottled water where necessary to protect public health.
(2)CA Public Resources Code § 75021(a)(2) Improvements in existing water systems necessary to prevent contamination or provide other sources of safe drinking water including replacement wells.
(3)CA Public Resources Code § 75021(a)(3) Establishing connections to an adjacent water system.
(4)CA Public Resources Code § 75021(a)(4) Design, purchase, installation and initial operation costs for water treatment equipment and systems.
(b)CA Public Resources Code § 75021(b) Grants and expenditures shall not exceed $250,000 per project.
(c)CA Public Resources Code § 75021(c) Direct expenditures for the purposes of this section shall be exempt from contracting and procurement requirements to the extent necessary to take immediate action to protect public health and safety.
safe drinking water emergency action urgent water supply bottled water water system improvements contamination prevention replacement wells water system connections water treatment equipment public health protection procurement exemption funding limitations direct expenditures California Department of Health Services drinking water projects
Section § 75022
This law allocates $180 million to the Department of Health Services for grants aimed at upgrading small community drinking water systems to meet safe drinking water standards. Priority is given to projects dealing with chemical and nitrate pollution, and projects in disadvantaged or severely disadvantaged communities. Grants can also fund feasibility studies, with construction grants capped at $5 million. Only up to 25% of a grant can be given upfront before expenses. Additionally, up to $5 million can be used for providing technical assistance to eligible communities.
The sum of one hundred eighty million dollars ($180,000,000) shall be available to the Department of Health Services for grants for small community drinking water system infrastructure improvements and related actions to meet safe drinking water standards. Priority shall be given to projects that address chemical and nitrate contaminants, other health hazards and by whether the community is disadvantaged or severely disadvantaged. Special consideration shall be given to small communities with limited financial resources. Eligible recipients include public agencies and incorporated mutual water companies that serve disadvantaged communities. The Department of Health Services may make grants for the purpose of financing feasibility studies and to meet the eligibility requirements for a construction grant. Construction grants shall be limited to $5,000,000 per project and not more than twenty five percent of a grant may be awarded in advance of actual expenditures. The Department of Health Services may expend up to $5,000,000 of the funds allocated in this section for technical assistance to eligible communities.
small community drinking water infrastructure improvements safe drinking water standards chemical contaminants nitrate contaminants disadvantaged communities financial resources public agencies incorporated mutual water companies feasibility studies construction grant technical assistance health hazards grant funding Department of Health Services
Section § 75023
This law allocates fifty million dollars to the Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. The purpose of this money is to help the state get federal funds that assist communities in providing safe drinking water.
For the purpose of providing the state share needed to leverage federal funds to assist communities in providing safe drinking water, the sum of fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available for deposit into the Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (Section 116760.30 of the Health and Safety Code).
safe drinking water state revolving fund federal funds community assistance water safety fund allocation health and safety leveraging funds financial support public health water infrastructure drinking water projects
Section § 75024
This section allocates $80 million to be deposited into the State Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund. The money is intended to help communities get matching federal funds for investing in infrastructure that prevents pollution in sources of drinking water.
For the purpose of providing the state share needed to leverage federal funds to assist communities in making those infrastructure investments necessary to prevent pollution of drinking water sources, the sum of eighty million dollars ($80,000,000) shall be available for deposit into the State Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund (Section 13477 of the Water Code).
state funding federal funds leverage pollution prevention drinking water protection infrastructure investments State Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund community assistance fund allocation water infrastructure pollution control initiatives
Section § 75025
This law allocates $60 million for the Department of Health Services to provide loans and grants. These funds are for projects aimed at preventing or reducing contamination in groundwater, which is used for drinking water. If the department recovers costs from the parties responsible for the contamination, repayment is required. Additionally, the Legislature has the authority to pass further laws to support the implementation of this section.
The sum of sixty million dollars ($60,000,000) shall be available to the Department of Health Services for the purpose of loans and grants for projects to prevent or reduce contamination of groundwater that serves as a source of drinking water. The Department of Health Services shall require repayment for costs that are subsequently recovered from parties responsible for the contamination. The Legislature may enact legislation necessary to implement this section.
groundwater contamination drinking water safety loans and grants Department of Health Services prevent contamination reduce contamination cost recovery responsible parties Legislature project funding health department environmental projects water quality repayment requirement fund allocation
Section § 75026
This law sets aside one billion dollars to fund projects helping local public agencies meet California's long-term water needs. Projects must be part of integrated regional water management plans that focus on safe drinking water, water quality, and environmental protection. Eligible projects include water conservation, stormwater management, wetland enhancement, pollution reduction, and ecosystem restoration.
Preference is given to projects that integrate water management strategies, solve water conflicts, meet statewide goals, or address the needs of disadvantaged communities. Up to 5% of funds can support plan development or updates. The Department of Water Resources coordinates these efforts with existing guidelines.
(a)CA Public Resources Code § 75026(a) The sum of one billion dollars ($1,000,000,000) shall be available to the department for grants for projects that assist local public agencies to meet the long term water needs of the state including the delivery of safe drinking water and the protection of water quality and the environment. Eligible projects must implement integrated regional water management plans that meet the requirements of this section. Integrated regional water management plans shall identify and address the major water related objectives and conflicts within the region, consider all of the resource management strategies identified in the California Water Plan, and use an integrated, multi-benefit approach to project selection and design. Plans shall include performance measures and monitoring to document progress toward meeting plan objectives. Projects that may be funded pursuant to this section must be consistent with an adopted integrated regional water management plan or its functional equivalent as defined in the department’s Integrated Regional Water Management Guidelines, must provide multiple benefits, and must include one or more of the following project elements:
(1)CA Public Resources Code § 75026(a)(1) Water supply reliability, water conservation and water use efficiency.
(2)CA Public Resources Code § 75026(a)(2) Storm water capture, storage, clean-up, treatment, and management.
(3)CA Public Resources Code § 75026(a)(3) Removal of invasive non-native species, the creation and enhancement of wetlands, and the acquisition, protection, and restoration of open space and watershed lands.
(4)CA Public Resources Code § 75026(a)(4) Non-point source pollution reduction, management and monitoring.
(5)CA Public Resources Code § 75026(a)(5) Groundwater recharge and management projects.
(6)CA Public Resources Code § 75026(a)(6) Contaminant and salt removal through reclamation, desalting, and other treatment technologies and conveyance of reclaimed water for distribution to users.
(7)CA Public Resources Code § 75026(a)(7) Water banking, exchange, reclamation and improvement of water quality.
(8)CA Public Resources Code § 75026(a)(8) Planning and implementation of multipurpose flood management programs.
(9)CA Public Resources Code § 75026(a)(9) Watershed protection and management.
(10)CA Public Resources Code § 75026(a)(10) Drinking water treatment and distribution.
(11)CA Public Resources Code § 75026(a)(11) Ecosystem and fisheries restoration and protection.
(b)CA Public Resources Code § 75026(b) The Department of Water Resources shall give preference to proposals that satisfy the following criteria:
(1)CA Public Resources Code § 75026(b)(1) Proposals that effectively integrate water management programs and projects within a hydrologic region identified in the California Water Plan; the Regional Water Quality Control Board region or subdivision or other region or sub-region specifically identified by the department.
(2)CA Public Resources Code § 75026(b)(2) Proposals that effectively integrate water management with land use planning.
(3)CA Public Resources Code § 75026(b)(3) Proposals that effectively resolve significant water-related conflicts within or between regions.
(4)CA Public Resources Code § 75026(b)(4) Proposals that contribute to the attainment of one or more of the objectives of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program.
(5)CA Public Resources Code § 75026(b)(5) Proposals that address statewide priorities.
(6)CA Public Resources Code § 75026(b)(6) Proposals that address critical water supply or water quality needs for disadvantaged communities within the region.
(c)CA Public Resources Code § 75026(c) Not more than 5% of the funds provided by this section may be used for grants or direct expenditures for the development, updating or improvement of integrated regional water management plans.
(d)CA Public Resources Code § 75026(d) The department shall coordinate the provisions of this section with the program provided in Chapter 8 of Division 26.5 of the Water Code and may implement this section using existing Integrated Regional Water Management Guidelines.
integrated regional water management California Water Plan water supply reliability stormwater management wetland enhancement pollution reduction groundwater management water reclamation flood management watershed protection drinking water treatment ecosystem restoration CALFED Bay-Delta Program disadvantaged communities water management guidelines
Section § 75027
This section divides funding from Section 75026 among various hydrologic regions in California as identified by the California Water Plan. Specific amounts are allocated to regions like North Coast, San Francisco Bay, and others, with special sub-regions in the South Coast Region for Los Angeles, Santa Ana, and San Diego. The North and South Lahontan areas are grouped as one for funding, though separate plans might be needed. Additionally, some funds are set aside for interregional or statewide water issues which can be directly used or granted as needed.
(a)CA Public Resources Code § 75027(a) The funding provided in Section 75026 shall be allocated to each hydrologic region as identified in the California Water Plan and listed below. For the South Coast Region, the department shall establish three sub-regions that reflect the San Diego county watersheds, the Santa Ana River watershed, and the Los Angeles–Ventura County watersheds respectively, and allocate funds to those sub-regions. The North and South Lahontan regions shall be treated as one region for the purpose of allocating funds, but the department may require separate regional plans. Funds provided in Section 75026 shall be allocated according to the following schedule:
(b)CA Public Resources Code § 75027(b) The interregional and unallocated funds provided in subdivision (a) may be expended directly or granted by the department to address multi-regional needs or issues of statewide significance.
hydrologic regions California Water Plan South Coast Region sub-regions Los Angeles watershed Santa Ana watershed San Diego watershed North Lahontan South Lahontan inter-regional funding statewide water issues North Coast funding San Francisco Bay funding Central Coast funding Sacramento River funding San Joaquin River funding
Section § 75028
This section explains how grants are distributed for water projects in different hydrologic areas. The Department will give out grants based on competition within each specific area, following local project selection processes. However, these local processes must align with the guidelines of another law, Section 75026.
If a certain area doesn't have a plan that fits the requirements of Section 75026 when it's time to give out the grants, the funds intended for that area will be on hold. The money won't be given to another area; instead, it stays unallocated until the area submits an acceptable plan.
(a)CA Public Resources Code § 75028(a) The department shall allocate grants on a competitive basis within each identified hydrologic region or sub-region pursuant to Section 75027. The department may establish standards and procedures for the development and approval of local project selection processes within hydrologic regions and sub-regions identified in Section 75027. The department shall defer to approved local project selection, and review projects only for consistency with the purposes of Section 75026.
(b)CA Public Resources Code § 75028(b) If a hydrologic region or sub-region identified in Section 75027 does not have any adopted plan that meets the requirements of Section 75026 at the time of the department’s grant selection process, the funds allocated to that hydrologic region or sub-region shall not be reallocated to another region but will remain unallocated until such time as an adopted plan from the hydrologic region or sub-region is submitted to the department.
grants competitive basis hydrologic regions sub-regions local project selection fund allocation grant selection process unallocated funds adopted plan consistency with Section 75026 approval of local project processes project review Section 75027 deferred funds water project grants
Section § 75029
This law makes $130 million available for grants aimed at improving water quality in the Delta region to protect drinking water supplies. Local agencies need to share the costs of these projects. The funds support different types of projects, such as those that reduce harmful discharges, like salt and pesticides, into the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers. A significant portion is allocated to reducing subsurface agricultural drainage to improve water quality in the San Joaquin River and the Delta. Other projects focus on reducing salinity at water intake sites and relocating drinking water intakes for users in the Delta, as specified in a 2005 management plan.
The sum of one hundred thirty million dollars ($130,000,000) shall be available to the department for grants to implement Delta water quality improvement projects that protect drinking water supplies. The department shall require a cost share from local agencies. Eligible projects are:
(a)CA Public Resources Code § 75029(a) Projects that reduce or eliminate discharges of salt, dissolved organic carbon, pesticides, pathogens and other pollutants to the San Joaquin River. Not less than forty million ($40,000,000) shall be available to implement projects to reduce or eliminate discharges of subsurface agricultural drain water from the west side of the San Joaquin Valley for the purpose of improving water quality in the San Joaquin River and the Delta.
(b)CA Public Resources Code § 75029(b) Projects that reduce or eliminate discharges of bromide, dissolved organic carbon, salt, pesticides and pathogens from discharges to the Sacramento River.
(c)CA Public Resources Code § 75029(c) Projects at Franks Tract and other locations in the Delta that will reduce salinity or other pollutants at agricultural and drinking water intakes.
(d)CA Public Resources Code § 75029(d) Projects identified in the June 2005 Delta Region Drinking Water Quality Management Plan, with a priority for design and construction of the relocation of drinking water intake facilities for in-delta water users.
Delta water quality projects drinking water protection cost-sharing San Joaquin River subsurface agricultural drainage pollutant reduction Sacramento River bromide reduction Franks Tract salinity reduction Delta Region Drinking Water Quality Management Plan intake relocation projects local agency funding water quality grants pathogen reduction
Section § 75029.5
This law allocates $15 million to a state board for awarding grants to public agencies and non-profit organizations. These grants are aimed at supporting projects that help reduce pollution from farms that ends up in the state's surface waters.
The sum of fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) shall be available to the state board for grants to public agencies and non-profit organizations for projects that reduce the discharge of pollutants from agricultural operations into surface waters of the state.
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