Safe Drinking Water - - CA Water

Section § 79530

This law allocates $435 million to the California State Department of Health Services for grants and loans aimed at improving water infrastructure and meeting safe drinking water standards. This includes funding for upgrading small community water systems, developing new water treatment technologies, monitoring water quality, protecting water sources, and other necessary projects. Specifically, this funding includes grants for various purposes like upgrading infrastructure, developing technologies, and protecting water sources. Also, at least 60% of this money must be used to help Southern California reduce its use of water from the Colorado River to 4.4 million acre-feet per year.

(a) The sum of four hundred thirty-five million dollars ($435,000,000) shall be available for appropriation by the Legislature from the fund to the State Department of Health Services for grants and loans for infrastructure improvements and related actions to meet safe drinking water standards including, but not limited to, the following types of projects:

(1) Grants to small community drinking water systems to upgrade monitoring, treatment, or distribution infrastructure.

(2) Grants to finance development and demonstration of new technologies and related facilities for water contaminant removal and treatment.

(3) Grants for community water quality monitoring facilities and equipment.

(4) Grants for drinking water source protection.

(5) Grants for treatment facilities necessary to meet disinfectant by-product safe drinking water standards.

(6) Loans pursuant to the Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Law of 1997 (Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 116760) of Part 12 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code).

(b) Not less than 60 percent of the money appropriated pursuant to this section shall be available for grants to Southern California water agencies to assist in meeting the state’s commitment to reduce Colorado River water use to 4.4 million acre feet per year.

safe drinking water standards infrastructure improvements grants loans small community drinking water systems water treatment distribution infrastructure new technologies water contaminant removal water quality monitoring source protection disinfectant by-product standards Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Southern California water agencies Colorado River water reduction

(Added November 5, 2002, by initiative Proposition 50.)

Section § 79531

This law states that the California Legislature is allowed to create new laws if needed to carry out the rules and intentions of this chapter.

The Legislature may enact such legislation as is necessary to implement this chapter.

Legislature authority legislation implementation chapter enactment necessary legislation law creation California legal authority chapter execution implement laws rules implementation carry out chapter legal framework chapter rules law enactment statutory authority legislative action

(Added November 5, 2002, by initiative Proposition 50.)

Section § 79532

This section outlines how funds available under Section 79530(b) should be used. Grant money will be awarded competitively to southern California water agencies for projects that help meet safe drinking water standards and reduce the state's use of Colorado River water. Eligible projects, involving one or multiple agencies, should aim to lower public exposure to harmful contaminants like arsenic and uranium, and deal with emerging issues such as perchlorate and chromium 6. The State Department of Health Services must work with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment to prioritize projects that address the most serious health risks and ensure water systems meet safety standards.

(a) Funds made available pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 79530 shall be administered in accordance with this section.

(b)

(1) Grant funds appropriated for the purposes of subdivision (b) of Section 79530 shall be awarded on a competitive basis.

(2) The department shall consolidate the application process required to implement the grant program described in this section.

(c) For the purposes of this chapter, “southern California water agencies” means water agencies with service areas entirely or partly in one or more of the following counties: San Diego, Imperial, Riverside, Orange, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, or Ventura.

(d) Grants may be awarded to southern California water agencies for eligible projects undertaken by one or more southern California water agencies and other entities.

(e) A project funded by a grant made pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 79530 shall meet both of the following requirements:

(1) The project will assist the grantee to meet safe drinking water standards.

(2) The project will assist in meeting the state’s commitment to reduce Colorado River water use to 4.4 million acre-feet per year.

(f) In the development of criteria for the grants awarded pursuant to this section, the State Department of Health Services shall consult with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment for the purposes of developing a program that gives priority to projects that reduce public and environmental exposure to contaminants that pose the most significant health risks, and that will bring water systems into compliance with safe drinking water standards. These include, but are not limited to, projects that address public exposure to contaminants for which safe drinking water standards have been established, including arsenic, disinfection byproducts and uranium. Projects to address emerging contaminants, including perchlorate, chromium 6, and endocrine disrupters shall also be given priority.

southern California water agencies competitive grants safe drinking water standards Colorado River water use public health risks environmental contaminants arsenic disinfection byproducts uranium perchlorate chromium 6 endocrine disrupters State Department of Health Services Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment water systems compliance

(Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 183, Sec. 369. Effective January 1, 2005.)

Section § 79534

This law section outlines how funds are to be managed and grants awarded for specific projects related to water management in California. Grants will be allocated competitively across the state, but projects already eligible for certain other funds won't qualify here. A 'small community' is defined as having 3,300 or fewer people, or 1,000 or fewer water connections.

The State Department of Health Services must streamline the grant application process and consult with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. The focus should be on projects addressing significant health risks and bringing water systems up to safety standards, prioritizing those dealing with contaminants like arsenic, disinfection byproducts, uranium, and newer issues like perchlorate and chromium 6.

Funds for any single project can't exceed $10 million.

(a) Funds made available pursuant to paragraph (1), (2), (3), (4), or (5) of subdivision (a) of Section 79530, and not for the purposes of subdivision (b) of that section, shall be administered in accordance with this section.

(b)

(1) Grants shall be awarded in accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 79530 on a statewide competitive basis.

(2) A project that is eligible for funding for the purposes of subdivision (b) of Section 79530 is not eligible for a grant subject to this section.

(c) For the purposes of this chapter, “small community” means a municipality with a population of 3,300 persons or fewer, or 1,000 connections or fewer.

(d) The State Department of Health Services shall consolidate the application process required to implement the grant program described in this section.

(e) In the development of criteria for the grants awarded under this section, the State Department of Health Services shall consult with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment for the purpose of developing a program that gives priority to projects that pose the most significant health risks, and that will bring water systems into compliance with safe drinking water standards. These include, but are not limited to, projects that address public exposure to contaminants for which safe drinking water standards have been established, including arsenic, disinfection byproducts and uranium. Projects to address emerging contaminants, including perchlorate, chromium 6, and endocrine disrupters shall also be given priority.

(f) Grants awarded pursuant to this section may not exceed ten million dollars ($10,000,000) for any one project.

water management funds grant allocation small community definition health risk projects safe drinking water standards contaminants arsenic disinfection byproducts uranium perchlorate chromium 6 endocrine disrupters statewide competitive basis State Department of Health Services Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment

(Added by Stats. 2003, Ch. 240, Sec. 31. Effective August 13, 2003.)