The sum of five hundred twenty million dollars ($520,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature from the fund, for expenditures, grants, and loans for projects that improve water quality or help provide clean, safe, and reliable drinking water to all Californians.
Chapter 5Clean, Safe and Reliable Drinking Water
Section § 79720
This law states that $520 million is set aside for projects aimed at improving water quality or providing clean, safe, and reliable drinking water for everyone in California. The money is available for use through legislative approval and can be spent on expenditures, grants, and loans.
water quality improvement clean drinking water projects safe water reliable drinking water water project funding California water infrastructure grants for water projects loans for water improvements legislature appropriation funding for safe drinking water public health water projects water infrastructure grants water funding allocation state water resources financial support for water initiatives
Section § 79721
This law outlines the criteria for funding water quality improvement projects in California, aiming to enhance water safety for public use. The goals include reducing water contaminants, assessing contamination risks, and addressing urgent needs in disadvantaged and rural areas. It encourages leveraging additional funding sources and prioritizes providing long-term, safe, and reliable drinking water, especially for underprivileged communities. The law also emphasizes meeting established drinking water standards and preventing future water supply contamination.
The projects eligible for funding pursuant to this chapter shall help improve water quality for a beneficial use. The purposes of this chapter are to:
(a)CA Water Code § 79721(a) Reduce contaminants in drinking water supplies regardless of the source of the water or the contamination.
(b)CA Water Code § 79721(b) Assess and prioritize the risk of contamination to drinking water supplies.
(c)CA Water Code § 79721(c) Address the critical and immediate needs of disadvantaged, rural, or small communities that suffer from contaminated drinking water supplies, including, but not limited to, projects that address a public health emergency.
(d)CA Water Code § 79721(d) Leverage other private, federal, state, and local drinking water quality and wastewater treatment funds.
(e)CA Water Code § 79721(e) Reduce contaminants in discharges to, and improve the quality of, waters of the state.
(f)CA Water Code § 79721(f) Prevent further contamination of drinking water supplies.
(g)CA Water Code § 79721(g) Provide disadvantaged communities with public drinking water infrastructure that provides clean, safe, and reliable drinking water supplies that the community can sustain over the long term.
(h)CA Water Code § 79721(h) Ensure access to clean, safe, reliable, and affordable drinking water for California’s communities.
(i)CA Water Code § 79721(i) Meet primary and secondary safe drinking water standards or remove contaminants identified by the state or federal government for development of a primary or secondary drinking water standard.
water quality improvement drinking water contaminants contamination risk assessment disadvantaged communities rural water safety public health emergency water infrastructure safe drinking water standards sustainable water supply water contamination prevention federal and state funding wastewater treatment clean water access California water projects drinking water safety
Section § 79722
This section lists the contaminants that can be targeted for clean-up using funds from this chapter. The list includes several harmful substances like nitrates, arsenic, and mercury, among others. It is not exhaustive, meaning other contaminants can also be addressed if needed.
The contaminants that may be addressed with funding pursuant to this chapter may include, but shall not be limited to, nitrates, perchlorate, MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether), arsenic, selenium, hexavalent chromium, mercury, PCE (perchloroethylene), TCE (trichloroethylene), DCE (dichloroethene), DCA (dichloroethane), 1,2,3-TCP (trichloropropane), carbon tetrachloride, 1,4-dioxane, 1,4-dioxacyclohexane, nitrosodimethylamine, bromide, iron, manganese, and uranium.
water contaminants nitrates perchlorate MTBE arsenic selenium hexavalent chromium mercury PCE TCE 1 2 3-TCP carbon tetrachloride 1 4-dioxane clean-up funding drinking water safety
Section § 79723
This section allocates $260 million from authorized funds specifically for grants aimed at improving wastewater treatment projects. The focus is on helping disadvantaged and severely disadvantaged communities, especially those facing public health risks. These projects can involve planning and implementing solutions like regional wastewater system consolidation or making treatment technologies more affordable.
Of the funds authorized by Section 79720, two hundred sixty million dollars ($260,000,000) shall be available for deposit in the State Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund Small Community Grant Fund created pursuant to Section 13477.6 for grants for wastewater treatment projects. Priority shall be given to projects that serve disadvantaged communities and severely disadvantaged communities, and to projects that address public health hazards. Projects may include, but not be limited to,
projects that identify, plan, design, and implement regional mechanisms to consolidate wastewater systems or provide affordable treatment technologies.
wastewater treatment projects State Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund Small Community Grant Fund disadvantaged communities public health hazards affordable treatment technologies wastewater system consolidation grant allocation regional mechanisms environmental funding community infrastructure sanitation improvements wastewater system planning water pollution control financial assistance for communities
Section § 79724
This law allocates $260 million for grants and loans to upgrade public water systems so they can meet safe drinking water standards and provide affordable water. Priority is given to projects in small or disadvantaged communities suffering from water contamination, such as chemical and nitrate pollutants.
The grants can cover feasibility studies, initial operation and maintenance, and projects offering broader regional benefits to multiple communities. Usually, construction grants cap at $5 million, but they can reach $20 million for regional projects. Meanwhile, up to 25% of a grant can be given before expenses are incurred.
The law also sets aside $25 million for technical support to eligible communities and $2.5 million for a reserve fund to help disadvantaged communities with matching funds, under certain criteria established by the state board.
(a)Copy CA Water Code § 79724(a)
(1)Copy CA Water Code § 79724(a)(1) Of the funds authorized by Section 79720, two hundred sixty million dollars ($260,000,000) shall be available for grants and loans for public water system infrastructure improvements and related actions to meet safe drinking water standards, ensure affordable drinking water, or both. Priority shall be given to projects that provide treatment for contamination or access to an alternate drinking water source or sources for small community
water systems or state small water systems in disadvantaged communities whose drinking water source is impaired by chemical and nitrate contaminants and other health hazards identified by the state board. Eligible recipients serve disadvantaged communities and are public water systems or public agencies. The state board may make grants for the purpose of financing feasibility studies and to meet the eligibility requirements for a construction grant. Eligible expenses may include initial operation and maintenance costs for systems serving disadvantaged communities. Priority shall be given to projects that provide shared solutions for multiple communities, at least one of which is a disadvantaged community that lacks safe, affordable drinking water and is served by a small community water system, state small water system, or a private well. Construction grants shall be limited to five million dollars ($5,000,000) per project, except that the state board may set a limit of not more than twenty million dollars
($20,000,000) for projects that provide regional benefits or are shared among multiple entities, at least one of which shall be a small disadvantaged community. Not more than 25 percent of a grant may be awarded in advance of actual expenditures.
(2)CA Water Code § 79724(a)(2) For the purposes of this subdivision, “initial operation and maintenance costs” means those initial, eligible, and reimbursable costs under a construction funding agreement that are incurred up to, and including, initial startup testing of the constructed project in order to deem the project complete. Initial operation and maintenance costs are eligible to receive funding pursuant to this section for a period not to exceed two years.
(b)CA Water Code § 79724(b) The administering entity may expend up to twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) of the funds allocated in subdivision (a) for technical assistance to eligible communities.
(c)CA Water Code § 79724(c) The state board shall deposit up to two million five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000) of the funds available pursuant to this section into the Drinking Water Capital Reserve Fund, which is hereby created in the State Treasury. Moneys in the Drinking Water Capital Reserve Fund shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, and shall be administered by the state board for the purpose of serving as matching funds for disadvantaged communities. The state board shall develop criteria to implement this subdivision.
public water system upgrades safe drinking water affordable water disadvantaged communities water contamination chemical pollutants nitrate contaminants feasibility studies operation and maintenance costs construction grants regional benefits technical assistance Drinking Water Capital Reserve Fund matching funds state board criteria
Section § 79725
This law section details how funding for certain projects in California is allocated and managed. It requires local entities to cover at least half of the project costs unless the project benefits disadvantaged or economically distressed communities, in which case this requirement can be waived or reduced. It sets aside at least 10% of funds for projects helping severely disadvantaged communities and allows up to 15% for technical assistance to these communities. Additionally, the law allows for more than 15% of the funds to be used for planning activities and technical assistance if there's a demonstrated need.
(a)CA Water Code § 79725(a) For the purposes of awarding funding under this chapter, a local cost share of not less than 50 percent of the total costs of the project shall be required. The cost-sharing requirement may be waived or reduced for projects that directly benefit a disadvantaged community or an economically distressed area.
(b)CA Water Code § 79725(b) At least 10 percent of the funds available pursuant to this chapter shall be allocated for
projects serving severely disadvantaged communities.
(c)CA Water Code § 79725(c) Up to 15 percent of the funds available pursuant to this chapter may be allocated for technical assistance to disadvantaged communities. The agency administering this funding shall operate a multidisciplinary technical assistance program for small and disadvantaged communities.
(d)CA Water Code § 79725(d) Funding for planning activities, including technical assistance, to benefit disadvantaged communities may exceed 15 percent of the funds allocated, subject to the determination of the need for additional planning funding by the state agency administering the funding.
local cost share funding allocation disadvantaged communities economically distressed areas severely disadvantaged communities technical assistance planning activities cost-sharing requirement funding waiver multidisciplinary program small communities project funding state agency fund distribution community benefits
Section § 79726
This law explains that certain state funds can be used to secure additional federal funding aimed at helping communities provide safe drinking water. Before the money can be spent, it must be deposited into the Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.
For the purpose of providing the state share needed to leverage federal funds to assist communities in providing safe drinking water, any funds appropriated for the purposes of Section 79724 shall be available for deposit in the Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, created by Section 116760.30 of the Health and Safety Code, prior to expenditure.
state share federal funds safe drinking water community assistance leveraging funds Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Section 79724 Health and Safety Code fund appropriation water fund deposit community water systems drinking water safety fund expenditure water quality improvement state revolving fund
