The purpose of this chapter is to authorize the use of moneys in the California Safe Drinking Water Fund for a grant program for public agencies owning or operating domestic water systems, as authorized pursuant to the provisions of the California Safe Drinking Water Bond Law of 1976. The Legislature hereby finds and declares that it is necessary to establish a grant program to aid public agencies in the construction of projects for domestic water systems, and that certain public agencies owning or operating domestic water systems will be otherwise unable to meet minimum safe drinking water standards established pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 116275) of Part 12 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code.
Chapter 10.6California Safe Drinking Water Grant Program
Section § 13880
This law allows the use of funds from the California Safe Drinking Water Fund to create a grant program. The program is designed to help public agencies that own or operate domestic water systems. It aims to help these agencies meet safe drinking water standards by providing financial assistance for necessary construction projects.
California Safe Drinking Water Fund grant program public agencies domestic water systems drinking water standards construction projects financial assistance California Safe Drinking Water Bond Law of 1976 Health and Safety Code domestic water systems construction public health water quality infrastructure funding safe drinking water compliance assistance
Section § 13881
This section defines key terms used in the context of California's water resources laws. It clarifies that the 'Department' refers to the Department of Water Resources. A 'domestic water system' is explained as a network providing piped water to at least 15 connections or supplies 25 people, including all related facilities for water supply and distribution.
The 'Fund' is the California Safe Drinking Water Fund, related to financial matters of water services. The term 'project' encompasses new facilities or upgrades to domestic water systems. 'Public agency' refers to any government entity managing a water system, while 'treatment works' are systems used to purify water for safe drinking.
As used in this chapter:
(a)CA Water Code § 13881(a) “Department” means the Department of Water Resources.
(b)CA Water Code § 13881(b) “Domestic water system” means a system for the provision to the public of piped water for human consumption, if such system has at least 15 service connections or regularly supplies water to at least 25 individuals. Such term includes any water supply, treatment, storage, and distribution facilities under the control of the operator of such system.
(c)CA Water Code § 13881(c) “Fund” means the California Safe Drinking Water Fund created pursuant to Section 13859.
(d)CA Water Code § 13881(d) “Project” means proposed facilities for the construction, improvement, or rehabilitation of the domestic water system, and may include water supply, treatment works, and all or part of a water distribution system, if such inclusions are necessary to carry out the purpose of this chapter.
(e)CA Water Code § 13881(e) “Public agency” means any city, county, district, or other political subdivision of the state which owns or operates a domestic water system.
(f)CA Water Code § 13881(f) “Treatment works” means any devices or systems used in the treatment of water supplies, including necessary lands, which render such supplies pure, wholesome, and potable for domestic purpose.
Department of Water Resources domestic water system piped water human consumption service connections water supply facilities California Safe Drinking Water Fund water system improvement water distribution system public agency treatment works water purification potable water water storage water distribution
Section § 13882
The California Department of Water Resources can give state grants to public agencies to help them plan and build projects that meet safe drinking water standards. These grants come from a specific fund and must follow certain rules.
If a grant exceeds $100,000, it needs extra approval from the Legislature. Contracts for these grants must include the project's cost estimate, details about grant payments, and the public agency's commitments. These commitments include completing the project quickly, starting its operation right after completion, maintaining it well, seeking federal help, getting approval from the necessary departments, and covering any remaining project costs.
(a)CA Water Code § 13882(a) The department, subject to the requirements of this chapter, is authorized to make state grants to public agencies from moneys in the fund available for that purpose pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 13861, to aid in the planning and construction of projects that will enable the public agency to meet, at a minimum, safe drinking water standards established pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 116275) of Part 12 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code. Any grant in excess of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) may be made by the department only upon the specific approval of the Legislature, by an act enacted after the receipt of a report filed pursuant to Section 13884.
(b)CA Water Code § 13882(b) Any contract for a grant pursuant to this chapter may include provisions as may be agreed upon by the parties thereto, and the contract shall include, in substance, the following provisions:
(1)CA Water Code § 13882(b)(1) An estimate of the reasonable cost of the project, that may include planning costs.
(2)CA Water Code § 13882(b)(2) An agreement by the department to grant to the public agency, during the progress of construction or following completion of construction as may be agreed upon by the parties, an amount that equals the portion of construction and planning costs found by the department to be eligible for a state grant.
(3)CA Water Code § 13882(b)(3) An agreement by the public agency, (i) to proceed expeditiously with, and complete, the project, (ii) to commence operation of the project upon completion thereof, and to properly operate and maintain the project in accordance with the applicable provisions of law, (iii) to apply for and make reasonable efforts to secure federal assistance for the project, (iv) to secure approval of the department and of the State Department of Health Services before applying for federal assistance in order to maximize and best utilize the amounts of the assistance available, and (v) to provide for payment of the public agency’s share of the cost of the project, if any.
state grants public agencies safe drinking water standards funding project planning project construction Legislature approval contract provisions cost estimate grant payments project commitments federal assistance Department of Water Resources Health and Safety Code project operation
Section § 13883
If you want to apply for a grant under this law, you must submit your application to the department following their specific format and include any required supporting materials.
Applications for grants under this chapter shall be made to the department in such form and with such supporting material as may be prescribed by the department.
grant applications supporting material department rules application format submit applications application requirements grant procedures department guidelines funding requests grant application process documentation requirements applying for grants department prescriptions grant submission form requirements
Section § 13884
If someone applies for a grant over $100,000 under this chapter, the department must write a report about it. This report goes to the Legislature, or if they're not meeting, to certain committees. The department can only give out the grant after the Legislature specifically approves it through a new law that comes after they get the department's report.
The department shall prepare a report on each application pursuant to this chapter for a grant in excess of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000). The report shall be filed with the Legislature, if it is in session, or if it is not in session, with the Rules Committee of the Assembly and Senate. The department shall be authorized to make a grant in excess of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) only upon the specific approval of the grant by the Legislature, by an act enacted after the receipt of such report from the department.
grant application report preparation Legislature approval Rules Committee grant over $100 000 grant report department authorization specific approval new law enactment state grants Assembly Senate Legislative session application process funding process
Section § 13885
This law allows for grants to be given for projects that improve domestic water systems. The state can consider future water needs and include extra capacity if it's more cost-effective than expanding later. Grants can cover all or part of the costs for building, enhancing, or fixing water systems, but only if it's deemed necessary to ensure clean and drinkable water that's plentiful and at the right pressure for health and hygiene needs.
There's a cap on how much one public agency can receive, set at $400,000. The total grant funding available is $30 million, with up to $15 million specifically for tackling water contamination issues by substances like nitrates or radiation, which make water unsafe to drink.
Grants may be made only for projects for domestic water systems. The department may make reasonable allowance for future water supply needs and may provide for additional capacity when excessive costs would be incurred by later enlargement. Such grants may be made for all or any part of the cost of constructing, improving, or rehabilitating any such system when, in the judgment of the State Department of Health Services, such improvement or rehabilitation is necessary to provide pure, wholesome, and potable water available in adequate quantity at sufficient pressure for health, cleanliness, and other domestic purposes. No single public agency shall receive grants pursuant to this chapter totaling more than four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000). The total amount of grants made pursuant to this chapter shall not exceed thirty million dollars ($30,000,000), of which up to fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) may be used for grants for projects for the construction, improvement, or rehabilitation of domestic water systems which have become contaminated by organic or inorganic compounds (such as nitrates, DBCP (dibromochloropropane), TCE (trichloroethylene), and arsenic), or radiation, in such amounts as to render the water unfit or hazardous for human consumption.
domestic water systems future water supply needs water contamination pure water potable water water system improvement public agency grants water system rehabilitation water pressure health and cleanliness needs contaminated water projects organic or inorganic compounds nitrates contamination radiation in water maximum grant limit
Section § 13886
In order to get a grant for safe drinking water, a public agency must prove that they can't meet the minimum standards on their own. Additionally, the grant can only be given if the State Department of Health Services approves the project plans and issues the necessary permits.
An application for a grant pursuant to this chapter shall not be approved by the department unless the department determines that the public agency is otherwise unable to meet minimum safe drinking water standards established pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 116275) of Part 12 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code. No grant shall be made by the department except upon approval by the State Department of Health Services of project plans submitted by the applicant and upon issuance to the public agency of a permit or amended permit as specified in Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 116275) of Part 12 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code.
safe drinking water public agency grant application minimum standards Health and Safety Code State Department of Health Services project plan approval permit issuance drinking water standards water quality grants water safety grant eligibility drinking water project water quality compliance
Section § 13887
This law section emphasizes that grants should be first given to public agencies dealing with urgent health problems, as verified by the State Department of Health Services. Projects aimed at solving immediate health issues are prioritized over those intended for future growth or expansions.
First priority for grants shall be afforded to public agencies having immediate health related problems, as certified by the State Department of Health Services. Additional high priority shall be afforded to projects to correct immediate problems, as opposed to grants for construction of projects to meet future growth needs.
public agency grants immediate health problems State Department of Health Services health-related issues grant prioritization urgent health projects project funding criteria correcting immediate problems health projects funding public health emergencies
Section § 13888
Before a grant is given for a project, the preliminary design work, which includes estimating the costs, must be finished. The costs for running and maintaining the project are up to the public agency and can't be included as part of the project's expense.
Preliminary design work, including a cost estimate for the project, shall be completed before the grant is awarded. Operation and maintenance costs shall be the responsibility of the public agency and may not be considered as part of the project cost.
preliminary design work cost estimate grant award operation costs maintenance costs public agency responsibility project cost exclusion project expenses design completion grant prerequisites responsibility of public agency excluded costs
Section § 13889
If a public agency in California wants a grant for water-related projects, they must also apply for a loan under the Safe Drinking Water Bond Law of 1976. Agencies that do not qualify for a loan due to financial sufficiency cannot get a grant.
However, if they can't repay the full loan, they can still apply for a grant. The department will decide how much of the loan the agency can afford to repay, and grant funds will cover only the part they can't pay.
No application for a grant may be made pursuant to this chapter unless the public agency has also applied for a loan pursuant to the California Safe Drinking Water Bond Law of 1976. No public agency whose loan application has been rejected on the basis of lack of financial need shall be eligible for a grant.
If the department has determined that the applicant is unable to repay the full costs of a loan, the applicant may also file for a grant. Upon receipt of a grant application, the department shall determine that portion of the full costs that the applicant is capable of repaying. Grant funds shall only be provided for that portion that the applicant is not capable of repaying.
public agency grant eligibility Safe Drinking Water Bond Law of 1976 loan application requirement financial need rejection grant application process loan repayment capability partial grant funding water project funding California water grants financial assessment for loans grant and loan relationship department determination financial capability evaluation Safe Drinking Water financial aid public agency financing
Section § 13890
This law requires that public agencies use grant funds within three years of receiving them. Additionally, before any spending occurs, the agency must prove to the department that they have a valid bid, showing the project's cost will be close, within 20 percent, to their original estimate, and this must be done within one year of getting the grant.
Grant funds shall be expended by the public agency within three years of the making of the grant. No grant funds may be expended by the public agency unless the public agency is able to demonstrate to the department, within one year of the making of the grant, supported by an acceptable bid, that the amount to be expended for the project will be within 20 percent of the public agency’s cost estimate for the project.
grant fund expenditure three-year timeframe public agency compliance department approval cost estimate accuracy acceptable bid requirement project budget limit one-year demonstration fund utilization deadline grant allocation project cost management
Section § 13891
This law limits the amount of money that can be spent by the department and the State Department of Health Services from bond proceeds. Specifically, in any fiscal year, they can't spend more than 3% of the total grants awarded that year under this chapter.
For the purpose of administering the provisions of this chapter, the total expenditures of bond proceeds by the department and the State Department of Health Services in any fiscal year may not exceed 3 percent of the total of the grants awarded in such fiscal year pursuant to this chapter.
bond proceeds grant expenditures fiscal year limit spending cap health services funding financial administration departmental spending grant funding limits budget control expenditure restrictions public funds allocation state department budget health services budget grant management budget oversight
Section § 13892
This law requires the department to create rules and regulations to implement the chapter's goals. They have to hold a public notice and hearing, consult with the State Department of Health Services for advice, and provide these rules to the Legislature within 60 days of the chapter's effective date.
The department, after public notice and hearing and with the advice of the State Department of Health Services, shall adopt rules and regulations necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter. Such rules and regulations shall be transmitted to the Legislature within 60 days after the effective date of this chapter.
public notice hearing State Department of Health Services adopt rules transmit to Legislature effective date 60 days chapter implementation regulations health services advice rulemaking process legislative oversight department responsibilities public participation mandatory consultation
