RCRC has lent its support for Assembly Bill 2296 (Quirk), which would offer a “fund stabilization” option for local jurisdictions to implement their Local Primacy Agency (LPA) drinking water oversight programs.

The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) is responsible for the oversight of public drinking water with 15 or more connections and regularly serving 25 or more people for at least 60 days out of the year. However, in thirty California counties, the responsibility has been delegated to the local health officer and administered through local Environmental Health programs through LPA Delegation Agreements. Over the past several years, program costs have outpaced the fee base, and a number of jurisdictions have surrendered their delegated authority back to the State. The situation has created some inequities among systems, particularly those serving disadvantaged communities who are finding it increasingly difficult to maintain appropriate levels of funding.

AB 2296 would enable counties who oversee their water system through LPA delegation agreements to provide the required level of system oversight with a more efficient use of limited resources. Specifically, AB 2296 changes the Public Drinking Water Oversight system to provide an opt-in/optional alternative funding mechanism by

  • Implementing and administering small public water system oversight fees statewide;
  • Aggregating public water system fees to fund state and local oversight staff;
  • Developing staffing formulas that maintain the appropriate level of oversight; and
  • Evaluating the SWRCB public water system fee schedule and adjusting as appropriate.

The bill would provide an opportunity for counties to secure sustainable funding for their LPA regulatory program, thus directing limited funds into providing safe drinking water to their communities. Funds will only be available upon appropriation by the Legislature. RCRC’s letter of support is available here. This legislation is currently in the Senate Committee on Environmental Quality. At the time of this writing, it is unknown if and when a committee hearing will be scheduled. For more information, contact Mary-Ann Warmerdam, RCRC Senior Legislative Advocate at (916) 447-4806 or mwarmerdam@rcrcnet.org.