Provision of sewer service: disadvantaged communities.

Existing law declares it to be the established policy of the state that every human being has the right to safe, clean, affordable, and accessible water adequate for human consumption, cooking, and sanitary purposes. Existing law, the California Safe Drinking Water Act, provides for the operation of public water systems and imposes on the State Water Resources Control Board various responsibilities and duties. The act authorizes the state board to order consolidation with a receiving water system where a public water system or a state small water system, serving a disadvantaged community, as defined, consistently fails to provide an adequate supply of safe drinking water. The act authorizes the state board to order the extension of service to an area that does not have access to an adequate supply of safe drinking water so long as the extension of service is an interim extension of service in preparation for consolidation. The act requires the state board, before ordering consolidation or extension of service, to, among other things, consult with specified entities, hold at least one public meeting, and make certain findings. The act authorizes the state board to set timeline and performance measures to facilitate completion of consolidation. Existing law, the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, requires each California regional water quality control board to adopt water quality control plans and to establish water quality objectives in those plans, considering certain factors, to ensure the reasonable protection of beneficial uses and the prevention of nuisance. This bill would, except as provided, authorize the regional board to order the provision of sewer service by a special district, city, or county to a disadvantaged community, as defined, under specified circumstances. By authorizing the regional board to require a special district, city, or county to provide sewer service, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the regional board to take certain actions before ordering the provision of sewer service that are similar to those required for the consolidation or extension of water systems. The bill would authorize the state board to develop and adopt policy, through the adoption of a policy handbook, that provides a process by which members of disadvantaged communities may petition the regional board for consideration of provision of sewer service. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.