Primary drinking water standards: hexavalent chromium: compliance plan.

The California Safe Drinking Water Act provides for the operation of public water systems and imposes on the State Water Resources Control Board various duties and responsibilities for the regulation and control of drinking water in the State of California. The act requires the state board to adopt primary drinking water standards for contaminants in drinking water based upon specified criteria, and requires a primary drinking water standard to be established for hexavalent chromium. Existing law authorizes the state board to grant a variance from primary drinking water standards to a public water system. Existing law makes certain violations of the act a crime. The bill would authorize, until January 1, 2029, the state board to grant an extension of up to 3 years beyond any other compliance period established by the state board for a public water system to achieve compliance with the primary drinking water standard for hexavalent chromium, as prescribed. The bill would require a public water system to comply with all requirements that the state board has established for a public water system during the compliance period, including public notice. The bill would prohibit a public water system from being deemed in violation of the primary drinking water standard for hexavalent chromium while implementing a compliance plan that has been approved by the state board if an extension is provided. To the extent that a public water system, when submitting a compliance plan or submitting a report pursuant to these provisions, would make any false statement or representation, this bill would expand the scope of a crime and impose a state-mandated local program. 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.