Water: County of Ventura: fire suppression.

The compliance deadline for water suppliers to have backup energy sources (or alternative water) was extended from July 1, 2027 to July 1, 2030, giving suppliers three additional years to comply.

The grace period for suppliers who contracted for backup equipment before the deadline but have not yet received it was extended from January 1, 2030 to January 1, 2033, consistent with the new compliance date.

A new alternative compliance path was added: water suppliers may now satisfy the requirement by having access to alternative sources of water supplied by a different water supplier or agency that can supply backup water to critical wells and pumps for 24 hours, rather than solely relying on backup energy sources. The alternative water source must be available within 30 minutes and supply the same amount of water.

Local fire departments were added as consultation partners: the Ventura County Fire Department must develop fire safety standards in consultation with water suppliers and local fire departments, and inspections in areas served by a local fire department must occur in consultation with that local department.

The post-fire report requirement now explicitly references the emergency preparedness plan when assessing whether water tanks were filled at an appropriate level, tying that assessment to the plan prepared under subdivision (d).

A new subdivision (i) was added stating that nothing in the section changes the confidentiality level of information shared with the Ventura County Office of Emergency Services under subdivision (b).

The 'more than 20 residential dwellings' threshold was removed from the operative text of subdivision (a)(1) and is now carried solely through the definition of 'water supplier' in subdivision (g)(3)(A), simplifying the main requirement language.

The official chaptered document formatting (page numbers, centered section headers, page break markers) was replaced with a web page layout including navigation menus, quick search fields, and a version history dropdown. The underlying legislative text of Sections 1 through 3 is unchanged.

In Section 7080(a)(2), the deadline for mobile backup energy sources (or those procured via mutual aid agreements) to provide power after a loss of power was extended from 30 minutes to 60 minutes. This gives water suppliers using non-permanent backup systems double the time to restore power during an emergency.

A new definitions subsection (g) is added that formally defines 'water supplier' as a community water system (per Health and Safety Code Section 116275(i)) supplying fire suppression water to more than 20 dwellings in high or very high fire hazard severity zones in Ventura County, explicitly excluding water wholesalers without retail service. It also defines 'critical fire suppression infrastructure' as wells and water pumps critical for fire suppression in those zones.

Throughout the bill, the term 'critical wells and water pumps' is replaced with the defined term 'fire suppression infrastructure,' which could encompass a broader range of equipment beyond just wells and pumps. References to 'generator' are also broadened to 'backup energy source.'

The annual inspection of critical wells, water pumps, and generators serving the high or very high fire hazard severity zone but located outside the zone is shifted from the Ventura County Fire Department to the water supplier itself. The Fire Department retains responsibility for inspecting infrastructure located within the zone.

The provision requiring the Ventura County Office of Emergency Services to alert water suppliers when weather conditions merit initiating their emergency preparedness plan is removed. The only trigger for activating the plan is now a National Weather Service red flag warning.

The emergency preparedness plan requirement is changed from 'establish and annually update' to 'establish' with a separate obligation to 'annually review and update if necessary,' making the annual update obligation slightly less prescriptive.

The post-fire report (triggered when more than 10 dwellings are damaged) previously assessed whether critical water infrastructure and backup energy sources were 'sufficiently hardened.' It now assesses whether they 'met the fire safety standards described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c),' tying compliance to the specific standards developed by the Ventura County Fire Department.

The compliance deadline for water suppliers to have sufficient backup energy sources to operate critical fire suppression infrastructure was changed from July 1, 2027 to July 1, 2030, a three-year delay.

The grace period for water suppliers who contracted for backup energy before the compliance date but have not yet received it was extended from January 1, 2030 to January 1, 2033.

For mobile backup energy sources or those procured via mutual aid agreements, the required response time after a loss of power was relaxed from within 30 minutes to within 60 minutes.

Minor language corrections throughout, including fixing a redundant phrase ('water suppliers, suppliers and local fire departments' to 'water suppliers and local fire departments'), clarifying pronoun usage, and correcting 'shall include, and be is limited to' to 'shall include, and is limited to'.

The scope is narrowed to water suppliers whose water is specifically used for fire suppression in high or very high fire hazard severity zones, rather than any water supplier serving 20+ dwellings in those zones.

Removed the $3,000,000 damage threshold for triggering a post-fire report. Previously, a fire causing more than $3 million in damages to any single residential dwelling would trigger a report; now only fires damaging and making uninhabitable more than 10 dwellings trigger the requirement.

Changed from requiring a water supplier to 'have a backup energy source' to requiring 'access to sufficient backup energy source,' giving suppliers more flexibility in how they secure backup power.

New provision allows water suppliers to use mobile backup energy sources or procure an energy source via an established mutual aid agreement, provided the source can provide power within 12 hours of a National Weather Service red flag warning and for at least 24 hours after a loss of power.

Water suppliers must identify all wells, water pumps, and critical infrastructure needed for fire suppression water supply and provide that list to the Ventura County Office of Emergency Services by May 1, 2026, with updates within 120 days of any changes.

The Ventura County Office of Emergency Services must establish procedures for water suppliers to submit their critical infrastructure identification by March 1, 2026.

Fire safety standards development is now described as 'minimum fire safety standards' developed 'in consultation with water suppliers' specifically for fire hardening critical wells, water pumps, and generators in high or very high fire hazard severity zones.

The Ventura County Fire Department must annually inspect critical wells, water pumps, and generators that serve the high or very high fire hazard severity zone but are located outside the zone, to ensure functionality.

Water suppliers must establish and annually update an emergency preparedness plan for red flag warnings, extreme weather events, and major power outages, in coordination with the Ventura County Office of Emergency Services and the Ventura County Fire Department. The plan must consider filling water tanks and stationing emergency backup energy sources.

For water systems that already submit an emergency response plan to the Public Utilities Commission, the new emergency preparedness plan must be incorporated into that existing PUC plan.

The notification trigger for reduced water delivery capacity was broadened from 'reduced due to equipment failure or maintenance' to 'any reduction in its water delivery capacity that could hinder firefighting operations or significantly delay the replenishment of reservoirs.'

The post-fire report is now described as being made by the Ventura County Fire Department 'in cooperation with the water supplier' rather than the department independently assessing the appropriateness of the water delivery system.

Added a second extended compliance deadline: suppliers who contracted for backup generation before July 1, 2027 but have not received it by that date are compliant if they have access or possession by January 1, 2030 (one year later than the existing January 1, 2029 deadline).

The Ventura County Office of Emergency Services is now required to alert water suppliers when weather conditions merit initiating their emergency preparedness plan.

Removed the requirement that backup energy sources operate at 'a capacity equal to the average daily demand for the water supplier.' The new language simply requires sufficient backup energy sources to operate critical wells and water pumps needed to supply water for at least 24 hours for fire suppression.

Added new provisions addressing automatic or remote transfer switches: if not equipped with one, backup power must be turned on 'as soon as practically possible after deenergization'; if equipped with one, backup power must be turned on within 30 minutes of loss of power.

Replaced the requirement for water suppliers to 'begin to fill up water tanks' upon notification with a broader requirement to establish and annually update an emergency preparedness plan covering red flag warnings, extreme weather events, and major power outages. The plan must include consideration of filling water tanks and stationing backup energy sources.

Removed the standalone provision (former subdivision (d)) requiring water suppliers to ensure backup energy sources are within their possession and situated to provide electricity within 12 hours of receiving a weather notification from the Ventura County Office of Emergency Services.

Removed a transitional compliance provision that allowed water suppliers who contracted for backup generation before July 1, 2027 but had not received it by that date to comply by January 1, 2029.

Broadened the notification trigger from 'water delivery capacity has been reduced due to equipment failure or maintenance' to 'any reduction in its water delivery capacity that could hinder firefighting operations or significantly delay the replenishment of reservoirs.'

Shifted primary responsibility for post-fire reports (when more than 10 dwellings are made uninhabitable) from the water supplier to the Ventura County Fire Department, which now makes the report 'in cooperation with the water supplier.'

Reorganized Section 7080 structure: moved the definition of 'high or very high fire hazard severity zone' to paragraph (1), consolidated redundant inspection paragraphs in subdivision (b), and renumbered subsequent subdivisions.

Section 31121 (a separate provision under the County Water District Law applying specifically to water districts) was removed entirely. All requirements are now consolidated into Section 7080.

The bill now applies to 'water suppliers' rather than just 'water districts,' broadening which entities must comply with the backup power and reporting requirements.

Three new exemptions were added: (1) gravity-fed systems that do not require backup power, (2) nonpotable, recycled, irrigation, or agricultural water systems not used for fire suppression, and (3) water wholesalers that do not provide retail water service.

A July 1, 2027 effective date was added for the backup energy source requirement, with a grace period allowing compliance by January 1, 2029 for suppliers who contracted for a generator before July 1, 2027 but have not yet received it.

The backup power requirement now specifies that power must be restored within 30 minutes of loss, and the capacity standard changed from 'normal capacity' to 'a capacity equal to the average daily demand for the water supplier.'

A new requirement (subdivision d) obligates water suppliers to ensure backup energy sources are in their possession and situated so they can provide electricity within 12 hours of receiving a notification from the Ventura County Office of Emergency Services.

Tank-filling obligations were expanded: suppliers must now 'begin to fill up' tanks 'to the maximum extent practical' and keep them filled until the Office of Emergency Services notifies them that conditions no longer warrant it, rather than simply 'top off appropriate water tanks.'

The alert requirement for reduced water delivery capacity now specifies a deadline of three business days for general situations and 'as soon as it becomes aware' during an active fire event, replacing the previous open-ended 'whenever' language.

A new provision requires the Ventura County Fire Department to develop fire safety standards for critical water infrastructure and backup energy sources by January 1, 2027.

The post-fire report must now specifically include an assessment of whether tanks were filled at an appropriate level, whether electricity disruption was appropriately mitigated, and whether critical infrastructure and backup energy sources were sufficiently hardened.

The fire damage reporting trigger changed from 'destroys more than 10 residential dwellings' to 'damages and makes uninhabitable more than 10 residential dwellings,' and now applies to dwellings 'within the service area of a water supplier' rather than just those in a water district.

The reimbursement provision changed from a 'no reimbursement required' finding (based on local agency authority to levy fees) to the standard state mandate reimbursement provision, meaning if the Commission on State Mandates finds costs are mandated by the state, the state must reimburse local agencies.

References to fire hazard severity zones now explicitly cite 'as determined by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Section 51178 of the Government Code,' adding a statutory basis for zone determinations.

Removed the requirement that all backup energy sources provide power within 30 minutes of a loss of power. Now only systems equipped with an automatic or remote transfer switch must activate within 30 minutes; other systems only need to turn on 'as soon as practically possible' after deenergization.

Added a new provision requiring water suppliers to initiate their emergency preparedness plan when the National Weather Service issues a red flag warning for the region, in addition to the existing trigger based on alerts from the Ventura County Office of Emergency Services.

Changed the notification threshold in subdivision (d) from 'could hinder firefighting operations' to 'could substantially hinder firefighting operations,' raising the bar for when water suppliers must notify the county about reductions in water delivery capacity.

Added language requiring water suppliers to annually review their emergency preparedness plan and update it if necessary, supplementing the existing requirement to establish and annually update the plan.

A new Chapter 7 (Section 7080) is added to Division 4 of the Water Code, extending the backup power, inspection, alerting, and fire-report requirements to 'any water supplier' rather than only county water districts. This captures municipal utilities, private water companies, and other suppliers serving more than 20 dwellings in high or very high fire hazard zones in Ventura County.

The bill's title and scope statement now reference both adding Section 31121 to the Water Code AND adding Chapter 7 to Division 4 of the Water Code, reflecting that the bill now operates in two separate parts of the code with different covered entities.

The original bill contained a single Section 3 stating no state reimbursement was required because local agencies could levy service charges. The amended version adds a second Section 3 providing that if the Commission on State Mandates determines the act contains state-mandated costs, reimbursement shall be made under Government Code Part 7 (Division 4, Title 2). This opens the door to state funding for compliance costs.

Throughout the new Section 7080 and the legislative digest, the term 'water district' is replaced with 'water supplier,' a broader statutory category that includes entities beyond the county water districts governed by the County Water District Law (Section 31121).