Signed by Governor Jerry Brown, Jr.

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with House amendments and pass a bill that amends water infrastructure laws.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the state Water Resources Control Board to consolidate, physically or operationally, a public water system or state small water system within a “disadvantaged community” with another water system when the former has consistently failed to provide an adequate supply of safe drinking water (Sec. 3).

• Defines “disadvantaged community” as a community with an annual median household income that is less than 80 percent of the statewide annual median household income and that is located in an unincorporated area or is served by a mutual water company (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes the board to extend service to an area that does not have access to an adequate supply of safe drinking water, as long as the extension of service is an interim action in preparation for ultimate consolidation of systems (Sec. 3).

• Requires the state board, upon ordering consolidation or extension of service, to take certain actions including, but not limited to, the following actions (Sec. 3):
• Make funds available to the receiving water system for the costs of completing the consolidation or extension of service;
• Adequately compensate the owners of a privately owned subsumed water system for the fair market value of the system; and
• Ensure payment of standard local agency formation commission fees caused by the board-ordered consolidation or extension of service.

• Exempts projects that meet all of the following requirements from the environmental protection regulations of the California Emergency Services Act (CESA) (Sec. 6):
• The project is approved or carried out by a public agency for the purpose of mitigating drought conditions;
• The project consists of construction or expansion of recycled water pipeline and directly related infrastructure or groundwater replenishment;
• The project does not affect wetlands or sensitive habitat; and
• The project’s construction impacts are fully mitigated consistent with applicable law.

• Requires an individual who diverts 10 acre-feet of water per year or more to measure the rate of direct diversion, rate of collection to storage, and rate of withdrawal from storage, and to report that information to the state board (Sec. 15).

• Authorizes a court to hold an individual civilly liable up to $10,000 for a violation of an ordinance, resolution, or emergency regulation adopted pursuant to certain sections of California law regarding water conservation (Sec. 11).

• Authorizes a court to hold an individual civilly liable up to $10,000 plus $500 for each additional day on which the violation continues, starting on the 31st day after the individual was notified of his or her violation (Sec. 11).

• Limits the civil fine for a residential water user on their first violation of water conservation laws to $1000, unless the following conditions apply (Sec. 11):
• The residential user had notice of the requirement found to be violated;
• The conduct was intentional; and
• The amount of water involved was substantial.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends water infrastructure laws.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the state Water Resources Control Board to consolidate, physically or operationally, a public water system or state small water system within a “disadvantaged community” with another water system when the former has consistently failed to provide an adequate supply of safe drinking water (Sec. 3).

• Defines “disadvantaged community” as a community with an annual median household income that is less than 80 percent of the statewide annual median household income and that is located in an unincorporated area or is served by a mutual water company (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes the board to extend service to an area that does not have access to an adequate supply of safe drinking water, as long as the extension of service is an interim action in preparation for ultimate consolidation of systems (Sec. 3).

• Requires the state board, upon ordering consolidation or extension of service, to take certain actions including, but not limited to, the following actions (Sec. 3):
• Make funds available to the receiving water system for the costs of completing the consolidation or extension of service;
• Adequately compensate the owners of a privately owned subsumed water system for the fair market value of the system; and
• Ensure payment of standard local agency formation commission fees caused by the board-ordered consolidation or extension of service.

• Exempts projects that meet all of the following requirements from the environmental protection regulations of the California Emergency Services Act (CESA) (Sec. 6):
• The project is approved or carried out by a public agency for the purpose of mitigating drought conditions;
• The project consists of construction or expansion of recycled water pipeline and directly related infrastructure or groundwater replenishment;
• The project does not affect wetlands or sensitive habitat; and
• The project’s construction impacts are fully mitigated consistent with applicable law.

• Requires an individual who diverts 10 acre-feet of water per year or more to measure the rate of direct diversion, rate of collection to storage, and rate of withdrawal from storage, and to report that information to the state board (Sec. 15).

• Authorizes a court to hold an individual civilly liable up to $10,000 for a violation of an ordinance, resolution, or emergency regulation adopted pursuant to certain sections of California law regarding water conservation (Sec. 11).

• Authorizes a court to hold an individual civilly liable up to $10,000 plus $500 for each additional day on which the violation continues, starting on the 31st day after the individual was notified of his or her violation (Sec. 11).

• Limits the civil fine for a residential water user on their first violation of water conservation laws to $1000, unless the following conditions apply (Sec. 11):
• The residential user had notice of the requirement found to be violated;
• The conduct was intentional; and
• The amount of water involved was substantial.

Full Bill Text