SB 526: Community water systems: lead user service lines.

Existing law requires, by July 1, 2018, a community water system to compile an inventory of known lead user service lines in use in its distribution system and identify areas that may have lead user service lines in use in its distribution system. Existing law requires, by July 1, 2020, a community water system with known lead user service lines in use in its distribution system to provide a timeline for replacement of those lines to the State Water Resources Control Board. Existing law requires the state board to review and approve an established timeline, and requires, if the state board fails to act within 30 days of the submission of the timeline, the timeline to be deemed approved. Existing law authorizes the state board to enforce these requirements, as specified, and a violation is considered a violation of the California Safe Drinking Water Act, subjecting the violator to specified civil and criminal penalties.

This bill would, until January 1, 2025, require a community water system to remove or replace the full lead user service line, if the community water system disturbs, removes, or replaces a portion thereof. The bill would apply the above-described enforcement provisions to a violation of the requirements of the bill, thereby creating a state-mandated local program by expanding the scope of crimes under the California Safe Drinking Water Act.

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.