AB 838: California Water Affordability and Infrastructure Transparency Act of 2023.

Existing law, the California Safe Drinking Water Act, requires the State Water Resources Control Board to administer provisions relating to the regulation of drinking water to protect public health. 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. The act prohibits a person from operating a public water system unless the person first submits an application to the state board and receives a permit to operate the system, as specified. The act requires a public water system to submit a technical report to the state board as a part of the permit application or when otherwise required by the state board, as specified, and to submit the report in the form and format and at intervals specified by the state board. Existing law provides that a specified violation of the act is a crime.

This bill would require, on beginning January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, thereafter at intervals determined by the state board, public water systems to provide specified information and data related to customer water bills and efforts to replace aging infrastructure to the state board. By requiring information and data to be provided to the state board, this bill would expand the scope of a crime and create 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.