New Water Regulations Impact Local Businesses Using Domestic Wells

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Local businesses that are using a domestic well are getting hit with additional water bill and required to get a permit from the California State Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water.  In some cased the permit is $1500 per well.   Here is the letter that was obtained by Sierra Daily News from a local business;

State Water Resources Control Board

Division of Drinking Water

Recent changes to the California Health and Safety Code (CH&SC) made by the California State Legislature have been signed into law by the Governor on September 8, 2023. These changes will affect your facility, specifically the regulatory oversight of your domestic water system.

Prior to these changes, the CH&SC allowed certain public water systems to be exempt from the California Safe Drinking Water Act (SOWA) if they were regulated under a food facility permit issued in accordance with the California Retail Food Code. As defined in the SOWA, a public water system is defined as a system that provides water for human consumption to at least 25 people per day, for at least 60 days out of the year. Your public water system has been identified as one of these systems which was previously exempt from SOWA, and as such, it appears your water system will now fall under the regulatory oversight of this office.

In the coming weeks, you will be contacted by Environmental Scientist Michelle Opalenik of my office. Ms. Opalenik will assist you with the public water system permitting process and get you acquainted with the requirements of both the laws and regulations pertaining to public water systems.

Background:

On September 8, 2023, California Governor signed Assembly Bill 1627 (AB 1627) into law, which amended the California Health and Safety Code to make changes regarding water system oversight, primarily by ensuring the state’s ability to fully implement the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) within California by repealing a potentially exempting provision in the state’s SDWA regulations.

AB 1627, Lee. California Safe Drinking Water Act.
Existing law, the California Safe Drinking Water Act, requires the State Water Resources Control Board to regulate specified water systems and maintain specified primary drinking water standards. The act defines a public water system as a system for the provision of water for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances that has 15 or more service connections or regularly serves at least 25 individuals daily at least 60 days out of the year. Existing law applies the provisions of the act to a food facility that is regulated pursuant to the California Retail Food Code only if the human consumption includes drinking of water. Existing law provides that a violation of the act is a crime.
In regard to the number of individuals served, this bill would revise the definition of a public water system to apply to a system that regularly serves an average of at least 25 individuals daily at least 60 days out of the year. To the extent that this bill would expand the scope of coverage of the act by applying its provisions to more public water systems, thereby expanding the application of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
This bill would repeal the provision applying the act to a food facility that is regulated pursuant to the California Retail Food Code only if the human consumption includes drinking of water.
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.