| The Wholesale Regional Water System
Security and Reliability Act
(Authors: Assembly members Louis Papan and Joe Simitian; Co-authors:
Assembly members Elaine Alquist, Rebecca Cohn, Ellen Corbett,
Manny Diaz, John Dutra and Lynne Leach; Senators Liz Figueroa,
Don Perata, Tom Torlakson and Byron Sher)
Question: What
is the Wholesale Regional Water System Security and Reliability
Act?
Answer: The
Act provides a process, established by the State Legislature,
to ensure that the San Francisco Bay Area regional water system
is rebuilt as soon as possible.
It is designed to help protect the health, safety
and economic well being of 2.4 million residents, businesses
and community organizations in Alameda, San Mateo, San Francisco
and Santa Clara counties who depend on the system.
Question: What
does AB 1823 do?
Answer: AB
1823 requires:
- San Francisco to adopt a capital improvement program for
the Bay Area regional water system with a financing plan
and to complete nine high-priority projects;
- A review by the state Department of Health Services
and the Seismic Safety Commission of changes in the capital
improvement program and comments by the two agencies about
the significance of the changes to public health and safety;
- Development of an emergency response plan describing
how water service will be restored after an interruption caused
by an earthquake or other catastrophe;
- Distribution of water on an equitable basis during
an interruption of supply after an earthquake or other catastrophe;
- Annual reports to the Department of Health Services
about progress in finding additional sources of water for
dry years;
- A Department of Health Services audit of maintenance
on the regional water system before July 1, 2004; and
- The regional water system to be operated in compliance
with the California Safe Drinking Water Act and guidelines
established by the United States Environmental Protection
Act.
This is an overview of the legislation.
View entire document here
(27K pdf)
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