Benefits of integrating water quality and drinking water programs seen in the move
The Brown Administration has released its proposal for moving the Drinking Water Program from the Department of Public Health to the State Water Board in advance of Wednesday’s public meeting on the transfer plan.
The transfer is intended to align both the drinking water program and the water quality program under the purview of the State Water Board, thereby consolidating all water quality regulation from source through disposal under one agency. Integrating water quality management into a single government entity would also further key elements in the draft California Water Action Plan and the State Water Board’s draft Groundwater Workplan Concept Paper, the proposal notes.
“The new structure – which combines drinking water, groundwater, and water quality programs in a single agency – is intended to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of the programs and best position the state to protect water quality and water-related aspects of public health and environmental health,” states the Administration’s proposal.
The move would create a new Division of Drinking Water at the State Water Board which would be overseen by a Deputy Director. Water system permits would be granted by the Deputy Director and would not be not subject to Board review, nor would permit issuance or enforcement be delegated to the regional water quality control boards. No revisions to the Drinking Water Program fees are proposed at this time.
Existing local drinking water field staff and district offices, considered key to the success of the drinking water program will be maintained. The State Water Board would also run the drinking water permitting processes in the same manner as DPH as well as continue the existing system for responding to drinking water emergencies, both systems that are considered to be working well under the current structure.
There are other potential benefits to the reorganization plan. Recycled water permitting processes would be consolidated under a single agency, potentially improving collaboration and permit quality and allowing seamless integration as the State moves forward towards using recycled water for reservoir augmentation. The move would also ensure coordination between well siting and groundwater cleanup activities.
The move is also seen as having benefits to disadvantaged communities by creating a financial assistance “one-stop shop” for water quality infrastructure financing, including application assistance, and moving the drinking water revolving fund to the State Water Board will allow the State Water Board’s faster and more streamlined revolving fund policy process to be used.
The Governor’s recent budget proposal acknowledges the move by moving the $200 million in funding and nearly 300 positions to the State Water Board. The move is intended to be effective on Juy 1, 2014.
The meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 15th, beginning at 9AM. The Administration will use the input received from the Drinking Water Reorganization Task Force along with the input received at the meeting to inform the Transition Plan, anticipated to be completed next month.
The meeting will be webcast.
- For more information on the move and to read the proposal, click here.
- For the webcast, click here on January 15th. Please note that the State Water Board does not archive webcasts online.
Written by Chris “Maven” Austin
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