Report 2021-118 Recommendation 4 Responses

Report 2021-118: State Water Resources Control Board: It Lacks the Urgency Necessary to Ensure That Failing Water Systems Receive Needed Assistance in a Timely Manner (Release Date: July 2022)

Recommendation #4 To: Water Resources Control Board

To minimize the prolonged periods during which Californians suffer without safe drinking water, the State Water Board should do the following by January 2023, develop a process to fast-track urgent water projects, particularly for failing water systems affecting a large number of people or serving a disadvantaged community. One option for doing so would be to use state-only funding that is not subject to federal requirements.

6-Month Agency Response

The Draft Fiscal Year 2022-23 Fund Expenditure Plan for the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund (adopted October 3, 2022, https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/grants_loans/docs/2022/final-2022-23-sadw-fep.pdf) includes an avenue for expedited funding for high priority capital projects through our Urgent Drinking Water Needs program, with the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund (state grant funds). Criteria to select projects for this new approach include: project cost less than $500,000, projects serving a small disadvantaged community that is out of compliance or at-risk with a high priority public health need or consolidation opportunity, ready to proceed or low-complexity planning/approvals outstanding.

As an additional, broader option to fast-track urgent projects, staff are also developing the Expedited Drinking Water Grant Funding Program that will utilize multiple state grant sources and will target specific high priority, grant eligible construction projects. The draft guidelines describe a new streamlined application process to enable DFA to commit funds to projects more quickly. State Water Board consideration of adoption is planned for March 7, 2023. More info online at: https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_water/services/funding/expedited-grant-funding.html

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Fully Implemented

60-Day Agency Response

The Draft Fiscal Year 2022-23 Fund Expenditure Plan for the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund includes an avenue for expedited funding for high priority capital projects through our Urgent Drinking Water Needs program. Draft criteria to select projects for this new approach include: project cost less than $500,000, projects serving a small disadvantaged community that is out of compliance or at-risk with a high priority public health need or consolidation opportunity, ready to proceed or low-complexity planning/approvals outstanding. Staff are already reviewing upcoming needs to identify projects to prioritize for this path, and staff will begin implementing this new approach upon Board approval of the draft language. Board consideration is scheduled for October 3, 2022.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

We look forward to reviewing the State Water Boards revised process to fast-track urgent water projects.

All Recommendations in 2021-118

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.