CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20232024 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 541Introduced by Assembly Member WoodFebruary 08, 2023 An act to add Section 116596 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to water. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 541, as introduced, Wood. California Safe Drinking Water Act: wildfire aftermath: benzene testing.The California Safe Drinking Water Act provides for the operation of public water systems and imposes on the State Water Resources Control Board various responsibilities and duties relating to the regulation of drinking water to protect public health.This bill would direct the board, on or after January 1, 2024, to require a public water system, water corporation, or water district that has experienced a major wildfire event within their service territory to test their water source for the presence of benzene immediately following that major wildfire event.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) Wildfires have been increasing in frequency and severity in California. Recent wildfires have severely damaged critical infrastructure unable to withstand wildfire temperatures, underscoring the need to fire harden critical infrastructure.(b) Recent fires have left the communities of Santa Rosa and Paradise with unforeseen wildfire recovery challenges due to the presence of contaminants, including benzene, in water sources due to pipe failures and the permeation of fire residues during wildfires.(c) Benzene is both a natural and human-made compound used as a building block for industrial products such as plastic, lubricants, rubber, detergents, and pesticide. It is also found in crude oil, gasoline, and wildfire smoke. It has been connected to various physical ailments, according to federal warnings, including skin and eye irritation, and vomiting from short-term exposure. Long-term exposure has been linked to anemia and leukemia.(d) Certain water transmission and distribution infrastructure components can lose their integrity when heated, burned, or melted during a fire. The resulting loss of water system integrity can cause leeching, emission, and permeation of contaminants, exposing first responders, the public, and the environment to pollutants, and disrupts the ability to supply safe drinking water to occupancies during postfire recovery.SEC. 2. Section 116596 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:116596. (a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:(1) Water corporation has the same meaning as defined in Section 241 of the Public Utilities Code.(2) Water district has the same meaning as defined in Section 20200 of the Water Code.(b) On or after January 1, 2024, the board shall require a public water system, water corporation, or water district that has experienced a major wildfire event within their service territory to test their water source for the presence of benzene immediately following the major wildfire event.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20232024 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 541Introduced by Assembly Member WoodFebruary 08, 2023 An act to add Section 116596 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to water. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 541, as introduced, Wood. California Safe Drinking Water Act: wildfire aftermath: benzene testing.The California Safe Drinking Water Act provides for the operation of public water systems and imposes on the State Water Resources Control Board various responsibilities and duties relating to the regulation of drinking water to protect public health.This bill would direct the board, on or after January 1, 2024, to require a public water system, water corporation, or water district that has experienced a major wildfire event within their service territory to test their water source for the presence of benzene immediately following that major wildfire event.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20232024 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 541
Introduced by Assembly Member WoodFebruary 08, 2023
Introduced by Assembly Member Wood
February 08, 2023
An act to add Section 116596 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to water.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 541, as introduced, Wood. California Safe Drinking Water Act: wildfire aftermath: benzene testing.
The California Safe Drinking Water Act provides for the operation of public water systems and imposes on the State Water Resources Control Board various responsibilities and duties relating to the regulation of drinking water to protect public health.This bill would direct the board, on or after January 1, 2024, to require a public water system, water corporation, or water district that has experienced a major wildfire event within their service territory to test their water source for the presence of benzene immediately following that major wildfire event.
The California Safe Drinking Water Act provides for the operation of public water systems and imposes on the State Water Resources Control Board various responsibilities and duties relating to the regulation of drinking water to protect public health.
This bill would direct the board, on or after January 1, 2024, to require a public water system, water corporation, or water district that has experienced a major wildfire event within their service territory to test their water source for the presence of benzene immediately following that major wildfire event.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) Wildfires have been increasing in frequency and severity in California. Recent wildfires have severely damaged critical infrastructure unable to withstand wildfire temperatures, underscoring the need to fire harden critical infrastructure.(b) Recent fires have left the communities of Santa Rosa and Paradise with unforeseen wildfire recovery challenges due to the presence of contaminants, including benzene, in water sources due to pipe failures and the permeation of fire residues during wildfires.(c) Benzene is both a natural and human-made compound used as a building block for industrial products such as plastic, lubricants, rubber, detergents, and pesticide. It is also found in crude oil, gasoline, and wildfire smoke. It has been connected to various physical ailments, according to federal warnings, including skin and eye irritation, and vomiting from short-term exposure. Long-term exposure has been linked to anemia and leukemia.(d) Certain water transmission and distribution infrastructure components can lose their integrity when heated, burned, or melted during a fire. The resulting loss of water system integrity can cause leeching, emission, and permeation of contaminants, exposing first responders, the public, and the environment to pollutants, and disrupts the ability to supply safe drinking water to occupancies during postfire recovery.SEC. 2. Section 116596 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:116596. (a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:(1) Water corporation has the same meaning as defined in Section 241 of the Public Utilities Code.(2) Water district has the same meaning as defined in Section 20200 of the Water Code.(b) On or after January 1, 2024, the board shall require a public water system, water corporation, or water district that has experienced a major wildfire event within their service territory to test their water source for the presence of benzene immediately following the major wildfire event.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) Wildfires have been increasing in frequency and severity in California. Recent wildfires have severely damaged critical infrastructure unable to withstand wildfire temperatures, underscoring the need to fire harden critical infrastructure.(b) Recent fires have left the communities of Santa Rosa and Paradise with unforeseen wildfire recovery challenges due to the presence of contaminants, including benzene, in water sources due to pipe failures and the permeation of fire residues during wildfires.(c) Benzene is both a natural and human-made compound used as a building block for industrial products such as plastic, lubricants, rubber, detergents, and pesticide. It is also found in crude oil, gasoline, and wildfire smoke. It has been connected to various physical ailments, according to federal warnings, including skin and eye irritation, and vomiting from short-term exposure. Long-term exposure has been linked to anemia and leukemia.(d) Certain water transmission and distribution infrastructure components can lose their integrity when heated, burned, or melted during a fire. The resulting loss of water system integrity can cause leeching, emission, and permeation of contaminants, exposing first responders, the public, and the environment to pollutants, and disrupts the ability to supply safe drinking water to occupancies during postfire recovery.
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) Wildfires have been increasing in frequency and severity in California. Recent wildfires have severely damaged critical infrastructure unable to withstand wildfire temperatures, underscoring the need to fire harden critical infrastructure.(b) Recent fires have left the communities of Santa Rosa and Paradise with unforeseen wildfire recovery challenges due to the presence of contaminants, including benzene, in water sources due to pipe failures and the permeation of fire residues during wildfires.(c) Benzene is both a natural and human-made compound used as a building block for industrial products such as plastic, lubricants, rubber, detergents, and pesticide. It is also found in crude oil, gasoline, and wildfire smoke. It has been connected to various physical ailments, according to federal warnings, including skin and eye irritation, and vomiting from short-term exposure. Long-term exposure has been linked to anemia and leukemia.(d) Certain water transmission and distribution infrastructure components can lose their integrity when heated, burned, or melted during a fire. The resulting loss of water system integrity can cause leeching, emission, and permeation of contaminants, exposing first responders, the public, and the environment to pollutants, and disrupts the ability to supply safe drinking water to occupancies during postfire recovery.
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
### SECTION 1.
(a) Wildfires have been increasing in frequency and severity in California. Recent wildfires have severely damaged critical infrastructure unable to withstand wildfire temperatures, underscoring the need to fire harden critical infrastructure.
(b) Recent fires have left the communities of Santa Rosa and Paradise with unforeseen wildfire recovery challenges due to the presence of contaminants, including benzene, in water sources due to pipe failures and the permeation of fire residues during wildfires.
(c) Benzene is both a natural and human-made compound used as a building block for industrial products such as plastic, lubricants, rubber, detergents, and pesticide. It is also found in crude oil, gasoline, and wildfire smoke. It has been connected to various physical ailments, according to federal warnings, including skin and eye irritation, and vomiting from short-term exposure. Long-term exposure has been linked to anemia and leukemia.
(d) Certain water transmission and distribution infrastructure components can lose their integrity when heated, burned, or melted during a fire. The resulting loss of water system integrity can cause leeching, emission, and permeation of contaminants, exposing first responders, the public, and the environment to pollutants, and disrupts the ability to supply safe drinking water to occupancies during postfire recovery.
SEC. 2. Section 116596 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:116596. (a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:(1) Water corporation has the same meaning as defined in Section 241 of the Public Utilities Code.(2) Water district has the same meaning as defined in Section 20200 of the Water Code.(b) On or after January 1, 2024, the board shall require a public water system, water corporation, or water district that has experienced a major wildfire event within their service territory to test their water source for the presence of benzene immediately following the major wildfire event.
SEC. 2. Section 116596 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:
### SEC. 2.
116596. (a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:(1) Water corporation has the same meaning as defined in Section 241 of the Public Utilities Code.(2) Water district has the same meaning as defined in Section 20200 of the Water Code.(b) On or after January 1, 2024, the board shall require a public water system, water corporation, or water district that has experienced a major wildfire event within their service territory to test their water source for the presence of benzene immediately following the major wildfire event.
116596. (a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:(1) Water corporation has the same meaning as defined in Section 241 of the Public Utilities Code.(2) Water district has the same meaning as defined in Section 20200 of the Water Code.(b) On or after January 1, 2024, the board shall require a public water system, water corporation, or water district that has experienced a major wildfire event within their service territory to test their water source for the presence of benzene immediately following the major wildfire event.
116596. (a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:(1) Water corporation has the same meaning as defined in Section 241 of the Public Utilities Code.(2) Water district has the same meaning as defined in Section 20200 of the Water Code.(b) On or after January 1, 2024, the board shall require a public water system, water corporation, or water district that has experienced a major wildfire event within their service territory to test their water source for the presence of benzene immediately following the major wildfire event.
116596. (a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) Water corporation has the same meaning as defined in Section 241 of the Public Utilities Code.
(2) Water district has the same meaning as defined in Section 20200 of the Water Code.
(b) On or after January 1, 2024, the board shall require a public water system, water corporation, or water district that has experienced a major wildfire event within their service territory to test their water source for the presence of benzene immediately following the major wildfire event.