DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 533 Original 2017 Regular Session Hunter
Abstract: Requires enforcement of the primary and secondary drinking water standards established
by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Present law provides for the inspection and testing of public drinking water to enforce the federal
Safe Drinking Water Act.
Proposed law retains present law and requires the Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the La.
Dept. of Health (LDH), and the Public Service Commission (PSC) to ensure that the potable water
provided to the public for use and consumption meets all of the primary and secondary drinking
water standards established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Proposed law requires DEQ, LDH, and the PSC to conduct random unannounced inspections at
sufficient intervals to determine compliance with proposed law or when deemed necessary and to
post and maintain the results of the inspections conducted pursuant to proposed law on their
respective internet website.
Proposed law requires each water utility system to conduct quarterly tests to confirm compliance
with proposed law and to submit a report of the results of the inspection to DEQ, LDH, and the PSC,
who shall post and maintain the reports on their respective internet website.
Proposed law requires LDH, if the results of a test show an imminent danger to human health, to
appoint a fiscal administrator for the water utility system who shall immediately consult with the
chief executive of the entity that owns the water utility system to determine the appropriate action
to take to ensure the safety of the drinking water.
Proposed law requires DEQ, LDH, and the PSC to promulgate appropriate penalties, including but
not limited to civil fines, for any violation of proposed law. In the absence of promulgated penalties,
proposed law requires imposition of the civil fines established by the U. S. Environmental Protection
Agency.
Proposed law authorizes a request for an appropriation through the Interim Emergency Board for any
funding necessary to take the appropriate action to bring a water utility system into compliance with
proposed law and sets the funding priority.
Proposed law provides for a credit on a customer's water utility bill for each day that the water
supplied to the consumer did not meet the standards required by proposed law. (Adds R.S. 40:5.6.1)