New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

New Jersey Assembly Bill A3326

Introduced
3/7/22  

Caption

Requires water supplier to notify affected municipalities, school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools of violations of drinking water quality standards.

Impact

If enacted, A3326 would bring significant changes to the way drinking water violations are communicated within New Jersey. It emphasizes immediate transparency in the context of public health risks associated with water safety. This may strengthen community responses to potential threats from contaminated water sources, thereby enhancing consumer awareness and response protocols. Municipalities and educational institutions would also be better equipped to take immediate actions to safeguard public health, such as issuing alerts or preparing remediation efforts.

Summary

Assembly Bill A3326 aims to enhance public safety regarding drinking water quality by mandating that water suppliers promptly notify relevant local authorities whenever there is a violation of drinking water quality standards. Specifically, the bill requires that any public water system that fails to meet quality standards must immediately inform the municipal governing body, as well as the heads of local school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools located within the affected area. The notification must detail the nature of the violation, including the type of contaminant involved and the specific levels detected, along with recommended actions for affected consumers.

Contention

Although the bill is generally viewed as a necessary measure for public health, discussions around it may involve debates over the adequacy of immediate notifications and whether additional regulatory measures should accompany this requirement. Some stakeholders may argue about the administrative burden it places on water suppliers and whether additional resources are needed to comply effectively. There may also be discussions about the thoroughness of the information provided to the affected parties and how quickly these notifications can be standardized to ensure consistent communication across all municipalities and schools.

Companion Bills

NJ S276

Same As Requires water supplier to notify affected municipalities, school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools of violations of drinking water quality standards.

Previously Filed As

NJ A1400

Requires water supplier to notify affected municipalities, school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools of violations of drinking water quality standards.

NJ S276

Requires water supplier to notify affected municipalities, school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools of violations of drinking water quality standards.

NJ S984

Requires water supplier to notify affected municipalities, school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools of violations of drinking water quality standards.

NJ S1023

Requires public water systems to provide certain notice of boil water notices and violations of drinking water quality standards.

NJ S1879

Requires public water systems to provide certain notice of boil water notices and violations of drinking water quality standards.

NJ A2894

Requires public water systems to provide certain notice of boil water notices.

NJ A516

Requires public water systems to provide certain notice of boil water notices.

NJ A879

Requires public and nonpublic schools to test for and remediate lead in drinking water, and disclose test results.

NJ A3217

Requires public and nonpublic schools to test for and remediate lead in drinking water, and disclose test results.

NJ S1648

Requires public and nonpublic schools to test for and remediate lead in drinking water, and disclose test results.

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CA SB633

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TX SB676

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CA AB588

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NJ SCR44

Strongly urges DEP to adopt standards for certain drinking water contaminants as recommended by NJ Drinking Water Quality Institute.

NJ ACR144

Strongly urges DEP to adopt standards for certain drinking water contaminants as recommended by NJ Drinking Water Quality Institute.

NJ SCR123

Strongly urges DEP to adopt standards for certain drinking water contaminants as recommended by NJ Drinking Water Quality Institute.