Bill > S1072

Introduced Session

This bill would require the owner or operator of a public community water system to perform certain tests for Legionella bacteria on the drinking water in the public community water system. Specifically, the bill would require the owner or operator to test water from the system side of a random sample of 0.1 percent of the service lines in the service area of the public community water system, at least once every three months. In addition, the bill would require testing of a random sample of one percent of the public community water system's facilities (including storage tanks, treatment plants, pumps, and water mains), at least once every month. The bill requires the water sampling and testing to be performed using a set of best practices developed by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). In addition, the bill would require the water testing to be performed by a laboratory accredited by the DEP. The bill would also require the owner or operator of a public community water system to transmit the test results to the DEP. If the test results reveal the presence of excessive Legionella contamination, according to a standard to be developed by the DEP under the bill, the owner or operator would be required to begin remediation of the problem within 30 days, and the remediation would be required to be completed within six months. The owner or operator would also be required to notify customers that may be affected by the Legionella contamination. A violation of the bill's provisions would be considered a violation of the "Safe Drinking Water Act," P.L.1977, c.224 (C.58:12A-1 et seq.), which could result in civil administrative penalties of up to $25,000 per violation.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Linda Greenstein (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee (on 01/09/2024)

Official Document