Bill > H376

This bill, the Water/Wastewater Affordability & Capacity Act, makes several changes to laws concerning water and wastewater systems, as well as private wells. It allows the North Carolina Utilities Commission to suspend proposed water and sewer rate increases for up to 300 days while investigating, and requires local governments selling public water or sewer systems to a private company to hold a public hearing and determine if the sale is in the public interest, considering factors like the system's condition, needed upgrades, purchaser's ability to provide service, and affordability of future rates for customers. The bill also sets limits on how much more local governments can charge customers outside their service area for water and sewer compared to those inside, generally capping the difference at 25% without requiring a public hearing, but mandating one if the difference exceeds that. Additionally, it modifies rules for stormwater control for redeveloped properties, clarifies certification requirements and renewal processes for on-site wastewater system contractors and inspectors, and makes technical changes to the permitting and inspection of on-site wastewater systems and private drinking water wells, including allowing local health departments to adopt more stringent testing standards for private wells. Finally, the bill introduces provisions for approving certain "advanced pretreatment" systems as innovative wastewater systems and clarifies the roles of the Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Health and Human Services in enforcing certain rules.