13557.5.
(a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the discharge of treated wastewater from ocean outfalls, except in compliance with the provisions of this section, is a waste and unreasonable use of water within the meaning of Section 2 of Article X of the California Constitution.(b) As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
(1) “Affiliated water suppliers” means all water suppliers that provide water that is disposed of in the collection system of a particular wastewater treatment facility that discharges through an ocean outfall.
(2) “Average annual dry weather wastewater discharge baseline volume” means the average annual volume of dry weather, treated waste water discharging through a facility’s ocean outfall as determined by the state board using monitoring data available for calendar years 2010 to 2020, inclusive.
(3) “Ocean outfall” means a point source at the point where raw, partially treated, or treated wastewater may be discharged from a wastewater treatment facility or associated collection system to saline waters, including the ocean, bays, and estuaries.
(4) “Point source” has the meaning provided by Section 122.2 of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(c) Each wastewater treatment facility that discharges through an ocean outfall and affiliated water suppliers shall reduce the overall volume of the facility’s annual flow, as follows, as compared to the average annual dry weather wastewater discharge baseline volume, by treating the water to be beneficially reused or by reducing inflow through water conservation and efficiency measures:
(1) By January 1, 2030, by at least 50 percent.
(2) By January 1, 2040, by at least 95 percent.
(d) (1) Each holder of a national pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES) permit authorizing the discharge of wastewater through an ocean outfall as of January 1, 2020, in conjunction with affiliated water suppliers, shall submit to the executive director of the state board, on or before July 1, 2022, 2025, a plan to meet the requirements of this section, directly or by contract. The plan shall contain all of the following:
(A) An identification of all land acquisition and facilities necessary to provide for treatment, transport, and reuse of treated wastewater.
(B) Identification and projection of all wastewater reductions due to implementation of conservation and efficiency measures in the facilities service area.
(C) An analysis of the costs to meet the requirements of this section.
(D) A financing plan for meeting the requirements of this section, including identifying any actions necessary to implement the financing plan, such as bond issuance or other borrowing, assessments, rate increases, fees, charges, or other financing mechanisms.
(E) A detailed schedule for the completion of all necessary actions.
(F) Supporting data and other
documentation accompanying the plan.
(2) On or before January 1, 2026, 2030, each holder of a NPDES permit authorizing the discharge of wastewater through an ocean outfall and affiliated water suppliers, shall update and submit to the executive director a plan, as described in paragraph (1), to include any refinements or changes in the costs, actions, or financing necessary to achieve the requirements of this section or a written statement that the plan is current and accurate.
(e) On or before January 1, 2024,
2027, and every January 1 every five years thereafter, the holder of a NPDES permit authorizing the discharge of wastewater through an ocean outfall, in conjunction with affiliated water suppliers, shall submit to the executive director of the state board a report summarizing the actions accomplished to date and the actions remaining and proposed to meet the requirements of this section. The report shall include progress toward meeting the deadlines set forth in subdivisions (c) and (d) and specifically include the detailed schedule for, and status of, the following:
(1) Evaluation of reuse and disposal options.
(2) Preparation of preliminary design reports.
(3) Preparation and
submission of permit applications.
(4) Construction initiation.
(5) Construction progress milestones.
(6) Construction completion.
(7) Initiation of operation.
(8) Continuing operation and maintenance.
(f) (1) On or before July 1, 2025, January 1, 2026, and by July
January 1 every five years thereafter, the state board shall submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature on the implementation of this section. The report shall summarize the progress to date, including, but not limited to, the increased amount of reclaimed water provided and potable water offsets achieved, and shall identify any obstacles to continued progress, including all instances of substantial noncompliance.
(2) A report to be submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(g) (1) Failure to meet the deadlines in subdivision (c) shall subject the owner or operator of the wastewater treatment facility, as well as affiliated water suppliers,
to a penalty of two thousand dollars ($2,000) per acre-foot of water above the required reduction in overall volume discharged.
(2) The failure of an NPDES permitholder and affiliated water suppliers to submit a plan or report required pursuant to subdivision (d) or (e) by the plan’s or report’s deadline shall result in a penalty of up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
(3) Civil liability under this subdivision shall be administratively imposed by the state board in accordance with Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 13323) of Chapter
5.
(3)
(4) Moneys collected from the civil penalties levied pursuant to this subdivision shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature.
(h) The failure of an NPDES permitholder and affiliated water suppliers to submit a report required pursuant to subdivision (d) or (e) shall make the permitholder and suppliers ineligible for a state loan or grant until the delinquent report has been submitted.