Authority: §§ 32.1-163 through 32.1-176.7, 32.1-246, 32.1-246.1, and 62.1-44.18 through 62.1-44.19:9, Code of Virginia; and P.L. 92-500, P.L. 93-523 and P.L. 95-217, Federal Code.
A. It is the intent of the General Assembly that the Virginia Department of Health be the agency designated to receive and manage general and nongeneral funds appropriated pursuant to the federal Safe Drinking Water Act of 1996.
B. The fee schedule for charges to community waterworks shall be adjusted to the level necessary to cover the cost of operating the Waterworks Technical Assistance Program, consistent with § 32.1-171.1, Code of Virginia, and shall not exceed $3.00 per connection to all community waterworks.
C. Any positions necessary for the Office of Drinking Water to perform regulatory functions in dispersing federal State and Local Recovery Funds (SLRF) pursuant to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) for drinking water infrastructure shall be restricted positions and shall expire at the end of the grant period.
D. Out of this appropriation, $1,500,000 the first year and $1,500,000 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to the Virginia Department of Health to implement a Water Sampling Verification Program. The program shall ensure sampling is valid and representative of the actual water quality and conditions at the waterworks.
E. Out of this appropriation, $6,464,800 the first year and $6,464,800 the second year from the general fund is provided as state match for additional federal awards for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58).
F. Out of this appropriation, $3,624,600 the first year and $3,624,600 the second year from the general fund is provided as state match for additional federal awards for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund from the Safe Drinking Water Act.
G. Out of this appropriation, $500,000 the first year from the general fund shall be provided for the Virginia Department of Health to conduct a cost analysis of implementing pending federal Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS) regulations for Virginia local water systems and to implement pending federal Environmental Protection Agency Copper Rules for water system lead service lines. The report shall include the results of the cost analysis, possible funding models, and identify federal funding that may be available. The department shall submit the report to the Chairs of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees by December 1, 2024.