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COUNTY OF SAN MATEO
Inter-Departmental Correspondence
Health System
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DATE:
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February 23, 2011
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BOARD MEETING DATE:
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March 29, 2011
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SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:
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None
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VOTE REQUIRED:
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Majority
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TO:
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Honorable Board of Supervisors
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FROM:
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Jean S. Fraser, Chief, Health System
Brian J. Zamora, Director, Community Health
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SUBJECT:
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Small Public Water Systems – Inspection Program
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RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a Resolution authorizing the Director of Environmental Health to transfer regulatory oversight of the Small Public Water Systems program to the California Department of Public Health - Drinking Water Program effective July 1, 2011.
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BACKGROUND:
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Public water systems with 200 or more connections are regulated by California Department of Public Health - Drinking Water Program (CDPH-DWP) in accordance with State law. With some exceptions, counties may choose to become designated as a Local Primacy Agency (LPA) to permit and regulate small public water systems, including community systems with fewer than 200 connections, as well as both transient and non-transient non-community water systems. San Mateo County is currently one of thirty-two counties designated as an LPA by the State. On February 22, 2011, your Board’s Environmental Quality Committee (EQC) discussed several options and directed staff to proceed with the transfer of the program.
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DISCUSSION:
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For several years annual evaluations by the State have noted deficiencies in the program and the County’s performance as the LPA. The cause of these deficiencies is simply that the fees charged to the individual water systems do not adequately support sufficient staff to comply with the State’s requirements. Fees for the program generate approximately $21,000 per year, however a minimum of $161,000 would be needed to fully address all of the requirements. This would require a seven-fold increase in fees. As discussed at the EQC, these small public water systems do not have substantial operating budgets and cannot afford a significant increase without unduly burdening their customers.
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CDPH-DWP currently regulates over 7,500 water systems, including many smaller systems. They have an infrastructure that can support adding the small public water systems from San Mateo County to ensure those systems provide safe drinking water.
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County Counsel has reviewed and approved the Resolution as to form.
Small Water Systems
Permit Fee Comparison
System
Current Annual Fee
Projected Annual Fee *
State Fee
Community System (15-24 Connections)
$546
$3,200
$250**
Community System (25-99 Connections)
$874
$6,000
$250 to $594**
Community System (100+ Connections)
$1,093
$6,500
$600 plus**
Non-Transient Non- Community
$765
$6,000
$2 per person served ($456 minimum)
Transient
Non-Community
$765
$6,000
$800 flat fee
* Fee that would be needed if County were to maintain program
**State Fees for Community Systems are $6 per connection ($250 minimum)
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Approval of this Resolution contributes to the Shared Vision 2025 outcome of an Environmentally Conscious Community by ensuring that drinking water provided by small public water systems is safe. It is anticipated that 94% of all permitted facilities will receive an annual inspection in FY 2010-11.
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Performance Measure(s):
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Measure
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FY 2009-10
Actual
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FY 2010-11
Projected
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Percent of permitted facilities receiving an annual inspection
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100%
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94%
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*Inspection goal in FY 2009-10 was exceeded
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FISCAL IMPACT:
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There is no Net County Cost associated with this action.
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