Bill Text: VA HJR92 | 2020 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Drinking water program; Off. of Drinking Water/Dept. of Health to study infrastructure & oversight.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2020-02-25 - Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ92ER) [HJR92 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2020-HJR92-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, the Office of Drinking Water of the Department of Health is responsible for protecting the public health by ensuring that all people in the Commonwealth have access to an adequate supply of clean, safe drinking water that meets federal and state drinking water standards; and
WHEREAS, the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations and state Public Water Supplies Law (§32.1-167 et seq. of the Code of Virginia) and state regulations governing waterworks and waterworks operators set out standards for drinking water quality, drinking water infrastructure, and oversight of the drinking water program; and
WHEREAS, problems or issues with the existing drinking water infrastructure or oversight of the drinking water program may result in an increased risk of contamination of drinking water with lead, copper, and other substances or organisms; and
WHEREAS, contamination of drinking water may have serious negative effects on the health and well-being of residents of the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Office of Drinking Water of the Department of Health be requested to study the Commonwealth's drinking water infrastructure and oversight of the drinking water program.
In conducting its study, the Office of Drinking Water of the Department of Health shall (i) evaluate the existing drinking water program infrastructure and oversight of the drinking water program to identify problems or issues that may result in contamination of drinking water with lead or copper or other substances or organisms or increase the likelihood of contamination of drinking water with lead or copper or other substances or organisms and (ii) develop recommendations for addressing such problems or issues.
All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Office of Drinking Water of the Department of Health for this study, upon request.
The Office of Drinking Water of the Department of Health shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2020, and shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an executive summary and a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summary and report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports no later than the first day of the 2021 Regular Session of the General Assembly and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.
