CA AB1671

State Water Resources Control Board must adopt standards for backflow protection and cross-connection control by January 1, 2020.

State board may implement standards through a policy handbook that is not subject to standard regulatory procedures, but must hold at least two public hearings and consult with relevant agencies and experts.

Public water systems must implement cross-connection control programs that comply with applicable regulations and state board standards.

Local health officers' certification programs for backflow prevention device testers must be consistent with state board standards adopted under this bill.

Existing backflow protection regulations in California Code of Regulations (Articles 1 and 2 of Group 4) become inoperative upon the policy handbook's effective date and are repealed 90 days later, unless the state board determines to retain specific regulations.