CA SB1215

Regional water quality control boards may order provision of sewer service by cities, counties, or special districts to disadvantaged communities served by inadequate onsite sewage treatment systems.

Before ordering sewer service, regional boards must encourage voluntary provision, consult with relevant agencies, hold public meetings with at least 6 months' notice, and make findings that the service is technically and economically feasible and cost-effective.

Property owners may opt out of sewer service orders for up to 5 years if their onsite system was installed within 10 years prior and is not inadequate, but must pay standby charges to the receiving sewer system.

The state board must provide financial assistance for sewer system capacity costs, infrastructure, and local agency formation commission expenses, and ensure receiving systems do not increase charges on existing customers or charge new customers rates higher than necessary.

Regional boards cannot require sewer service if the receiving system's service territory is more than 3 miles away from the disadvantaged community, and Government Code Division 3 procedures do not apply to state or regional board actions under this chapter.