NC H506

Establishes a new subsection (12a) allowing the Department Secretary to order persons causing or contributing to water or air pollution to immediately reduce, discontinue, or modify emissions and discharge of wastes.

Requires responsible parties to provide alternate water supplies to affected households or establish permanent replacement water supplies by connection to public water supply, with option for households to elect whole house filtration systems instead.

Makes responsible parties liable for periodic maintenance of any installed filtration systems and for all actual and necessary costs incurred by the State in removing, correcting, or abating adverse pollution effects.

Authorizes the Secretary to pursue civil action in superior court to recover assessed costs if responsible parties refuse or fail to pay within a reasonable time.

Appropriates $75,000 in recurring funds to the Department of Environmental Quality for the 2021-2022 fiscal year to implement the act's requirements.