Chapter 6.6 - Water and Wastewater Loan and Grant Program

California Water Code — §§ 13486-13489

Sections (6)

Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 438, Sec. 1. (AB 277) Effective January 1, 2018.

(a)To the extent that funding is made available, the state board may establish a program in accordance with this chapter to provide funding as described in subdivision (a) of Section 13487.5 to eligible applicants for any of the following purposes:

(1)Extending or connecting service lines from a water or wastewater system to the point of entry into a residential structure.

(2)Paying reasonable charges or fees for connecting to a water or wastewater system.

(3)Paying costs to properly abandon or destroy

septic tanks and water wells, as necessary, to protect health and safety as required by local or state law.

(4)Improving, rehabilitating, replacing, or repairing existing water wells, including associated equipment.

(5)Installing a water treatment system if the groundwater exceeds a primary or secondary drinking water standard, as defined in Section 116275 of the Health and Safety Code.

(b)The state board may adopt any guidelines it determines are necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter. A guideline adopted pursuant to this subdivision shall not be subject to the rulemaking requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government

Code.

§ 13486.5

Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 438, Sec. 1. (AB 277) Effective January 1, 2018.

(a)As used in this chapter:

(1)“Qualified nonprofit organization” means an organization with experience in providing financial and technical assistance to disadvantaged communities that is qualified to operate in California and qualified for exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

(2)“Small water system” means a system for the provision of piped water to the public for human consumption that serves at least two, but not more than 14, service connections and is not a public water system as defined in Section 116275 of the Health and Safety

Code.

§ 13487

Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 438, Sec. 1. (AB 277) Effective January 1, 2018.

(a)To fund the program authorized in this chapter, the state board may use a funding source that is authorized for and consistent with the purposes of this chapter.

(b)The state board shall use reasonable and feasible efforts to secure local matching funds for the purposes of funding projects pursuant to this chapter.

§ 13487.5

Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 438, Sec. 1. (AB 277) Effective January 1, 2018.

(a)A county or qualified nonprofit organization may apply to the state board for a grant to award loans or grants, or both, to eligible applicants in the county in accordance with this chapter.

The state board may award a grant to a qualified nonprofit organization only for a county that has not been awarded a grant pursuant to this subdivision.

(b)A county or qualified nonprofit organization that receives funding pursuant to this chapter shall annually provide the following information to the state board:

(1)The number of loans and grants awarded.

(2)The types of projects funded.

(3)Project costs.

(4)Whether there is demand for additional funding.

(c)The state board may advance funds pursuant to an

agreement with a county or qualified nonprofit organization in accordance with this chapter. Section 11019 of the Government Code does not apply to an advance made pursuant to this subdivision.

§ 13488

Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 438, Sec. 1. (AB 277) Effective January 1, 2018.

(a)An eligible applicant for a loan shall meet all of the following criteria:

(1)Have a household income at or below 120 percent of the statewide median household income or, for a small water system, serve households with a median household income at or below 120 percent of the statewide median household income.

(2)Have an ownership interest in the residence or small water system.

(3)Be unable to obtain financial assistance at reasonable terms and conditions from private lenders and lack the resources

to undertake these improvements.

(4)Demonstrate an ability to repay the loan. This requirement may be satisfied by having another party join the application as a cosigner.

(b)Any loan provided shall be secured by appropriate collateral, which may include a mortgage on the residence and shall be repaid within 10 to 30 years in accordance with terms established by the state board. The interest rate on the loan shall not exceed 3 percent. Throughout the useful life of the improvement, a loan recipient shall furnish evidence of and continually maintain homeowner’s insurance on the security residence to protect the state’s interest in the residence.

(c)The county may enter into a contract with a private financial institution

to provide loans consistent with the purposes of this chapter.

§ 13489

Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 438, Sec. 1. (AB 277) Effective January 1, 2018.

(a)An eligible applicant for a grant shall meet all of the following criteria:

(2)Have an ownership interest in the residence or small water system.

(3)Be unable to obtain financial assistance at reasonable terms and conditions from private

lenders and lack the resources to undertake these improvements.

(b)A grant recipient shall repay to the county or qualified nonprofit organization the grant amount in full if that recipient sells or transfers ownership of the residence or small water system less than five years from the date that the grant agreement was signed.