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2006 SESSION


SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 82
Directing the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study very small and small community water systems in Virginia. Report.
 
Agreed to by the Senate, February 14, 2006
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 6, 2006
 

WHEREAS, the availability of safe drinking water is essential to the health of the citizens of Virginia; and

WHEREAS, any system that provides water via pipes or other constructed channels to at least 15 service connections or serves at least 25 people per day for 60 days of the year is considered a public water system; and

WHEREAS, public water systems are classified by the number of people they serve; and

WHEREAS, many homeowners in the Commonwealth are required to purchase their water from public water systems that are classified as very small or small; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Water Resources Research Center reported that, in 2000, approximately 70 percent of the very small and small public water systems are investor-owned; and

WHEREAS, these systems lack the economies of scale of larger systems; and

WHEREAS, some customers of very small and small public water systems are frustrated by the perceived lack of regulatory authority over these systems; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission be directed to study very small and small community water systems in Virginia.

In conducting its study, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission shall determine whether the needs of Virginia's citizens are being met through the existing regulatory scheme with regard to both water quality and rates charged and shall make recommendations on any needed improvements.

Technical assistance shall be provided to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission by the State Corporation Commission and the Department of Health. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission for this study, upon request.

The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2006, and the Chairman shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the 2007 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall state whether the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission intends to submit to the General Assembly and the Governor 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 and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.