On February 1, 2023, Associate Policy Director Sarah Sample testified before the House Environment and Transportation Committee in support of HB 0011 – Private Well Safety Act of 2023.
The Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee will consider the bill’s cross-file, SB 0483, on February 15.
This bill would establish the Private Well Safety Program to manage and address the contamination of private and domestic water supply wells in the State. The eponymous Private Well Safety Fund, if sufficiently supported through appropriations, serves to equip counties with the resources they need to inspect, repair, and potentially upgrade dilapidated wells used by their residents.
From the MACo Testimony:
Unresolved well problems can lead to dangerous circumstances for residents relying on this water source. The potential for water contamination is very high if a well is left un-serviced or in a failing state. The costs of inspecting and repairing a failing well or installing, when necessary, a new well pose a substantial burden on a homeowner but may be essential to ensuring the safety and potability of the water servicing the household. The costs of repair or replacement of a failing well should not serve as a deterrent to proper testing, and HB 11 targets that conundrum.
More on MACo’s Advocacy:
Learn more about MACo’s 2023 Legislative Initiatives
Read more General Assembly News on MACo’s Conduit Street blog
