On February 4, Director of Intergovernmental Relations Dominic Butchko submitted written testimony to the Environment and Transportation Committee in opposition to HB 204 –Drinking Water – Regulation – Control and Prevention of Waterborne Disease.
This bill would set certain water safety requirements including minimum detectable disinfectant residual levels on certain building owners and water suppliers. It would also require these water suppliers to notify the public of any system disruptions that could increase the risk of waterborne illness.
Counties that operate public water systems already prioritize health and safety, and many have long maintained standards and operating practices that meet—or exceed—applicable federal and state requirements. The mandated disinfectant residuals of free chlorine and monochloramine exceed levels recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Maryland Department of the Environment, and such increases may create additional public health risks from overexposure to these chemicals.
While counties share the bill’s underlying goal of protecting
public health, HB 204 would impose an arbitrary and impractical mandate on county governments that operate public drinking water systems. In doing so, it departs from established best practices, would introduce significant delays into planned projects, and would drive new costs that ultimately fall on system users.
HB 204’s cross-file, SB 264, was heard before the Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee on February 10. Dominic Butchko submitted written testimony in opposition to this bill.
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