The State Water Resources Control Board convened on March 15, 2025, to discuss proposed changes to regulations affecting drinking water fees for public water systems in California. The primary focus of the meeting was a proposed amendment to section 64,310, which aims to reduce fees specifically for state-regulated water systems.

The proposed regulation change will shift the responsibility for determining eligibility for disadvantaged community (DAC) fee reductions from community water systems to the Division of Drinking Water. Currently, these systems self-certify their median household income to qualify for fee reductions. The new process will utilize median household income data from the Division's needs assessment, which is expected to enhance efficiency and equity in the fee reduction process.

Key reasons for this change include the inefficiencies of the current self-certification method, which has led to some water systems missing out on DAC fee reductions. Additionally, the existing process lacks a reliable verification mechanism for the sources used in fee reduction waivers, potentially leading to inequities.

The meeting concluded with an invitation for stakeholders to submit questions via email as the proposal develops further. The board emphasized that this discussion is an initial step in the budget process, with more detailed information to be provided in the future.