HR 1579 — Secure and Resilient Water Systems Act

(a) Risk and resilience assessments (1) In general Each community water system serving a population of greater than 3,300 persons shall conduct an assessment of the risks to, and resilience of, its system. Such an assessment— (A) shall include an assessment of— (i) the risk to the system from malevolent acts and natural hazards; (ii) the resilience of the pipes and constructed conveyances, physical barriers, source water, water collection and intake, pretreatment, treatment, storage and distribution facilities, electronic, computer, or other automated systems (including the security of such systems) which are utilized by the system; (iii) the monitoring practices of the system; (iv) the financial infrastructure of the system; (v) the use, storage, or handling of various chemicals by the system; and (vi) the operation and maintenance of the system; and (B) may include an evaluation of capital and operational needs for risk and resilience management for the system. (2) Baseline information The Administrator, not later than August 1, 2019, after consultation with appropriate departments and agencies of the Federal Government and with State and local governments, shall provide baseline information on malevolent acts of relevance to community water systems, which shall include consideration of acts that may— (A) substantially disrupt the ability of the system to provide a safe and reliable supply of drinking water; or (B) otherwise present significant public health or economic concerns to the community served by the system. (3) Certification (A) Certification Each community water system described in paragraph (1) shall submit to the Administrator a certification that the system has conducted an assessment complying with paragraph (1). Such certification shall be made prior to— (i) March 31, 2020, in the case of systems serving a population of 100,000 or more; (ii) December 31, 2020, in the case of systems serving a population of 50,000 or more but less than 100,000; and (iii) June 30, 2021, in the case of systems serving a population greater than 3,300 but less than 50,000. (B) Review and revision Each community water system described in paragraph (1) shall review the assessment of such system conducted under such paragraph at least once every 5 years after the applicable deadline for submission of its certification under subparagraph (A) to determine whether such assessment should be revised. Upon completion of such a review, the community water system shall submit to the Administrator a certification that the system has reviewed its assessment and, if applicable, revised such assessment. (4) Contents of certifications A certification required under paragraph (3) shall contain only— (A) information that identifies the community water system submitting the certification; (B) the date of the certification; and (C) a statement that the community water system has conducted, reviewed, or revised the assessment, as applicable. (5) Provision to other entities No community water system shall be required under State or local law to provide an assessment described in this section (or revision thereof) to any State, regional, or local governmental entity solely by reason of the requirement set forth in paragraph (3) that the system submit a certification to the Administrator. (b) Emergency response plan Each community water system serving a population greater than 3,300 shall prepare or revise, where necessary, an emergency response plan that incorporates findings of the assessment conducted under subsection (a) for such system (and any revisions thereto). Each community water system shall certify to the Administrator, as soon as reasonably possible after October 23, 2018, but not later than 6 months after completion of the assessment under subsection (a), that the system has completed such plan. The emergency response plan shall include— (1) strategies and resources to improve the resilience of the system, including the physical security...