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The Spring 2019 edition of the publication Arkansas Drinking Water Update (“Engineering Section – Department of Health”) addressed legislation relevant to the Engineering Section of the Department of Health.
The article is authored by Jeff Stone, P.E., Director of the Engineering Section.
Mr. Stone noted that three different Acts will require the Engineering Section to “either modify or develop regulations.”
The three Acts are stated to include:
- Act 788
- raises the public water system service fee rate from $ 0.30 per meter per month to $ 0.40 per meter per month
- Act 820
- requires that bodies that issue occupational licenses provide certain accommodations for persons that are either active duty in the military, a veteran recently returning from deployment, or the spouse of one of the two previous classifications.
- The law will require a revision of the water operator licensing regulations
- Act 708
- requires that the Arkansas Department of Health promulgate a regulation establishing minimum standards for water and sewer improvements in Improvement Districts.
Mr. Stone notes in part, in regards to the increase in public water system’s service fees, that the Arkansas Department of Health will better be able to address upcoming challenges which are stated to include:
- A perchlorate rule due to be proposed during 2019
- A revised lead and copper rule due to be proposed during 2019
- Enables the Public Health Laboratory to develop analytical capabilities for cyanotoxins and polyfluoralkyl substances (PFAS)
- Increased expenses associated with the Unregulated Contaminate Monitoring Rule 5
