Section 116410 Of Article 3.5. Fluoridation Of Drinking Water From California Health And Safety Code >> Division 104. >> Part 12. >> Chapter 4. >> Article 3.5.
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. (a) Each public water system with at least 10,000 service
connections and with a natural level of fluorides that is less than
the minimum established in the regulations adopted pursuant to this
section shall be fluoridated in order to promote the public health of
Californians of all ages through the protection and maintenance of
dental health, a paramount issue of statewide concern. The department
shall adopt regulations pursuant to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with
Section 11340) of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code,
requiring the fluoridation of public water systems. By July 1, 1996,
and at 10-year intervals thereafter, each public water system with at
least 10,000 service connections shall provide to the department an
estimate of the total capital costs to install fluoridation
treatment. The regulations adopted by the department shall take
effect on January 1, 1997. Capital costs estimates are no longer
required after installation of the fluoridation treatment equipment.
(b) The regulations shall include, but not be limited to, the
following:
(1) Minimum and maximum permissible concentrations of fluoride to
be maintained by fluoridation of public water systems.
(2) The requirements and procedures for maintaining proper
concentrations of fluoride, including equipment, testing,
recordkeeping, and reporting.
(3) Requirements for the addition of fluorides to public water
systems in which the natural level of fluorides is less than the
minimum level established in the regulations.
(4) A schedule for the fluoridation of public water systems with
at least 10,000 service connections, based on the lowest capital cost
per connection for each system.
(c) The purpose of the schedule established pursuant to paragraph
(4) of subdivision (b) is not to mandate the order in which public
water systems receiving funding from private sources must fluoridate
their water. Available funds may be offered to any system on the
schedule.
(d) The estimates provided to the department pursuant to
subdivision (a) of this section and subdivision (g) of Section 116415
of the total capital and associated costs and noncapital operation
and maintenance costs related to fluoridation treatments and the
similar estimates provided to those sources offering to provide the
funds set forth in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 116415
shall be reasonable, as determined by the department. A registered
civil engineer recognized or employed by the department who is
familiar with the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of
fluoridations systems shall determine for the department whether the
costs are reasonable.
(e) As used in this section and Section 116415, "costs" means only
those costs that require an actual expenditure of funds or
resources, and do not include costs that are intangible or
speculative, including, but not limited to, opportunity or
indemnification costs.
(f) Any public water system with multiple water sources, when
funding is not received to fluoridate all sources, is exempt from
maintaining otherwise required fluoridations levels in areas
receiving any nonfluoridated water. The exemption shall be in effect
only until the public water system receives funding to fluoridate the
entire water system and the treatment facilities are installed and
operational.