Section 116430 Of Article 4. Exemptions And Variances From California Health And Safety Code >> Division 104. >> Part 12. >> Chapter 4. >> Article 4.
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. (a) The department may grant a variance or variances from
primary drinking water standards to a public water system. Any
variance granted pursuant to this subdivision shall conform to the
requirements established under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act,
as amended (42 U.S.C. Sec. 300g-4).
(b) (1) In addition to the authority provided in subdivision (a),
at the request of any public water system, the department shall grant
a variance from the primary drinking water standard adopted by the
department for fluoride. A variance granted by the department
pursuant to this subdivision shall prohibit fluoride levels in excess
of 75 percent of the maximum contaminant level established in the
national primary drinking water regulation adopted by the United
States Environmental Protection Agency for fluoride, or three
milligrams per liter, whichever is higher, and shall be valid for a
period of up to 30 years. The department shall review each variance
granted pursuant to this section at least every five years. The
variance may be withdrawn upon reasonable notice by the department if
the department determines that the community served by the public
water system no longer accepts the fluoride level authorized in the
variance or the level of fluoride authorized by the variance poses an
unreasonable risk to health. In no case may a variance be granted in
excess of the United States Environmental Protection Agency maximum
contaminant level.
(2) The department shall grant a variance pursuant to paragraph
(1) only if it determines, after conducting a public hearing in the
community served by the public water system, that there is no
substantial community opposition to the variance and the variance
does not pose an unreasonable risk to health. The public water system
shall provide written notification, approved by the department, to
all customers which shall contain at least the following information:
(A) The fact that a variance has been requested.
(B) The date, time and location of the public hearing that will be
conducted by the department.
(C) The level of fluoride that will be allowed by the requested
variance and how this level compares to the maximum contaminant
levels prescribed by the state primary drinking water standard, the
federal national primary drinking water regulation, and the federal
national secondary drinking water regulation.
(D) A discussion of the types of health and dental problems that
may occur when the fluoride concentration exceeds the maximum
contaminant levels prescribed by the state standard and the federal
regulations.
(3) If, at any time after a variance has been granted pursuant to
paragraph (1), substantial community concerns arise concerning the
level of fluoride present in the water supplied by the public water
system, the public water system shall notify the department, conduct
a public hearing on the concerns expressed by the community,
determine the fluoride level that is acceptable to the community, and
apply to the department for an amendment to the variance which
reflects that determination.