N.Y. Public Health Law § 1114-a: Voluntary public water system consolidation study

§ 1114-a. Voluntary public water system consolidation study. 1. There

shall be established in the department, by the commissioner, a voluntary

public water system consolidation study designed to evaluate the

feasibility of the joining of public water systems in order to improve

water quality. Such study shall include:

(a) the feasibility of joining of two or more public water systems to

form one water system;

(b) the feasibility of the consolidation of one or more public water

systems into a larger public water system;

(c) the appropriate technical, managerial and financial capacity

necessary for consolidation, including state funding mechanisms and

incentives that could be utilized;

(d) potential public health impacts of consolidation, including

ability to meet legally required water quality standards and the impact

on monitoring, reporting and enforcement of drinking water standards;

(e) appropriate and sufficient guidance from the department necessary

for those public water systems interested in consolidation; and

(f) recommendations for public water systems interested in voluntary

consolidation.

2. The department shall prepare and submit a report and supporting

materials to the governor, the temporary president of the senate and the

speaker of the assembly setting forth the information gathered and

recommendations to the legislature by January first of the following

year.