Title
Adopt an ordinance to amend Chapter 15.04 of the Monterey County Code to remove County of Monterey regulation of small public water systems.
Proposed California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) Action: Find that the adoption of this ordinance is categorically exempt per Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because it is an administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes to the environment.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors
a. Find the adoption of this ordinance is categorically exempt per Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because it is an administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes to the environment; and
b. Adopt an ordinance to amend Chapter 15.04 of the Monterey County Code to remove County of Monterey regulation of small public water systems.
SUMMARY:
The proposed ordinance amends sections of Chapter 15.04 to remove County of Monterey (“County”) regulation of Small Public Water Systems, as defined as a system for the provision of piped water to the public for human consumption that has at least 15 but not more than 199 service connections or regularly serves at least 25 individuals at least 60 days out of the year. Since 1993, the County has been delegated local primacy responsibility for Small Public Water Systems pursuant to the Delegation Agreement between the State and the County. As of September 1, 2025, the Delegation Agreement will terminate, and the State will regulate all Small Public Water Systems in Monterey County.
The County will continue to regulate Local Small Water Systems, defined as serving 2-4 service connections and State Small Water Systems defined as a system that serves at least 5, but not more than 14, service connections, and does not regularly serve drinking water to more than an average of 25 individuals daily for more than 60 days per year.
On August 26, 2025, the...
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