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Board reviews SAFER fund‑expenditure plan: staff proposes domestic‑well strategy, new TA funding and a two‑year interim assistance limit
Summary
Staff proposed a reworked SAFER Fund Expenditure Plan that adds a domestic‑well strategy, increases technical‑assistance funding and recommends a two‑year general cap on interim emergency assistance, with exceptions by discretion.
State Water Resources Control Board staff presented a draft Fund Expenditure Plan (FEP) for the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund (SAFER) at the July 15 workshop, proposing program organization changes, a new strategy for communities served by domestic wells and state small water systems, and updated spending targets and technical assistance priorities.
What staff proposed - Reorganized FEP and new domestic‑well/state‑small strategy: staff said the draft reorganizes material for clarity and adds three strategy pillars for domestic‑well/state‑small communities: share data to inform solutions; fill funding gaps by coordinating with local/regional programs; and promote long‑term solutions (consolidation, decentralized treatment, new sources). - SAFER fund targets (proposed): staff proposed $342.2 million of SAFER fund allocations for the coming fiscal year, distributed across interim (emergency) assistance, technical assistance (TA), administrator support, direct operations & maintenance (O&M) support and construction grants. Staff said SAFER is one of multiple funding sources and emphasized the fund’s flexibility to support services (TA, interim assistance) that federal funds cannot readily cover. - Interim assistance guidance: staff proposed interim emergency assistance be limited generally to two years, with discretion for exceptions. Staff said the two‑year limit reflects typical timeframes seen for many immediate household solutions (for example drilling a new well) while providing case‑by‑case flexibility where projects require more time. - Technical assistance and milestones: staff presented milestone timelines for TA planning projects (feasibility study → engineering report → planning → construction application) and highlighted a heavy pipeline of active TA work plans (hundreds of projects) and a need to balance new TA assignments with provider capacity. Staff proposed additional TA amendments totaling roughly $118 million to help TA providers complete current planning and take on new failing/at‑risk systems.
Data and performance metrics Staff summarized SAFER program accomplishments since 2019: roughly 170 consolidations, about 321 systems returned to compliance from failing status, and more than $1 billion in grants to communities since 2019. Staff also published new performance data for interim assistance, decentralized treatment installations, domestic well replacements and other measures to show program outcomes.
Public comment and concerns Many commenters welcomed the emphasis on domestic wells and TA but raised concerns. Community groups and local officials urged greater flexibility for interim assistance beyond two years in cases where long‑term solutions require more time or where local mitigation programs are not yet operational. Local officials and system representatives with Chromium‑6 and other contaminant compliance deadlines urged faster clarity on funding commitments to meet regulatory compliance dates.
Next steps The FEP is in a 30‑day public comment period (staff stated it closes July 30). Staff said it will review comments, refine the plan and return to the board for adoption (staff noted Aug. 19 as a target date for final action). Staff also encouraged ongoing coordination with local mitigation programs and technical assistance providers.
