Deangelo Announces Hearing on Legislation

to Improve Water Supply System, Public Health

(TRENTON) – Assembly Telecommunications & Utilities Committee Chairman Wayne P. DeAngelo (D-Hamilton) announced Friday that the committee will focus an upcoming meeting on ways to improve the operations of water supply systems.

“The public deserves the peace of mind to know that their water quality is not compromised or contaminated,” said DeAngelo.  “We need to ensure that there is a system in place to have the best qualified professionals performing critical functions and to encourage public awareness of the operations funded by ratepayers,” said Chairman DeAngelo.  “Most importantly, we need to notify residents quickly so that they can take needed action to protect themselves from possible contamination without incurring additional costs.

“When customers pay their water bills, they expect clean, healthy water that does not pose a threat to their families.   Everyone, regardless of where they live or who provides their water, deserves the same level of clean water.  That is our main goal,” said DeAngelo.

On Thursday, March 22 at 10 a.m., the Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee will receive testimony from invited guests and consider the following bills:

• A-3352 – Requires public water systems to provide certain notice of boil water notices and violations of drinking water quality standards
• A-3354 – Removes certain requirements for professional engineers to take examination to operate water supply and wastewater treatment systems
• A-2429 – Requires water suppliers to reimburse residential customers for drinking water testing under certain circumstances.

The committee meeting will be held in the State House Annex, Committee Room 9.