ORS § 448.380
The Community Drinking Water Enhancement and Protection Fund is established in the State Treasury, separate and distinct from the General Fund. Interest earned by the Community Drinking Water Enhancement and Protection Fund shall be credited to the fund. The fund shall consist of all moneys credited to the fund, including moneys appropriated or transferred to the fund by the Legislative Assembly. Moneys in the fund are continuously appropriated to the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board for the purpose of carrying out ORS 448.370.
ORS 448.380
See note under 448.370.
Sections 24 and 25, chapter 606, Oregon Laws 2023, provide:
Sec. 24. Small and very small community water systems; report. (1) The Oregon Department of Administrative Services shall enter into a contract with the Oregon Association of Water Utilities that includes, but need not be limited to, a provision requiring the association to:
(a) Perform, or enter into a contract with a third party to perform, a study of the needs and vulnerabilities of small and very small community water systems, including but not limited to the following topics:
(A) Water supply reliability.
(B) Source and treated water quality.
(C) Utility board and operations management.
(D) Infrastructure.
(E) Droughts, floods and earthquakes.
(F) Funding, financial stability and water rates.
(G) Regulations and safe drinking water standards.
(H) Opportunities for emergency interties, system consolidation and regionalization.
(b) Provide technical, financial and managerial support and resources to small and very small community water systems, which may include support and resources related to:
(A) Water supply reliability.
(B) Source and treated water quality.
(C) Utility board and operations management.
(D) Infrastructure.
(E) Droughts, floods and earthquakes.
(F) Funding, financial stability and water rates.
(G) Regulations and safe drinking water standards.
(H) Applying for and managing funds associated with state and federal funding programs.
(I) Assessing and supporting opportunities for emergency interties, system consolidation and regionalization.
(c) Hire and employ one training specialist and two technical assistance providers to provide support and resources to address the needs and vulnerabilities of small and very small community water systems in this state.
(d) Consult with the Oregon Health Authority, the Department of Environmental Quality, the Water Resources Department, county environmental health departments and county emergency managers in designing the parameters of the study described in paragraph (a) of this subsection.
(e) Submit a report in the manner provided by ORS 192.245 to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to water no later than December 31, 2024.
(2) The Oregon Department of Administrative Services shall distribute moneys to the Oregon Association of Water Utilities for the purposes of carrying out subsection (1) of this section.
(3) The Oregon Health Authority, the Department of Environmental Quality and the Water Resources Department shall cooperate with the Oregon Association of Water Utilities, and provide to the association any data or information requested by the association, in implementing this section. [2023 c. 606, § 24]
Sec. 25. Sunset. Section 24 of this 2023 Act is repealed on January 2, 2025. [2023 c. 606, § 25]