(a) (1) A county shall establish a standing county drought and water shortage task force to facilitate drought and water shortage preparedness for state small water systems and domestic wells within the county’s jurisdiction, and shall invite representatives from the state and other local governments, including groundwater sustainability agencies, and community-based organizations, local water suppliers, and local residents, to participate in the task force.

(2) In lieu of the task force required by paragraph (1), a county may establish an alternative process that facilitates drought and water shortage preparedness for state small water systems and domestic wells within the county’s jurisdiction. The alternative process shall provide opportunities for coordinating and communicating with the state and other local governments, community-based organizations, local water suppliers, and local residents on a regular basis and during drought or water shortage emergencies.

(3) A county that establishes a drought task force on or before January 1, 2022, shall be deemed in compliance with this subdivision as long as the task force continues to exist.

(b) A county shall develop a plan that includes potential drought and water shortage risk and proposed interim and long-term solutions for state small water systems and domestic wells within the county’s jurisdiction. The plan may be a stand-alone document or may be included as an element in an existing county plan, such as a local hazard mitigation plan, emergency operations plan, climate action plan, or general plan. A county shall consult with its drought task force or alternative coordinating process as established by this section in developing its plan. A county shall consider, at a minimum, all of the following in its plan:

(1) Consolidations for existing water systems and domestic wells.

(2) Domestic well drinking water mitigation programs.

(3) Provision of emergency and interim drinking water solutions.

(4) An analysis of the steps necessary to implement the plan.

(5) An analysis of local, state, and federal funding sources available to implement the plan.

(c) The state board shall work with counties, groundwater sustainability agencies, technical assistance providers, nonprofit organizations, community-based organizations, and the public to address state small water system and domestic well community drought and emergency water shortage resiliency needs, including both of the following:

(1) Proactive communication to domestic well communities before a drought occurs, such as information on local bottled water and water tank providers.

(2) Funding for installation of basic drought and emergency water shortage resiliency infrastructure, such as well monitoring devices.

(Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 245, Sec. 1. (SB 552) Effective January 1, 2022.)