A. The Louisiana Department of Health, office of public health, shall promulgate rules and regulations pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act that require a public water system to maintain a minimum disinfectant level of free or total chlorine in the water being delivered to the distribution system, in finished water storage tanks, and in all points of the distribution. Such rules and regulations shall not specify a minimum disinfectant level of less than 0.1 parts per million. This Section shall apply to any water system that provides water for residential consumption and use. However, the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any private water system that supplies water to three or less residences or that is used primarily for agricultural operations as defined in La. Rev. Stat. 3:3602(5).

            B. The department shall review such rules and regulations as necessary and shall submit an annual report as to the state of public water systems across Louisiana to the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare and the House Committee on Health and Welfare no later than February first of each year.

            C. An industrial user that owns, operates, and maintains a water system dedicated to the exclusive use of its operations or facilities may apply for a variance from any requirement to maintain a minimum disinfectant level of free or total chlorine in its water system. The department shall review any such variance request and may grant approval if not inconsistent with applicable federal statute, rule, or regulation. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to require such an industrial user or consumer holding such a variance or holding a variance pending final agency determination to reapply for such variance.

            Acts 2014, No. 573, §1.