HB376 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Will AinsworthLt. Governor

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Sewer systems, community and cluster wastewater systems, regulation by Public Service Commission, Sec. 22-25B-1 am'd.

Summary

HB376 would remove existing exclusions and bring privately owned wastewater systems that discharge to surface waters under state regulation.

What This Bill Does

It eliminates the exclusions that kept cluster wastewater systems, community wastewater systems, and small-flow cluster systems discharging to surface waters outside regulation. Those systems would then be regulated by the Alabama Public Service Commission, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, and the Alabama Department of Public Health, applying existing design, permitting, and rate-related rules. The definitions would also include terms like CERTIFICATE OF ECONOMIC VIABILITY and WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT ENTITY to clarify oversight and financial viability. The act takes effect immediately after the governor signs it and repeals conflicting laws.

Who It Affects

• Privately owned cluster, community, and small-flow wastewater systems that discharge directly to surface waters would be brought under regulation and oversight.
• Residents and customers served by these systems could see changes in regulation of rates, service standards, and compliance through PSC oversight and environment agency requirements.

Key Provisions

• Deletes the exclusion for systems that discharge directly to surface waters from the definitions of cluster wastewater system, community wastewater system, and small-flow cluster system, bringing those systems under regulation.
• Expands regulatory oversight to these systems by the PSC and environmental agencies (ADEM/ADPH) with established design and permit requirements, including the concepts of Certificate of Economic Viability and Wastewater Management Entity; act becomes effective immediately and repeals conflicting laws.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Public Service Commission