Resolve, To Increase the Affordability of Safe Drinking Water for Maine Families

Sec. 1. Funds for well water treatment. Resolved: That the Maine State Housing Authority shall distribute funds under section 3 to increase the affordability of water treatment filtration systems for households with contaminated private drinking water wells.

For the purposes of this resolve, "contaminated" means that the level of microorganisms, disinfectants, disinfection by-products, inorganic chemicals, organic chemicals or radionuclides exceeds maximum contaminant levels for public water systems established by the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations, 40 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 141. For the purposes of this resolve, "private drinking water well" has the same meaning as in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 38, section 1392, subsection 8; and be it further

Sec. 2. Report. Resolved: That, no later than January 1, 2019, the Maine State Housing Authority shall submit a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over housing and economic development matters describing how many contaminated wells were treated using funds provided pursuant to this resolve to organizations and agencies and the Maine State Housing Authority's home repair program; and be it further

Sec. 3. Appropriations and allocations. Resolved: That the following appropriations and allocations are made.

HOUSING AUTHORITY, MAINE STATE

Housing Authority - State 0442

Initiative: Provides one-time funds to be distributed to organizations or agencies for targeted outreach and marketing to connect households with contaminated well water with appropriate professional services for assessing and installing and financial assistance in purchasing well water treatment systems. Funds may be used to assist individuals who demonstrate need but do not meet the eligibility criteria within the Maine State Housing Authority's home repair program in testing their private well water or in purchasing well water treatment systems.

GENERAL FUND	2017-18	2018-19
All Other	$300,000	$0
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$300,000	$0

Maine Home Repair Program Z191

Initiative: Provides one-time funds to provide grants or loans to assist eligible low-income homeowners with contaminated well water in the purchasing of well water treatment systems.

GENERAL FUND	2017-18	2018-19
All Other	$200,000	$0
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$200,000	$0

HOUSING AUTHORITY, MAINE STATE
DEPARTMENT TOTALS	2017-18	2018-19
GENERAL FUND	$500,000	$0
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS	$500,000	$0

summary

This resolve provides one-time appropriations totaling $500,000 from the General Fund for treatment of contaminated private drinking water wells. The resolve directs the Maine State Housing Authority to distribute $300,000 to organizations and agencies to identify at-risk individuals in homes with contaminated wells and to connect those individuals to appropriate resources and $200,000 to the authority's home repair program to assist eligible low-income homeowners with the purchase of well water treatment systems.