Potable reuse demonstration water.

Under existing law, the State Department of Public Health licenses and regulates water bottlers, distributors, and vendors. Existing law prescribes various quality and labeling standards for bottled water and limits the levels of certain contaminants that may be contained in those water products. Violation of these provisions is a crime. This bill would allow the bottling of potable reuse demonstration water, as defined, to be distributed, free of charge, for educational purposes or to promote water recycling. The bill would establish specific bottling, labeling, and sanitation requirements for potable reuse demonstration water and would require an operator seeking to bottle potable reuse demonstration water to establish a collection and recycling program for distributed bottles. Because this bill would create a new crime, it imposes a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.