This bill mandates that owners or operators of public community water systems conduct regular testing for Legionella bacteria in drinking water. Specifically, it requires testing of water from the system side of a random sample of at least 0.1 percent of service lines every three months, and a monthly test of at least one percent of the water system facilities, which include storage tanks, treatment plants, pumps, and water mains. The testing must adhere to best practices established by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and the results must be reported to the DEP. If excessive levels of Legionella are detected, the owner or operator must notify affected customers, initiate remediation within 30 days, and complete it within six months.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that violations of its provisions will be treated as violations of the "Safe Drinking Water Act," which could lead to civil administrative penalties of up to $25,000 per violation. The DEP is tasked with developing standards for acceptable Legionella levels and best practices for testing, with regulations to be adopted within 18 months of the bill's effective date. This legislation aims to enhance public health protection by ensuring the safety of drinking water in community systems.