The bill aims to address the critical need for comprehensive information regarding the state's water and sewer systems, highlighting the environmental, public health, and economic implications of current deficiencies. It identifies several pressing issues, including the inability of public works grants to support local governments in maintaining and expanding these systems, the increasing presence of human coliform in residential wells, and the financial limitations faced by county and municipal governments in managing septic systems and providing sewer access. The legislature intends to identify gaps in existing data, assess the costs of necessary upgrades, and develop recommendations to ensure that water and sewer infrastructure needs are met.

To facilitate this, the bill mandates the joint efforts of the department and the department of health to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the maintenance and upgrade needs for water and sewer systems statewide. This assessment will involve consulting various stakeholders, reviewing relevant projects from other states, and producing a report that includes a list of systems requiring critical upgrades, an analysis of associated costs, and potential funding strategies. The findings of this needs assessment are to be reported to the governor and relevant committees by June 30, 2027.