(a)
The sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) shall be available to the Department of Health Services for grants and direct expenditures to fund emergency and urgent actions to ensure that safe drinking water supplies are available to all Californians. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1)
Providing alternate water supplies including bottled water where necessary to protect public health.
(2)
Improvements in existing water systems necessary to prevent contamination or provide other sources of safe drinking water including replacement wells.
(3)
Establishing connections to an adjacent water system.
(4)
Design, purchase, installation and initial operation costs for water treatment equipment and systems.
(b)
Grants and expenditures shall not exceed $250,000 per project.
(c)
Direct expenditures for the purposes of this section shall be exempt from contracting and procurement requirements to the extent necessary to take immediate action to protect public health and safety.