Assessment of water supply conditions and problems. Exclusive service area boundaries

(a) Each water utility coordinating committee, in consultation with the Commissioners of Public Health and Energy and Environmental Protection, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, shall develop a preliminary assessment of water supply conditions and problems within the public water supply management area. The committee shall solicit comments on the preliminary assessment from municipalities, regional councils of governments, state agencies and other interested parties and respond to any comment received. The committee shall thereafter prepare a final assessment. (b) The committee shall establish preliminary exclusive service area boundaries, based on the final assessment, for each public water system within the management area, and may change such boundaries. In establishing exclusive service area boundaries the committee shall solicit comments on such boundaries from municipalities, regional councils of governments, the Commissioners of Energy and Environmental Protection and Public Health, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and other interested persons within the management area and respond to any comment received. If there is no agreement by the committee on such boundaries, or on a change to such boundaries, the committee shall consult with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. If there is no agreement by the committee after such consultation, the Commissioner of Public Health shall establish or may change such exclusive service area boundaries taking into consideration any water company rights established by statute, special act or administrative decisions. In establishing such boundaries, the commissioner shall maintain existing service areas and consider the orderly and efficient development of public water supplies. In considering any change to exclusive service area boundaries, the commissioner shall maintain existing service areas, consider established exclusive service areas, and consider the orderly and efficient development of public water supplies.