6. a. In addition to any other certifications required pursuant to law, rule, or regulation, the responsible corporate officer of the public community water system, if privately held, executive director, if an authority, or mayor or chief executive officer of the municipality, if municipally owned, as applicable, shall be required to certify in writing each year to the department and, if applicable, the board, in a form and manner as determined by the department, that the water purveyor complies with: all federal and State drinking water regulations, including water quality sampling, testing, and reporting requirements; the hydrant and valve requirements set forth in section 3 of P.L.2017, c.133 (C. 58:31-3); the notice of violation mitigation plan requirements set forth in section 5 of P.L.2017, c.133 (C. 58:31-5), if applicable; and the infrastructure improvement investment required pursuant to section 7 of P.L.2017, c.133 (C. 58:31-7). A water purveyor shall post the annual certification required pursuant to this section on its Internet website, if applicable.

b. The department shall audit, or cause to be audited, for compliance with the requirements of P.L.2017, c.133 (C. 58:31-7 et seq.), any public community water system that fails to submit the certification required pursuant to subsection a. of this section in a timely manner. If the department finds that a water purveyor has made a false or misleading statement in a certification submitted pursuant to subsection a. of this section, the department shall forward the matter to the Attorney General for further investigation and, if necessary, criminal prosecution or other appropriate relief, pursuant to any applicable State or federal law, rule, or regulation.

c. The department shall annually audit, or cause to be audited, for compliance with the requirements of P.L.2017, c.133 (C. 58:31-7 et seq.) a random selection of at least 10 percent of all public community water systems in the State.

d. The department may require a water purveyor to pay the cost of an audit ordered pursuant to this section.

e. This section shall not be construed to abrogate or limit the review and fiscal oversight authority granted to the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs by the “Local Budget Law,” N.J.S. 40A:4-1 et seq., the “Local Fiscal Affairs Law,” N.J.S. 40A:5-1 et seq., the “Local Authorities Fiscal Control Law,” P.L.1983, c.313 (C. 40A:5A-1 et seq.), or any other law.

L.2017, c.133, s.6; amended 2021, c.262, s.5.