California legislators proposed a bill to enact a drinking water tax on households and businesses to fund efforts to clean up unsafe tap water, according to Mercury News.
The proposed bill, introduced by Sen. Bill Monning, D, would impose a 95 cent per month drinking water tax on resident's water bills and a tax on businesses of up to $10 per month. It also requires farms to pay fees for the contamination caused by fertilizers.
If approved, the tax would generate $2 billion over the next 15 years to aid the clean up of contaminated groundwater and improve public water systems.
Since the bill includes new taxes, it will need a two-thirds vote to pass in the state House and Senate.
Water agencies are speaking out against the proposed bill arguing that taxing drinking water sets a dangerous precedent as it is essential to life. Agriculture and environmental groups are backing the tax, according to the report.
The Senate Assembly Appropriations Committee must decide by Sept. 1 if they want to move the bill to the floor for a vote.