SB 1081: Waste discharge requirements: minimum penalties: exception: publicly owned treatment works.

This bill amends the water code to update the definition of a publicly owned treatment works serving a small community. The updated definition includes a treatment works serving a community of 3,000 residents or less as a factor in determining financial hardship. This change would allow for more treatment works to be eligible for alternative compliance projects instead of receiving mandatory minimum penalties for serious violations. The bill aims to provide more flexibility and support for treatment works serving smaller communities, while maintaining the overall goal of protecting water quality.