Sandy Springs Water Co. v. Department of Health & Environmental Control

MOORE, Justice:

Respondents are public water systems. They commenced this equal protection action challenging the validity of fees paid to appellant Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) for fiscal year 1993-94. The trial judge granted respondents summary judgment. We reverse.

FACTS

Pursuant to Congress’s 1986 amendment of the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated new regulations that became effective in 1992 for monitoring drinking water. These new regulations required testing for many more contaminants than were previously monitored.…