Rep. Lois Capps (D-Calif.) and Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) have each reintroduced legislation that would help water and wastewater utilities adapt their infrastructure to the impacts of changing hydrological conditions.
H.R. 1278 and S. 741, the “Water Infrastructure Resiliency and Sustainability Act” mirrors earlier versions of the bill that Rep. Capps and Sen. Cardin have sponsored in each session of Congress since 2009. Originally drafted with the aid of AMWA, the bills would establish a new EPA program to offer competitive assistance to communities undertaking water and wastewater projects to improve the sustainability of their infrastructure to changing hydrologic conditions and extreme weather, or to study the potential impacts of these factors their water system. A variety of projects, ranging from water efficiency, new water supply development, infrastructure relocation, and “green infrastructure” initiatives, would be eligible for funding through the program.
H.R. 1278 and S. 741 are unlikely to advance in Congress this year, but will nevertheless serve as valuable “marker bills” that allow lawmakers to highlight their support for helping water utilities adapt to climate change. If Congress considers a comprehensive climate change bill in the future – as many Democrats hope it will – H.R. 1278/S. 741 could have an opportunity to be included in that larger proposal.
AMWA organized letters in support of H.R. 1278 and S. 741, respectively, each of which were signed by nearly every major water and wastewater utility organization, as well as members of the environmental and public works communities. That letters said the bills “will encourage communities across the country to build resiliency into their infrastructure today, while helping ensure uninterrupted water and wastewater service for decades to come.”