On June 5, AMWA and NACWA submitted a joint letter to leadership of the Senate Environment and House Infrastructure Committees expressing support for the Ohio River Restoration Program Act of 2026.
The Ohio River Restoration Program Act (S.3796 and H.R.5966) seeks to create a dedicated program office within EPA that would be tasked with developing an action plan, coordinating federal investments, and executing restoration activities for the Ohio River. The legislation was modeled after similar programming in the Chesapeake Bay and Great Lakes.
The letter highlighted the benefits of this program for water systems in the region. “Emphasizing the removal of pollutants to improve water quality bolsters public health, protects the ecosystem, and reduces the risk of public exposure to potentially harmful substances,” the letter stated. “It is also an economically sound decision, as less inputs are needed to treat water to current standards, leading to decreased costs for both water systems and rate payers.”
AMWA will continue to advocate for programming that supports source water protection and the conservation of the nation’s water resources.