Legislation introduced in the House of Representatives this month would increase communities’ ability to benefit from Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) assistance while also giving EPA greater flexibility to adjust drinking water regulations based on the latest scientific data.
Sponsored by Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio), the Drinking Water Affordability Act (H.R. 1653) would make several changes to the Safe Drinking Water Act and the DWSRF, such as:
- Allowing EPA to revise drinking water standards to be less stringent when scientific data demonstrates that certain levels of regulated contaminants do not present a threat to public health;
- Extending liability protections to public water systems that take over management functions of another water system. Current law only provides such protections following the consolidation of multiple water systems through a “transfer of ownership.”
- Allowing states the option to provide disadvantaged communities up to 35% (compared to the current level of 30%) in loan subsidies from the state’s annual share of DWSRF funding;
- Providing states the option to extend the amortization period on DWSRF loans to 30 years (currently 20 years), or to 40 years for disadvantaged communities; and
- Requiring EPA to waive federal cross-cutting requirements, in order to avoid unnecessary duplication, when determining that a state’s requirements are as stringent as those required by federal law.
“It’s important that we develop a long-term approach to improving our nation’s drinking water needs that empowers communities to fix and improve water infrastructure,” Latta said in a statement. “This legislation improves the ability for states and local governments to proceed with drinking water projects by removing … federal requirements and providing more flexibility for repayment of federal funds.”
House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders have not announced plans for the bill, but portions of the proposal could make their way into a broader DWSRF reauthorization effort that committee Republicans have expressed interest in pursuing.