Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) reintroduced legislation last week to help water and wastewater utilities adapt their infrastructure to the impacts of changing hydrological conditions. The bill, the “Water Infrastructure Resiliency and Sustainability Act,” is a top priority of AMWA.
Introduced as S. 1508, the bill is nearly identical to a House version (H.R. 765) sponsored by Rep. Lois Capps (D-Calif.) in February. Both bills would establish a competitive EPA program offering funding assistance to water and wastewater systems undertaking projects to further the sustainability of their infrastructure or to study the potential impacts of changing hydrological conditions on their water system. The bills would benefit water systems facing water supply or quality issues that are consequences of a range of factors, including global climate change.
The only difference between the House and Senate versions is that Sen. Cardin added “Davis-Bacon” language to S. 1508 that would require the payment of local prevailing wages to all laborers and mechanics working on projects funded in part by assistance from the bill.
The legislation would award funding to support water conservation and efficiency improvements; green infrastructure measures that protect source water quality or reduce flood vulnerability; relocation or modification of existing infrastructure that is or will be impaired by changing hydrological conditions; water reuse, recycling or desalination projects that serve existing communities; efforts to enhance a utility’s energy efficiency or to utilize renewable energy in the management and treatment of water; and local or regional studies that identify specific climate-related risks to given communities.
AMWA worked closely with Sen. Cardin’s staff during development of the legislation and organized a letter of support that was sent to Capitol Hill last week.