On June 22, 2015, Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Jon Tester (D-MT) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) introduced the bipartisan Water Supply Cost Savings Act, (Savings Act) legislation to provide small communities with critical information on the use of water wells and water well systems to deliver high quality, affordable drinking water.
The bipartisan Savings Act (S. 1642) was met with support from the water supply industry, including the Water Systems Council, the Water Quality Assn. and the National Groundwater Assn.
To assist small communities with their consideration of drinking water technology needs, the Savings Act establishes a Drinking Water Technology Clearinghouse where the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Secretary of Agriculture will disseminate information on cost-effective, innovative and alternative drinking water delivery systems, including systems that are supported by wells.
The most recent EPA Water Drinking Needs Survey reflects a shortfall of $64 billion in drinking water infrastructure funding. The Water Supply Cost Savings Act, S. 1642 would update existing EPA and U.S. Department of Agriculture programs to provide cost-saving information about innovative and alternate drinking water delivery systems including those supported by wells. The legislation also requires that alternative drinking water supplies such as individual, shared and community wells be considered in applications for federal funding for drinking water systems serving 500 or fewer people.
Source: Water Systems Council
