U.S. water management legislation

Water management includes (among other things) processes to control flooding, transport water efficiently and effectively to citizens and communities, keep water clean, and safely handle sewage. This page deals with water management legislation addressed by the U.S. Congress.

H.R.292 - To improve energy and water efficiencies and conservation throughout the Department of Veterans Affairs


H.R.122 - To authorize the Secretary of Interior to participate in recycling projects
On March 5, 2007, the House passed a bill, sponsored by Rep. David Dreier (R-Calif.), to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Inland Empire regional recycling project and in the Cucamonga Valley Water District recycling project. $10 million of federal funding was authorized for the project. The bill was passed through a voice vote.



The Inland Empire project was aimed at regional water recycling, while the Cucamonga Valley project involved design, planning and construction of satellite recycling plants in Rancho Cucamonga to reclaim and recycle approximately 2 million gallons per day of domestic wastewater.

H.R.569 - To amend the Clean Water Pollution Act to reauthorize sewage grants
On March 7, 2007, the House passed a bill, sponsored by Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.), which would reauthorize federal grants to municipalities and states to control sanitary sewer overflows. At the time of the bill's passage, many U.S. communities had inadequate sewer systems in need of redesign. Billions of dollars in local and state funds had been spent across the U.S. on the problem, and the federal funding was expected to ease that burden somewhat.





H.R.700 - To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to extend a pilot program for alternative water source projects
On January 29, 2007, Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-Calif.) introduced a bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act for the purpose of extending a program aimed at developing alternative water source projects. The program was originally approved by Congress in 2000, when $75 million for two years of grant funding was approved with a 50% federal cost share.

The bill was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and eventually passed on March 8, 2007 with a vote of 368-59.





H.R.720 - To amend the Clean Water Act to authorize appropriations for state water pollution
On January 30, 2007, Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.) introduced a bill to amend the Clean Water Act to authorize appropriations to states for dealing with water pollution. The bill would effectively raise grant funds to $300 million for management assistance. Assistance grants would also be authorized to nonprofit organizations for the purpose of providing assistance to rural and small municipalities in planning, developing and acquiring financing for wastewater management infrastructure.

On March 9, 2007, the House voted on a measure to provide consideration of the bill. It passed 229-179.



