A U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee took action on legislation to reauthorize the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan program and improve the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Members of the U.S. House Subcommittee on the Environment concluded markup on the "Drinking Water System Improvement Act of 2017” Thursday, July 13. The bill will now move to the full Energy and Commerce Committee, the House and the Senate before becoming law.
“The Drinking Water State Revolving Loan program remains an important water finance tool,” said Tracy Mehan, AWWA executive director for government affairs. “Reauthorization of the SRF program is overdue, and drinking water providers are pleased to see a substantial increase in authorized funding.”
AWWA also voiced support for potential improvements to the SDWA. The association supported language that encourages, but does not mandate, asset management practices at utilities and does not impose a federal definition of asset management.