President Obama has signed the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act into law, which includes provisions of the Water Supply Cost Savings Act championed by the Water Systems Council (WSC) and other leading water well industry groups over the past three years.
Originally introduced in the 113th Congress Sept. 18, 2014, the Water Supply Cost Savings Act was incorporated into the WIIN Act legislation earlier this year. Over the past two years, the Water Systems Council and its members worked to build bipartisan support in both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. With this strong bipartisan support, the Savings Act was added as a provision to the WIIN Act.
Section 2108 of the WIIN Act includes the following Savings Act provisions:
- Drinking Water Technology Clearinghouse. The Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall—
- Develop a technology clearinghouse for information on the cost-effectiveness of innovative and alternative drinking water delivery systems, including wells and well systems; and
- Disseminate such information to the public and to communities and not-for-profit organizations seeking Federal funding for drinking water delivery systems serving 500 or fewer persons.
- Water System Assessment. In any application for a grant or loan for the purpose of construction, replacement, or rehabilitation of a drinking water delivery system serving 500 or fewer persons, the funding for which would come from the Federal Government (either directly or through a state), a unit of local government or not-for-profit organization shall self-certify that the unit of local government or organization has considered, as an alternative drinking water supply, drinking water delivery systems sourced by publicly owned—
- Individual wells;
- Shared wells; and
- Community wells.
- Report To Congress. Not later than three years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the U.S. shall submit to Congress a report that describes—
- The use of innovative and alternative drinking water delivery systems described in this section;
- The range of cost savings for communities using innovative and alternative drinking water delivery systems described in this section; and
- The use of drinking water technical assistance programs operated by the Administrator and the Secretary of Agriculture.
"This new law will help rural and small communities across America significantly lower the total cost of providing clean drinking water to residents as well as provide new jobs. The fact that these communities can realize up to a 75% cost savings by using water wells versus municipal pipeline systems demonstrates that we can cost-effectively meet our nation's critical water needs while supporting domestic manufacturing and jobs,” said Steve Anderson, WSC president.
DeLancey W. Davis, vice president of Franklin Electric, and president of North American Water Systems added: "The signing of the WIIN Act by President Obama is a major step in protecting the nation's water resources and rebuilding its water infrastructure. Franklin Electric has been a major advocate and active supporter in this pursuit for decades and we look forward to the implementation of the Water Supply Cost Savings Act, which will bring us much closer to solving rural America's water needs."
Source: Water Systems Council
