Healthy H2O Act

This proposal creates the Healthy Drinking Water Affordability Assistance Program to help people in rural areas test and improve their drinking water. It would fund point‑of‑use or point‑of‑entry drinking water systems, replacement filters, approved installation by qualified installers, maintenance, and qualified lab tests. The Department of Agriculture would run the program and set it up within 120 days, and nonprofits could use grants to offer water tests, explain results, help people choose solutions, and coordinate installation.

It aims to reduce harmful contaminants like lead, arsenic, nitrate, nitrite, volatile organic compounds, PFAS, and hexavalent chromium, as well as germs such as E. coli and norovirus. Grants are to help people voluntarily improve water quality and are not meant to prove compliance with government standards.

Key points

• Who is affected: People and groups in rural areas are eligible; users whose drinking water comes from private wells are prioritized; nonprofits can also get grants. Households or businesses above 150% of their state’s median nonmetropolitan household income are not eligible.
• What changes: Grants can pay for purchase and approved installation of point‑of‑use or point‑of‑entry products, replacement filters, maintenance, and qualified water quality tests.
• How it works: Grants can’t exceed reasonable costs. The Department of Agriculture will administer the program and allocate funds to address different water problems, prioritize private wells, and ensure access.
• When: The program must be set up within 120 days. Public reports will come out each year on barriers, technologies used, and trends. Funding is authorized at $10 million per year from 2025 through 2029.