Sponsors (7)
The bill directs federal funds and efficiency/resilience requirements to improve wastewater infrastructure and reduce utility costs and flood/pollution risks, at the cost of higher federal spending and possible increased upfront burdens or reduced local flexibility in project implementation.
Local governments and utilities receive dedicated federal funding (about $40M/year for wastewater pilots and $50M/year for resilience programs) to implement water- and energy-saving infrastructure projects.
Households in urban and rural communities could see lower utility costs and more reliable service because SRF-funded projects must evaluate and use water- and energy-efficiency techniques where practicable.
Communities (urban and rural) may experience reduced flooding and lower water pollution risk due to stronger stormwater mitigation and sustainable design requirements.
Taxpayers face increased federal spending because appropriations are raised to support the new $40M and $50M annual programs.
Local governments and small utilities — especially in rural areas — may incur higher upfront planning costs and longer project timelines due to mandated evaluation and use of specified techniques.
A broad statutory definition of 'resource preservation techniques' could limit flexibility if the EPA applies it rigidly, potentially excluding alternative local solutions.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Defines 'resource preservation technique', requires SRF projects to evaluate/use such techniques, and authorizes increased grant funding for wastewater efficiency and resiliency.
Introduced September 30, 2025 by Emilia Strong Sykes · Last progress September 30, 2025
Adds a new legal definition for “resource preservation technique” in the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and requires state revolving fund (SRF) projects and grant programs to prioritize such techniques when repairing, replacing, or expanding wastewater treatment works. It also authorizes new and increased funding for wastewater efficiency and clean water resiliency programs for FY2026–2031. The bill directs SRF loan recipients to evaluate and use resource preservation techniques to the maximum extent practicable, replaces older water/energy efficiency language with the new defined term in grant and SRF criteria, creates a wastewater efficiency grant pilot with annual authorization, and raises authorized funding for the clean water infrastructure resiliency and sustainability program.