Water Affordability, Transparency, Equity, and Reliability Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Bernie Sanders
Introduced
Summary
Creates dedicated federal funding for water and sewer infrastructure and ties that money to affordability, equity, and labor rules. The bill would authorize large, multi-source transfers to fund clean water, drinking water, rural systems, and Indian Health Service projects while expanding lead and PFAS fixes and promoting public ownership.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
9 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Big Clean Water funding boost
If enacted, the government would transfer $17.237 billion to the EPA on October 1 each year for Clean Water programs. EPA would be required to obligate up to $175 million, $525 million, $875 million, $875 million, and about $14.787 billion to several grant programs and state capitalization funds each fiscal year. The money would remain available until spent and would not need further annual appropriations.
Expanded help for local water systems
If enacted, the bill would let federal drinking and clean water funds buy private community water systems, even from unwilling sellers, and pay to end operation contracts. It would let funds pay to update treatment or switch sources for certain PFAS contamination. The bill would fund household well filters, replace lead service lines at no cost to owners, and support school water projects and testing. Small, independent public systems serving under 10,000 people would also be eligible for help, and a tribal ownership test would be tightened.
More Safe Drinking Water money
If enacted, the government would transfer $16.187 billion to the EPA on October 1 each year for Safe Drinking Water programs. EPA would be required to obligate up to $175 million for technical assistance, about $14.787 billion for state capitalization grants, $175 million for certain grants, and $1.05 billion for other drinking water grants each fiscal year. These funds would remain available until spent.
More water funding for tribes
If enacted, the government would transfer $1.05 billion to the Indian Health Service on October 1 each year. IHS would be required to use up to $1.05 billion per year for planning, building, and repairing water, sewer, and sanitation facilities for tribes and Native communities. The funds would remain available until spent.
New rural water grant money
If enacted, the government would transfer $525 million to the Department of Agriculture on October 1 each year for rural water grants. The Department would be required to obligate up to $175 million for one rural grant program and up to $350 million for another each fiscal year. The funds would remain available until spent.
States must use 50% for subsidies
If enacted, States would have to use at least 50% of the capitalization grant money they receive in a fiscal year for additional subsidization or loan subsidies, if enough applications exist. That would increase grant and subsidy dollars available to eligible communities and households through state revolving funds.
EPA guidance to protect water customers
If enacted, the EPA would be required to include accounting standards and rules to protect households in its drinking water guidance. The guidance would cover shutoff protections, equity, public participation, and data collection about disconnected or unserved households. States and utilities would get steps to make water service more affordable and transparent.
New labor rules for water projects
If enacted, States and recipients of drinking and clean water funds would be required to allow and, where practicable, use project labor agreements for construction projects. The bill also keeps prevailing wage requirements in place for covered water projects. These changes would boost labor protections but could raise project costs.
Limits on funding for new developments
If enacted, States would not be allowed to give revolving fund money to projects that mainly benefit new subdivisions, lots, or new communities. The only exception would be for advanced decentralized wastewater systems. This would limit use of federal funds for many new development projects.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Bernie Sanders
VT • I
Cosponsors
Richard Blumenthal
CT • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Elizabeth Warren
MA • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Ron Wyden
OR • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Jeff Merkley
OR • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Edward Markey
MA • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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