Title 42The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§300j–3d Water supply cost savings

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 6A— - PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER XII— - SAFETY OF PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS › Part Part E— - General Provisions › § 300j–3d

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Administrator, with the Secretary of Agriculture, must set up a technology clearinghouse that gives simple information on how cost-effective innovative and alternative drinking water systems are, including wells. The clearinghouse must share that information with the public and with communities and nonprofits that seek federal funds for drinking water systems serving 500 or fewer people. When applying for a federal grant or loan to build, replace, or fix such a system, a local government or nonprofit must certify it considered publicly owned individual wells, shared wells, and community wells as alternatives. Within 3 years after December 16, 2016, the Comptroller General must report to Congress on how these systems are being used, the range of cost savings for communities that use them, and the use of drinking water technical assistance programs run by the Administrator and the Secretary of Agriculture.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §300j–3d

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall—
(1)develop a technology clearinghouse for information on the cost-effectiveness of innovative and alternative drinking water delivery systems, including wells and well systems; and
(2)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.
(b)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—
(1)individual wells;
(2)shared wells; and
(3)community wells.
(c)Not later than 3 years after December 16, 2016, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report that describes—
(1)the use of innovative and alternative drinking water delivery systems described in this section;
(2)the range of cost savings for communities using innovative and alternative drinking water delivery systems described in this section; and
(3)the use of drinking water technical assistance programs operated by the Administrator and the Secretary of Agriculture.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was enacted as part of the Water and Waste Act of 2016, and also as part of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act, also known as the WIIN Act, and not as part of the Public Health Service Act which comprises this chapter.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Definition of “Administrator”Pub. L. 114–322, title II, § 2002, Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1716, provided that: “In this title [see section 2001 of Pub. L. 114–322, set out as a

Short Title

of 2016 Amendment note under section 201 of this title], the term ‘Administrator’ means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 300j–3d

Title 42The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73