§2402 Rural water supply program

Summary

The Secretary may run a rural water supply program in Reclamation States with non‑Federal partners. The program can look for and study ways to give safe, enough water for homes, towns, and businesses in small and rural areas. It can plan projects by doing appraisal and feasibility studies, and it can help oversee building projects that the Secretary recommends in a feasibility report and that Congress later approves. Every activity must be done with a qualifying non‑Federal project partner. Not later than 1 year after December 22, 2006, the Secretary must publish in the Federal Register rules for who is eligible for help and how requests will be prioritized. The rules must consider things like whether the project serves rural areas, small communities, or Indian tribes; uses a regional or watershed approach; meets urgent needs (for example, improves health or water appearance, gives continuous measurable water-quality benefits, or addresses current or future supply needs); helps meet legal requirements; and is cost effective. The Secretary may include connections to existing infrastructure if they provide a reliable supply, and may include a town over 50,000 people if that town is a critical partner.