§300j–19h Advanced Drinking Water Technologies

Summary

Within 1 year after November 15, 2021, if funds are available, the Administrator must study current and possible future technologies — including ones that help with cybersecurity — that could improve how public water systems treat, monitor, afford, operate, and keep drinking water safe. The Administrator must send a report on the study to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The Administrator must also set up a competitive grant program to help public water system owners or operators identify and put into use proven new or existing technologies (including cybersecurity tools) that improve treatment, monitoring, affordability, efficiency, or safety. Eligible entities are system owners or operators that serve a population of not more than 100,000 people or a community described in section 300j–19a(c)(2), have plans or found opportunities to use such technologies, and have shown interest. Applicants must follow the Administrator’s application rules. The federal share can cover up to 90 percent of a project’s cost and can be raised to 100 percent if the Administrator finds the entity cannot pay or would face serious financial hardship. Starting not later than 2 years after the first grant award and each year after, the Administrator must report to Congress naming grant recipients and summarizing grant activities. The program may receive $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026, available until spent, and up to 2 percent of each year’s funds may be used for program administration.