42 U.S.C. § 300j–3d: Water supply cost savings

Summary

The Environmental Protection Agency, working with the Department of Agriculture, must create a clearinghouse of information about how cost-effective new or alternative drinking water systems are, including wells. That information must be shared with the public and with communities and nonprofits seeking federal funding for systems that serve 500 or fewer people. When a local government or nonprofit applies for a federal grant or loan to build, replace, or fix a system serving 500 or fewer people, it must confirm it considered publicly owned individual wells, shared wells, and community wells. The Comptroller General must report to Congress no later than 3 years after December 16, 2016 on use of these systems, the cost savings, and use of EPA and Agriculture Department technical help programs.

Title 42, §300j–3d

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

(a)Drinking water technology clearinghouse

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)Water system assessment

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)Report to Congress

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.

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.”

§300j–3d Water Supply Cost Savings