Western Dems introduce bill addressing conservation, scarcity

E&E News
By Annie Snider
August 1, 2014

Before heading home to their drought-stricken states, Western Democrats in the House and Senate yesterday introduced a measure aimed at helping communities better prepare for a future with more water scarcity.

The legislation, dubbed "W21," or the "Water in the 21st Century Act," combines a number of frequently discussed programs aimed at conserving water and managing more limited supplies.

The bill was introduced by California Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein and by Reps. Grace Napolitano of California and Peter DeFazio of Oregon.

Feinstein said in a statement that the measure is intended to complement her emergency drought bill, currently being negotiated with the House. She said the new measure "includes practical, effective programs for conservation, recycling, research and water projects that are important elements to help meet California's water challenges."

The bill would boost funding for U.S. EPA's WaterSense program, which promotes water-efficient products, and create a new grant program within the agency for local water systems to make upgrades. It would also offer $250 million over five years for secure loans to larger, regional-scale projects ranging from water recycling to groundwater management to water storage and conveyance.

The measure also includes funding to improve data and research and would establish drought resilience guidelines for state and local agencies. And it would direct the Army Corps of Engineers to review its reservoir operations to consider making adjustments based on better forecasting data -- something Californians, in particular, have been calling for because of the competing needs for water supply and flood protection in a dry region prone to intense storms (Greenwire, Feb. 27, 2014).