| 3.23.22

Fighting The Drought With Grant Funding And Rebates (S. 176)

Do you support or oppose this bill?

What is S. 176?

(Updated May 6, 2020)

In response to the severe drought in California and the American southwest, this bill would expand rebates and grants for water efficiency, support water recycling and groundwater management investments, re-authorize water research programs, and create an open water data system.

First, the bill would create a "WaterSense program" to identify and promote water efficient products, services, buildings/facilities and processes.

The program would be run by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) who would offer grants to people and companies who are actively trying to conserve the nation's water quality and quantity. Aside from running the grant program, the EPA would also have to outline voluntary national drought guidelines to help the public prepare for water shortages.

The bill would authorize the Department of the Interior to financially support water projects (like water recycling, infrastructure, desalination, and storage) in states like California, Arizona, Colorado, Montana, and many others.

An open water data system would also be created by the U.S. Geological Survey to make water research and assessment information more widely accessible. The Water Desalination Act of 1996 and water research and technology institutes through the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 would be extended through 2020.

Argument in favor

This bill offers long-term solutions to a drought that will only get worse with time. Promoting water conservation, research, and efficiency will not only help the public plan for current water shortages, but lessen the impact of future droughts.

Argument opposed

Why should every taxpayer in the U.S. have to foot the bill for water conservation in a few choice states? Also, shouldn't the answer just be rationing? Why should it cost over a billion dollars to tell people in the southwest to take shorter showers?

Impact

People who live in U.S. regions impacted by drought, taxpayers, water conservation organizations, supplies, and services, desalination efforts, water research and technologies, the Department of the Interior, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Cost of S. 176

According to the bill text, S. 176 would authorize, for the WaterSense program, $100,000,000 for FY2015; $150,000,000 for FY2016; $200,000,000 for FY2017; $150,000,000 for FY2018; $100,000,000 for FY2019; and a similar "applicable amount" adjusted for changes for the years that follow. An article in The Desert Sun cites that this legislation authorizes the use of $1.95 billion in loans and grants over five years.

Additional Info

Of Note:

The drought in California, now in its fourth year has gone from a joke about "classic California weather," to stirring serious concerns and advocacy efforts. As the notes in a profile of the Golden State's misfortunes:

"The 25 percent cut in water consumption ordered by Gov. Jerry Brown raises fundamental questions about what life in California will be like in the years ahead, and even whether this state faces the prospect of people leaving for wetter climates — assuming, as Mr. Brown and other state leaders do, that this marks a permanent change in the climate, rather than a particularly severe cyclical drought."

In Depth:

This bill would also mandate the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to prepare a salmon drought plan for California.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would also be authorized to respond to requests from the private sector about overseeing reservoir operations, and — if appropriate — help bring the water control manuals up to speed with weather and runoff forecasting.