Congressman Marlin Stutzman (R-Indiana) introduced the ”Water Supply Cost Savings Act,” or ”Savings Act,” legislation on September 18 to provide small communities across the nation with critical information on the use of water wells and water well systems to deliver high quality, affordable drinking water.
The Savings Act (HR 5659) was greeted with support from the water supply industry, including the National Ground Water Association, the Water Systems Council, and the Water Quality Association.
To assist small communities with their consideration of drinking water technology needs, the Savings Act establishes a Drinking Water Technology Clearinghouse where the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture will disseminate information on cost-effective, innovative, and alternative drinking water delivery systems, including systems supported by wells.
“The Savings Act is a simple, common sense bill that can save taxpayer dollars and, importantly, help rural communities gain access to much needed high quality drinking water,” Stutzman said.
There are 52,000 community water systems in the United States, of which 41,801 are small community water systems (3300 or fewer people). The EPA’s most recent Drinking Water Needs Survey placed the shortfall in drinking water infrastructure funding for small communities at $64.5 billion. The Savings Act will encourage these small communities to consider less expensive drinking water systems supplied by wells that could save taxpayers billions of dollars in infrastructure costs.