Matheson Water Conservation Bill Moves Forward

Washington D.C.—Congressman Jim Matheson’s legislation to encourage innovation in water efficiency and conservation won approval Tuesday from the Science and Technology’s subcommittee on Energy and Environment. A hearing on Matheson’s bill-- the Water-Use Efficiency and Conservation Research Act (HR 3957) -- was held last fall.

Matheson said drought, population growth and climate change predictions continue to put stress on the nation’s existing water supplies, lending urgency to a national goal of water conservation. Thirty-six states are anticipating local, regional or statewide water shortages by 2013.

“My own state is the second-driest state in the country and southern Utah’s St. George area is one of the nation’s most arid and also fastest-growing metropolitan regions.  Utah industries from skiing to farming rely on adequate water supplies.  If we don’t soon come up with innovative technology to use water more efficiently, our environment and our economy will be in trouble,” said Matheson.

Matheson’s legislation establishes a research, development and demonstration program within the EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD).  The program would collect and publish information on current water-use efficiency technologies.  Areas the bill directs the program to look at include ways to make water storage and distribution systems more efficient; also the social and economic barriers to achieving greater water-use efficiency.

“EPA estimates that if all U.S. households installed water-efficient appliances, the country would save more than 3 trillion gallons of water—and more than $17 billion dollars—annually,” said Matheson.

The bill also requires research into technologies and processes that enable the collection, treatment and the reuse of rainwater and greywater (any water that has been used in the home except water from toilets.)

 

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