Water Technology Acceleration Act of 2016

To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act to accelerate the development and deployment of innovative water technologies. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Water Technology Acceleration Act of 2016 2. Innovation in Clean Water State revolving funds (a) Innovative water technologies Section 603 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1383 (1) in subsection (c)— (A) in paragraph (10), by striking and (B) in paragraph (11)(B), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (12) for the deployment of innovative water technologies, including— (A) green technologies, including manufactured technology and natural systems, to address nonpoint source pollution from agriculture; (B) resource recovery in water and wastewater treatment systems, including— (i) energy conservation and production; (ii) water reuse and recycling; and (iii) recovery of valuable materials, such as nutrients from wastewater streams; and (C) green infrastructure and other innovative technologies, such as real-time system monitoring and peak wet weather treatment technology, to reduce sewer and storm water overflows due to wet weather events in urban areas. ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (j) Technical assistance The Administrator shall carry out technical assistance programs to facilitate and encourage the provision of financial assistance for the purposes described in subsection (c)(12). (k) Report Each year, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report that describes— (1) the amount of financial assistance provided by State water pollution control revolving funds to deploy innovative water technologies; (2) the barriers impacting greater use of innovative water technologies; and (3) the cost-saving potential to cities and future infrastructure investments from emerging technologies. . (b) Authorization of appropriations Section 607 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1387 (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (5) as subparagraphs (A) through (E), respectively, and indenting appropriately; (2) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) (as so redesignated), by striking There is (1) In general There are ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (2) Innovative water technologies In addition to any other funds made available to carry out this title and notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, there is authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to make additional allotments under this title to States to provide financial assistance solely for purposes described in section 603(c)(12) $100,000,000 for each fiscal year. . 3. Innovation in Drinking Water State revolving funds Section 1452 of the Safe Drinking Water Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300j–12 (1) in subsection (a)(2)— (A) in the first sentence— (i) by striking only (ii) by striking Except (A) In general Except ; (B) in the second sentence, by striking Financial (B) Financial assistance Financial ; (C) in the third sentence, by striking The funds (C) Loans to public water systems The funds ; (D) in the fourth sentence, by striking The funds (D) Innovative water technologies The funds may be used for the deployment of innovative water technologies, including technologies to improve water quality and technologies to improve real-time water quality information of water users. (E) Limitation The funds ; and (E) in the fifth sentence, by striking Of the amount (F) Public water systems serving fewer than 10,000 persons Of the amount ; (2) in subsection (f)— (A) in paragraph (4), by striking and (B) in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (6) for the deployment of innovative water technologies, including technologies to improve water quality and technologies to improve real-time water quality information of water users. ; (3) by striking subsection (m) and inserting the following: (m) Authorization of appropriations In addition to any other funds made available to carry out this section and notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, there is authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to make additional allotments under this section to States to provide financial assistance solely for the deployment of innovative water technologies, including technologies to improve water quality and technologies to improve real-time water quality information of water users, $100,000,000 for each fiscal year. ; and (4) by adding at the end the following: (s) Technical assistance The Administrator shall carry out technical assistance programs to facilitate and encourage the provision of financial assistance for the deployment of innovative water technologies, including technologies to improve water quality and technologies to improve real-time water quality information of water users. (t) Report Each year, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report that describes— (1) the amount of financial assistance provided by State drinking water revolving funds to deploy innovative water technologies; (2) the barriers impacting greater use of innovative water technologies; and (3) the cost-saving potential to cities and future infrastructure investments from emerging technologies. . 4. Innovative water technology grant program (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Administrator The term Administrator (2) Eligible entity The term eligible entity (A) a public utility, including publicly owned treatment works and clean water systems; (B) a municipality; (C) a private entity, including a farmer or manufacturer; (D) an institution of higher education; (E) a research institution or foundation; (F) a State; (G) a regional organization; or (H) a nonprofit organization. (b) Grant program authorized The Administrator shall carry out a grant program for purposes described in subsection (c) to accelerate the development of innovative water technologies that address pressing water challenges. (c) Grants In carrying out the program under subsection (b), the Administrator shall make to eligible entities grants that— (1) finance projects that— (A) are public-private partnerships; and (B) deploy, test, and improve emerging water technologies; (2) fund entities that provide technical assistance to deploy innovative water technologies more broadly, especially— (A) to increase adoption of innovative water technologies in— (i) municipal water and wastewater treatment systems; or (ii) areas served by private wells; and (B) in a manner that reduces ratepayer or community costs over time, including the cost of future capital investments; or (3) specifically target investments that, as determined by the Administrator— (A) improve water quality of a water source; (B) improve water quality through the improvement of the safety and security of a drinking water delivery system; (C) minimize contamination of drinking water, including contamination by lead, bacteria, and nitrates; (D) improve the quality and timeliness and decrease the cost of drinking water tests, especially technologies that can be deployed within water systems and at individual faucets to provide accurate real-time tests of water quality, especially with respect to lead, bacteria, and nitrate content; (E) treat edge-of-field runoff to improve water quality; (F) treat agricultural, municipal, and industrial wastewater; (G) manage urban storm water runoff; (H) conserve water; or (I) address urgent water quality and hu­man health needs. (d) Priority funding In making grants under this section, the Administrator shall give priority to projects that have the potential— (1) to provide substantial cost savings across a sector (such as municipal or agricultural waste treatment); or (2) to significantly improve human health or the environment. (e) Cost-Sharing The Federal share of the cost of activities carried out using a grant made under this section shall be not more than 70 percent. (f) Limitation The maximum amount of a grant provided to a project under this section shall be $5,000,000. (g) Report Each year, the Administrator shall submit to Congress and make publicly available on the website of the Administrator a report that describes any advancements during the previous year in development of innovative water technologies made as a result of funding provided under this section. (h) Funding There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each fiscal year.

Summary: Water Technology Acceleration Act of 2016 This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act to accelerate the testing, deployment, and commercialization of innovative water technologies. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)must evaluate the barriers impacting greater use of innovative water technology and provide technical assistance to facilitate financial assistance tohelp communities use new technology.The new technology is designed to help communities address wastewater, storm runoff, and drinking water challenges. Additionally, the EPA must carry out a grant program to accelerate the testing and deployment of innovative water technologies that address water challenges. Priority funding must be given to projects that have the potential to: (1)provide substantial cost savings across a sector, or (2)significantly improve human health or the environment.