Assuring Quality Water Infrastructure Act

To amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to establish a grant program for improving operational sustainability by small public water systems, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Assuring Quality Water Infrastructure Act 2. Operational sustainability assistance for small public water systems Part E of the Safe Drinking Water Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300j 1459E. Operational sustainability assistance for small public water systems (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible entity The term eligible entity (A) a unit of local government; (B) a public corporation established by a unit of local government to provide water service; or (C) a nonprofit corporation, public trust, or cooperative association that owns or operates a public water system. (2) Operational sustainability The term operational sustainability (3) Program The term program (4) Small system The term small system (A) serves fewer than 10,000 people; and (B) is owned or operated by— (i) a unit of local government; (ii) a public corporation; (iii) a nonprofit corporation; (iv) a public trust; or (v) a cooperative association. (b) Establishment The Administrator shall establish a program to award grants to eligible entities for the purpose of improving operational sustainability for one or more small systems. (c) Applications To be eligible to receive a grant under the program, an eligible entity shall submit to the Administrator an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Administrator may require, including— (1) a proposal of the project to be carried out using grant funds under the program; (2) documentation prepared by the eligible entity describing the deficiencies in operational sustainability of one or more small systems that are to be addressed through the proposed project; (3) a description of how the proposed project will improve operational sustainability for one or more small systems; (4) a description of how the improvements described in paragraph (3) will be maintained beyond the life of the proposed project, including a plan to maintain and update any asset data collected as a result of the proposed project; (5) a copy of a written agreement between the eligible entity and the State within which the eligible entity is located in which the eligible entity agrees to provide a copy of any data collected under the proposed project to the State agency administering the State drinking water treatment revolving loan fund of the State established under section 1452, or a designee; and (6) any additional information the Administrator may require. (d) Use of funds An eligible entity that receives a grant under the program shall use the grant funds to carry out projects that improve operational sustainability for one or more small systems through— (1) the development of a detailed asset inventory, which may include drinking water sources, storage, valves, treatment systems, distribution lines, hydrants, pumps, controls, and other essential infrastructure; (2) the development of an infrastructure asset map, including a map that uses technology such as— (A) geographic information system software; and (B) global positioning system software; (3) the deployment of leak detection technology; (4) the deployment of metering technology; (5) training in asset management concepts, tools, and techniques of appropriate staff employed by— (A) the eligible entity; or (B) the small systems for which the grant was received; and (6) the development or deployment of other concepts, tools, or techniques that the Administrator may determine to be appropriate under the program. (e) Cost share The Federal share of a project carried out using a grant under the program shall not exceed 75 percent of the total cost of the project. (f) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025. .

Summary: Assuring Quality Water Infrastructure Act This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a grant program to improve drinking water infrastructure. Under the program, the EPA must improve the operational sustainability for at least one small public water system through the identification and prevention of potable water loss due to metering or infrastructure failures.