Onsite Wastewater Recycling Efficiency Act

To improve processes for alternative wastewater systems, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Onsite Wastewater Recycling Efficiency Act 2. National onsite wastewater recycling (a) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that providing communities with the knowledge and resources necessary to fully use decentralized wastewater systems can provide affordable wastewater recycling and treatment to millions of people in the United States. (b) Definition of Administrator In this section, the term Administrator (c) Wastewater technology clearinghouse (1) In general The Administrator shall— (A) for each of the programs described in paragraph (2), update the information for those programs to include information on cost-effective and alternative wastewater recycling and treatment systems, including onsite and decentralized systems; and (B) disseminate to units of local government and nonprofit organizations seeking Federal funds for wastewater systems information on the cost effectiveness of alternative wastewater treatment and recycling systems, including onsite and decentralized systems. (2) Programs described The programs referred to in paragraph (1)(A) are programs that provide technical assistance for wastewater management, including— (A) programs for nonpoint source management under section 319 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1329 (B) the permit program for the disposal of sewer sludge under section 405 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1345 (C) technical assistance for small public water systems under section 1442(e) of the Safe Drinking Water Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300j–2(e) (D) other programs of the Administrator that provide technical assistance for wastewater management. (d) Alternative wastewater system certification (1) Clean Water State revolving funds Section 603 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1383 (k) Alternative wastewater system certification In providing assistance from the water pollution control revolving fund of the State established in accordance with this title for a project for a wastewater system serving a population of not more than 2,500, the State shall ensure that an entity receiving assistance from the water pollution control revolving fund of the State certifies that the entity has considered an individual or shared onsite, decentralized wastewater system as an alternative wastewater system. . (2) WIFIA Section 5028(a) of the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014 ( 33 U.S.C. 3907(a) (7) Alternative wastewater system certification In the case of a project carried out by the Administrator, the Administrator shall ensure that, for a project for a wastewater system serving a population of not more than 2,500, the eligible entity receiving financial assistance certifies that the eligible entity has considered an individual or shared onsite, decentralized wastewater system as an alternative wastewater system. . (3) Water and waste disposal loan & grant program Section 306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1926(a) (27) Alternative wastewater system certification The Secretary shall ensure that, for a wastewater project serving a population of not more than 2,500, the recipient of the financial assistance certifies that the recipient has considered an individual or shared onsite, decentralized wastewater system as an alternative wastewater system. . (e) Report to Congress Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than every 3 years thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report that describes— (1) the amount of financial assistance provided by State water pollution control revolving funds established under title VI of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1381 (2) the barriers impacting greater use of decentralized wastewater recycling technologies; (3) the cost-saving potential to communities and future infrastructure investments from further deployment of decentralized wastewater recycling technology; (4) the environmental benefits to the community and groundwater quality from additional investments in decentralized wastewater recycling; and (5) the actions taken by the Administrator to assist States in identifying eligible projects using decentralized wastewater recycling technology.

Summary: Onsite Wastewater Recycling Efficiency Act This bill establishes a process whereby each wastewater system that serves a population of no more than 2,500 individuals and receives assistance from specified federal funds must certify that the system has considered an onsite, decentralized wastewater system as an alternative wastewater system.