use efficiency and conservation, including informa-
tion on— 
(A) incentives and impediments to develop-
ment and commercialization; 
(B) best practices; and 
(C) anticipated increases in water use effi-
ciency and conservation resulting from the im-
plementation of specific technologies and proc-
esses. 
SEC. 6. ADVANCED WATER EFFICIENCY DEVELOPMENT 
PROJECTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—As part of the program under sec-
tion 3, the Assistant Administrator shall carry out at least 
4 projects under which the funding is provided for the incor-
poration into a building of the latest water use efficiency 
and conservation technologies and designs. Funding for 
each project shall be provided only to cover incremental 
costs of water-use efficiency and conservation technologies. 
(b) CRITERIA.—Of the 4 projects described in sub-
section (a), at least 1 shall be for a residential building 
and at least 1 shall be for a commercial building. 
(c) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The designs of buildings 
with respect to which funding is provided under subsection 
(a) shall be made available to the public, and such buildings 
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shall be accessible to the public for tours and educational 
purposes. 
SEC. 7. REPORT. 
Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, and once every 2 years thereafter, the Assistant 
Administrator shall transmit to Congress a report which 
details the progress being made by the Environmental Pro-
tection Agency with regard to— 
(1) water use efficiency and conservation re-
search projects initiated by the Agency; 
(2) development projects initiated by the Agency; 
(3) outreach and communication activities con-
ducted by the Agency concerning water use efficiency 
and conservation; and 
(4) development and implementation of the plan. 
SEC. 8. WATER MANAGEMENT STUDY AND REPORT. 
(a) STUDY.— 
(1) REQUIREMENT.—The Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency shall enter into an 
arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences 
to complete a study of low impact and soft path strat-
egies for management of water supply, wastewater, 
and stormwater. 
(2) CONTENTS.—The study shall— 
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(A) examine and compare the state of re-
search, technology development, and emerging 
practices in other developed and developing 
countries with those in the United States; 
(B) identify and evaluate relevant system 
approaches for comprehensive water manage-
ment, including the interrelationship of water 
systems with other major systems such as energy 
and transportation; 
(C) identify priority research and develop-
ment needs; and 
(D) assess implementation needs and bar-
riers. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environ-
mental Protection Agency shall transmit to the Committee 
on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of 
the Senate a report on the key findings of the study con-
ducted under subsection (a). The report shall evaluate chal-
lenges and opportunities and serve as a practical reference 
for water managers, planners, developers, scientists, engi-
neers, non-governmental organizations, federal agencies, 
and regulators by recommending innovative and integrated 
solutions. 
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(c) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section— 
(1) the term ‘‘low impact’’ means a strategy that 
manages rainfall at the source using uniformly dis-
tributed decentralized micro-scale controls to mimic a 
site’s predevelopment hydrology by using design tech-
niques that infiltrate, filter, store, evaporate, and de-
tain runoff close to its source; and 
(2) the term ‘‘soft path’’ means a general frame-
work that encompasses— 
(A) increased efficiency of water use; 
(B) integration of water supply, wastewater 
treatment, and stormwater management systems; 
and 
(C) protection, restoration, and effective use 
of the natural capacities of ecosystems to provide 
clean water. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are 
authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency for carrying out this sec-
tion $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2009. 
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Assist-
ant Administrator for carrying out this Act $20,000,000 
for each of the fiscal years 2009 through 2013. 
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Union Calendar No. 519 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 3957 
[Report No. 110–802] 
A BILL 
To increase research, development, education, and 
technology transfer activities related to water use 
efficiency and conservation technologies and 
practices at the Environmental Protection Agen-
cy. 
JULY 30, 2008 
Reported with an amendment, referred to the House 
Calendar, and ordered to be printed 
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