I 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6804 
To improve processes for alternative wastewater systems, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 13, 2018 
Mr. BABIN (for himself and Ms. SEWELL of Alabama) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Com-
merce, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To improve processes for alternative wastewater systems, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Onsite Wastewater Re-
cycling Efficiency Act’’. 
SEC. 2. NATIONAL ONSITE WASTEWATER RECYCLING. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that providing communities with the knowledge and 
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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 sec-
tion, the term ‘‘Administrator’’ means the Administrator 
of the Environmental Protection Agency. 
(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-effec-
tive and alternative wastewater recycling and 
treatment systems, including onsite and decen-
tralized systems; and 
(B) disseminate to units of local govern-
ment and nonprofit organizations seeking Fed-
eral funds for wastewater systems information 
on the cost effectiveness of alternative waste-
water treatment and recycling systems, includ-
ing onsite and decentralized systems. 
(2) PROGRAMS DESCRIBED.—The programs re-
ferred to in paragraph (1)(A) are programs that 
provide technical assistance for wastewater manage-
ment, including— 
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(A) programs for nonpoint source manage-
ment 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)); and 
(D) other programs of the Administrator 
that provide technical assistance for wastewater 
management. 
(d) ALTERNATIVE WASTEWATER SYSTEM CERTIFI-
CATION.— 
(1) CLEAN WATER STATE REVOLVING FUNDS.— 
Section 603 of the Federal Water Pollution Control 
Act (33 U.S.C. 1383) (as amended by section 
5004(b)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(k) ALTERNATIVE WASTEWATER SYSTEM CERTIFI-
CATION.—In providing assistance from the water pollution 
control revolving fund of the State established in accord-
ance with this title for a project for a wastewater system 
serving a population of not more than 2,500, the State 
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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 on-
site, decentralized wastewater system as an alternative 
wastewater system.’’. 
(2) WIFIA.—Section 5028(a) of the Water In-
frastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014 
(33 U.S.C. 3907(a)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(7) ALTERNATIVE WASTEWATER SYSTEM CER-
TIFICATION.—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 en-
tity receiving financial assistance certifies that the 
eligible entity has considered an individual or shared 
onsite, decentralized wastewater system as an alter-
native wastewater system.’’. 
(3) WATER
AND
WASTE
DISPOSAL
LOAN
& 
GRANT PROGRAM.—Section 306(a) of the Consoli-
dated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 
1926(a)) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(27) ALTERNATIVE
WASTEWATER
SYSTEM 
CERTIFICATION.—The Secretary shall ensure that, 
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for a wastewater project serving a population of not 
more than 2,500, the recipient of the financial as-
sistance 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 fre-
quently 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 es-
tablished under title VI of the Federal Water Pollu-
tion Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.) to deploy 
decentralized wastewater recycling technology; 
(2) the barriers impacting greater use of decen-
tralized 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 commu-
nity and groundwater quality from additional invest-
ments in decentralized wastewater recycling; and 
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(5) the actions taken by the Administrator to 
assist States in identifying eligible projects using de-
centralized wastewater recycling technology. 
Æ 
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