(1) Between 1950 and 2000, the United States 
population increased nearly 90 percent. In that same 
period, public demand for water increased 209 per-
cent. Americans now use an average of 100 gallons 
of water per person each day. This increased de-
mand has put additional stress on water supplies 
and distribution systems, threatening both human 
health and the environment. 
(2) Thirty six States are anticipating local, re-
gional, or statewide water shortages by 2013. In ad-
dition, climate change related effects are expected to 
exacerbate already scarce water resources in many 
areas of the country. 
(3) The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate 
Change’s 2007 assessment states that water stored 
in glaciers and snow cover is projected to decline, re-
ducing water availability to one-sixth of the world’s 
population that relies upon meltwater from major 
mountain ranges. The Intergovernmental Panel on 
Climate Change also predicts droughts will become 
more severe and longer lasting in a number of re-
gions. 
(4) Water conservation should be a national 
goal and the Environmental Protection Agency 
should work with nongovernmental partners to 
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achieve that goal. The Environmental Protection 
Agency should support the research, development, 
and dissemination of technologies and processes that 
will achieve greater water use efficiency. 
(5) WaterSense is a voluntary public-private 
partnership program established by the Environ-
mental Protection Agency to promote water effi-
ciency by helping consumers identify water-efficient 
products and practices. The Environmental Protec-
tion Agency estimates that if all United States 
households installed water-efficient appliances, the 
country would save more than 3,000,000,000,000 
gallons of water and more than $17,000,000,000 per 
year. 
(6) The WaterSense program has developed a 
network of partners, and therefore can disseminate 
the results of research on technologies and processes 
that achieve greater water use efficiency. 
SEC. 3. RESEARCH PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Assistant Administrator for 
Research and Development of the Environmental Protec-
tion Agency (in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Assistant Ad-
ministrator’’) shall establish a research and development 
program to promote water use efficiency and conservation, 
including— 
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(1) technologies and processes that enable the 
collection, treatment, and reuse of rainwater and 
greywater; 
(2) water storage and distribution systems; and 
(3) behavioral, social, and economic barriers to 
achieving greater water use efficiency. 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In planning and imple-
menting the program the Assistant Administrator shall 
consider— 
(1) research needs identified by water resource 
managers, State and local governments, and other 
interested parties; and 
(2) technologies and processes likely to achieve 
the greatest increases in water use efficiency. 
SEC. 4. TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER. 
The Assistant Administrator, building on the results 
of the activities of the program established under section 
3, shall— 
(1) facilitate the adoption of technology and 
processes to increase water use, water efficiency, and 
conservation; and 
(2) collect and disseminate information on tech-
nologies and processes to increase water use and 
conservation, including information on— 
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(A) incentives and impediments to develop-
ment and commercialization; 
(B) best practices; and 
(C) anticipated increases in water use effi-
ciency resulting from the implementation of 
specific technologies and processes. 
SEC. 5. REPORT. 
Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, and once every 2 years thereafter, the Assist-
ant Administrator shall transmit to Congress a report 
which details the progress being made by the Environ-
mental Protection Agency with regard to— 
(1) research projects initiated by the Agency; 
and 
(2) outreach and communication activities con-
ducted by the Agency. 
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the As-
sistant Administrator for carrying out this Act such sums 
as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2009 
through 2013. 
Æ 
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