I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 631 
To increase research, development, education, and technology transfer activi-
ties related to water use efficiency and conservation technologies and 
practices at the Environmental Protection Agency. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 22, 2009 
Mr. MATHESON introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Science and Technology 
A BILL 
To increase research, development, education, and technology 
transfer activities related to water use efficiency and 
conservation technologies and practices at the Environ-
mental Protection Agency. 
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 ‘‘Water Use Efficiency 
and Conservation Research Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
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(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 consistent with the plan developed under section 
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4 that promotes water use efficiency and conservation, in-
cluding— 
(1) technologies and processes that enable the 
collection, storage, treatment, and reuse of rain-
water, stormwater, and greywater; 
(2) water storage and distribution systems; 
(3) behavioral, social, and economic barriers to 
achieving greater water use efficiency; and 
(4) use of watershed planning directed toward 
water quality, conservation, and supply. 
(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 and 
conservation. 
(c) MINORITY SERVING INSTITUTIONS.—In the exe-
cution of this program, the Assistant Administrator may 
award extramural grants to institutions of higher edu-
cation and shall encourage participation by Minority Serv-
ing Institutions. 
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SEC. 4. STRATEGIC RESEARCH PLAN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Assistant Administrator shall 
coordinate the development of a strategic research plan 
(in this Act referred to as the ‘‘plan’’) for the water use 
efficiency and conservation research and development pro-
gram established in section 3 with all other Environmental 
Protection Agency research and development strategic 
plans. 
(b) PLAN CONTENTS.—The plan shall— 
(1) outline research goals and priorities for a 
water use efficiency and conservation research agen-
da, including— 
(A) developing innovative water supply-en-
hancing processes and technologies; and 
(B) improving existing processes and tech-
nologies, including wastewater treatment, desa-
linization, and groundwater recharge and recov-
ery schemes; 
(2) identify current Federal research efforts on 
water that are directed toward meeting the goals of 
improving water use efficiency, water conservation, 
or expanding water supply and describe how such ef-
forts are coordinated with the program established 
in section 3 in order to leverage resources and avoid 
duplication; and 
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(3) consider and utilize, as appropriate, rec-
ommendations in reports and studies conducted by 
Federal agencies, the National Research Council, the 
National Science and Technology Council, or other 
entities in the development of the plan. 
(c) SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD REVIEW.—The As-
sistant Administrator shall submit the plan to the Science 
Advisory Board of the Environmental Protection Agency 
for review. 
(d) REVISION.—The plan shall be revised and amend-
ed as needed to reflect current scientific findings and na-
tional research priorities. 
SEC. 5. 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 promote water use efficiency and con-
servation; and 
(2) collect and disseminate information, includ-
ing the establishment of a publicly accessible clear-
inghouse, on technologies and processes to promote 
water use efficiency and conservation, including in-
formation 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 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 in-
corporation into a building of the latest water use effi-
ciency 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 build-
ings shall be accessible to the public for tours and edu-
cational purposes. 
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SEC. 7. 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) water use efficiency and conservation re-
search projects initiated by the Agency; 
(2) development projects initiated by the Agen-
cy; 
(3) outreach and communication activities con-
ducted by the Agency concerning water use effi-
ciency 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 
strategies for management of water supply, waste-
water, and stormwater. 
(2) CONTENTS.—The study shall— 
(A) examine and compare the state of re-
search, technology development, and emerging 
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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 en-
ergy 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 Envi-
ronmental Protection Agency shall transmit to the Com-
mittee on Science and Technology of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Environment and Pub-
lic Works of the Senate a report on the key findings of 
the study conducted under subsection (a). The report shall 
evaluate challenges and opportunities and serve as a prac-
tical reference for water managers, planners, developers, 
scientists, engineers, non-governmental organizations, 
Federal agencies, and regulators by recommending innova-
tive and integrated solutions. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section— 
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