IV 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 593 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that in order to better 
understand water availability, sustainability, and security at a national 
scale, the United States should prioritize the assessment of the quality 
and quantity of surface water and groundwater resources, and produce 
a national water census with the same sense of urgency that was incor-
porated in the ‘‘Man on the Moon’’ project to address the inevitable 
challenges of ‘‘Peak Water’’. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 22, 2014 
Mr. CARTWRIGHT (for himself, Ms. NORTON, and Mr. GRIJALVA) submitted 
the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Natural 
Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, 
Agriculture, and Transportation and Infrastructure, 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 con-
cerned 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 
in order to better understand water availability, sustain-
ability, and security at a national scale, the United 
States should prioritize the assessment of the quality 
and quantity of surface water and groundwater re-
sources, and produce a national water census with the 
same sense of urgency that was incorporated in the 
‘‘Man on the Moon’’ project to address the inevitable 
challenges of ‘‘Peak Water’’. 
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•HRES 593 IH 
Whereas water is an essential, irreplaceable component to all 
sectors of society from agriculture, manufacturing, and 
energy development to domestic consumption, recreation, 
human health, and ecological maintenance; 
Whereas the consumption and allocation of water is therefore 
multi-objective, and thus demands the management of 
different and often conflicting uses; 
Whereas the practice of managing multiple water consump-
tion interests is made more challenging by the 
compounding effects of climate change, water pollution, 
and population; 
Whereas the procurement, production, and delivery of energy 
requires the substantial mobilization and use of large 
quantities of water, and further intensifies competing de-
mands for limited water resources as more people access 
and can afford more water-intensive lifestyles; 
Whereas the increasing demand on water resources and our 
diminishing water supply, coupled with competing inter-
ests in water consumption and wastewater disposal, is 
surpassing our ability to provide safe, secure, reliable 
water in many parts of the United States; 
Whereas groundwater resources, vital to community water 
systems and irrigation throughout the United States, are 
rapidly being depleted due to increased demands coupled 
with changes in hydrologic and climate patterns; 
Whereas chronic water shortages are increasingly felt 
throughout the United States with millions of people liv-
ing in drought conditions and millions more indirectly af-
fected by drought, such as through increased food prices; 
Whereas the demand on water resources coupled with 
drought have substantially lowered water levels in the 
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•HRES 593 IH 
United States navigable waterways and negatively af-
fected navigation, commerce, hydroelectric energy produc-
tion, recreation, and fishing; 
Whereas cumulative impacts of human water diversions have 
led to reduced or seasonally altered rivers in the United 
States, changing the magnitude and frequency of floods, 
and adversely impacting ecosystems of vital importance 
to human livelihoods; 
Whereas water is a significant component to ecological flows 
and disruptions and flow alterations can impose detri-
mental consequences to the chemical, biological, and 
physical integrity of surface water and groundwater and 
their ability to support ecological services including 
human consumption, wildlife habitat, fisheries, and recre-
ation; and 
Whereas the National Water Availability and Use Assessment 
Program provisioned in the SECURE Water Act is a 
foundational element necessary to understand water use, 
availability, sustainability, and security in the United 
States: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep-
resentatives that— 
(1) to keep water costs affordable, curb envi-
ronmental impact, maintain ecological flows, safe-
guard economic prosperity, and reduce risk, the 
United States should rapidly transition to a sustain-
able, secure water economy that prioritizes ecological 
flows; 
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