Wastewater Infrastructure Modernization Act
Bill: H.R.3691 | Sponsor: Rep. Bourdeaux, Carolyn (D-GA)
Policy area: Environmental Protection

Summary:
Wastewater Infrastructure Modernization Act
This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a program to award grants to municipalities for projects at publicly owned treatment works concerning (1) intelligent sewage or stormwater collection systems, or (2) innovative and alternative combined storm and sanitary sewer projects.

To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to establish a smart 
   wastewater infrastructure technology grant program, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Wastewater Infrastructure 
Modernization Act''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of this Act are--
            (1) to upgrade and modernize wastewater (including 
        stormwater) systems, tackle new contaminants, and support clean 
        water infrastructure across the United States;
            (2) to support the modernization of publicly owned 
        treatment works to maintain reliable and affordable water 
        quality infrastructure that addresses demand impacts, including 
        resiliency to improve public health and natural resources; and
            (3) to encourage the utilization of water-efficient 
        technologies to address the western drought crisis and prepare 
        for the growing strain population growth and climate change 
        will have on already over-allocated water supplies.

SEC. 3. SMART WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE TECHNOLOGY GRANT PROGRAM.

    Title II of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1281 
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 222. SMART WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE TECHNOLOGY GRANT PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Grants.--The Administrator shall establish a program to 
provide grants to municipalities for projects for the planning, design, 
and construction, at publicly owned treatment works, of--
            ``(1) intelligent sewage or stormwater collection systems, 
        including such collection systems that incorporate technologies 
        that rely on--
                    ``(A) real-time monitoring (including through 
                sensors), embedded intelligence, and predictive 
                maintenance capabilities that improve the energy 
                efficiency, reliability, and resiliency of treatment 
                works; and
                    ``(B) the use of artificial intelligence and other 
                intelligent optimization tools that reduce operational 
                costs, including operational costs relating to energy 
                consumption and chemical treatment; or
            ``(2) innovative and alternative combined storm and 
        sanitary sewer projects, including groundwater recharge, that 
        rely on real-time data acquisition to support predictive 
        aquifer recharge through water reuse and stormwater management 
        capabilities.
    ``(b) Assistance.--The Administrator shall use not less than 20 
percent of the amounts appropriated pursuant to this section in a 
fiscal year to provide assistance to municipalities with a population 
of less than 10,000, to the extent there are sufficient eligible 
applications.
    ``(c) Cost Share.--
            ``(1) In general.--The non-Federal share of the costs of an 
        activity carried out using a grant under this section shall be 
        25 percent.
            ``(2) Exception.--The Administrator may waive the cost-
        sharing requirement of paragraph (1) if the Administrator 
        determines that the municipality meets the affordability 
        criteria established under section 603(i)(2) by the State in 
        which the municipality is located.
    ``(d) Program Implementation.--
            ``(1) Guidance.--Not later than 30 days after the date of 
        enactment of this section, the Administrator shall issue 
        guidance to municipalities on how to apply for a grant under 
        this section.
            ``(2) Decision on applications.--Not later than 30 days 
        after the date on which the Administrator receives an 
        application for a grant under this section, the Administrator 
        shall determine whether to provide such grant.
            ``(3) Application deficiency.--If the Administrator 
        determines that an application for a grant under this section 
        is incomplete, the Administrator shall notify the applicant and 
        provide the applicant the opportunity to resubmit the 
        application.
            ``(4) Consideration.--In determining whether to provide a 
        grant under this section, the Administrator shall consider the 
        potential positive effects of the project on water quality.
    ``(e) Compliance With Buy America.--The requirements of section 608 
shall apply to any project for construction for which assistance is 
received under this section.
    ``(f) Report to Congress.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, the 
Administrator shall submit to Congress a report describing projects 
funded under this section, any related improvement of the resiliency of 
publicly owned treatment works, and recommendations to improve the 
grant program established under this section.
    ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated $500,000,000 to carry out this section, to remain 
available until expended.''.
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