This week, Congressman Vince Fong (CA-Bakersfield) introduced the Water Infrastructure Resiliency Act (H.R. 5513), in partnership with Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01).
This bipartisan bill aims to empower communities to modernize their water management systems by adopting cutting-edge technologies like advanced monitoring software, leak detection tools, and real-time data dashboards. These innovations help track and manage water resources more effectively in order to conserve water, improve efficiency, and reduce costs.
Specifically, the Act would:
- Facilitate the use of digital construction software programs to optimize and streamline planning and operations, helping communities prioritize resources and investments.
- Save money and enhance conservation by allowing communities to use technology that identifies leaks, forecast usage, and detects and removes pollutants like PFAS and microplastics.
- Support drought-response strategies; critical for drought-stricken, wildfire-prone regions in the West.
- Empower states to better leverage federal dollars for water efficiency and conservation, reducing strain on taxpayers while protecting vital resources.
The full bill text is available here. For more information, contact RCRC Policy Advocate, Eric Will.