To amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in a series of water reclamation projects to provide a new water supply to communities previously impacted by perchlorate contamination plumes. 2016-02-24 Introduced in House This bill amends the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to participate in projects to benefit eligible communities through projects to:

  • capture and treat wastewater and to distribute recycled water from a new mixed-use development that cannot otherwise be economically provided recycled water from one or more existing water reclamation plants and recycled water distribution systems;
  • adjust or forego a portion of facility capacity or connection fees otherwise paid by the property owner to a regional water agency that imports out-of-basin water supplies; and/or
  • extend local recycled water distribution systems to properties adjacent to new mixed-use development.

The bill defines "eligible communities" as communities:

  • in a state under a drought emergency declared by the governor,
  • where water retailers have been directed by a state water resources control board to reduce consumption or use of potable water usage by 24% to 32%, and
  • whose sanitation district has been directed by a regional water quality control board to reduce the discharge of chloride to comply with basin water quality standards.

The Department of the Interior shall give priority to projects that:

  • will serve a region that has received federal authorization for projects associated with perchlorate remediation programs under the Bureau of Reclamation or the Army Corps of Engineers,
  • will serve or are located in a region that has completed feasibility studies for perchlorate remediation efforts, and/or
  • will serve a region where the regional water agency that imports out-of-basin water supplies has a wholesale area that includes a population of between 200,000 and 350,000.

The federal share of the cost of such a project shall not exceed 25% of the total cost.

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