[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 129 (Wednesday, September 18, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S10873]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            RECLAMATION RECYCLING AND WATER CONSERVATION ACT

 Mr. REID. Mr. President, I want to express my support for the 
Reclamation Recycling and Water Conservation Act, S. 1901, and its 
companion bill, H.R. 3660, that promotes the desalination and water 
reclamation projects in the arid West. I have long supported water 
reclamation and desalination as a means of conserving water which is a 
precious commodity in Nevada and other Western States.
  In the past, with the senior Senator from Illinois [Senator Simon], I 
have advocated legislation that would authorize desalination technology 
research on a national scale. Public investment in desalination 
technology is vital to the future of fresh water supply of the Nation. 
Nevertheless, I support this regional legislation because of the 
special water needs of NV, Utah, California, and New Mexico. I 
particularly note that this bill will provide for Clark County, NV, the 
fastest growing county in the Nation, to reduce its dependence on fresh 
water from the Colorado River and rely on desalination and wastewater 
recycling to meet the needs of the expanding community. This approach 
by Clark County and other Western communities to their water problems 
appears to be insightful recognition of the limited fresh water 
resources of the West.
  This legislation is good common sense and I commend my colleague from 
Utah [Senator Bennett], for his sponsorship. Not only does reclamation 
and reuse make good conservation policy but will also prove cost 
effective because it will cost less for municipalities to provide for 
recycling than to build new reservoirs and conduits. Consequently, 
there should not be any opposition to a bill that encourages 
conservation initiatives as well as fiscal responsibility of 
municipalities and Federal assistance.
  I recommend this authorizing bill to my colleagues for unanimous 
consent so that the Secretary of the Interior can initiate such 
planning, designing, and construction of the projects that are itemized 
within the bill.

                          ____________________