[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 80 (Thursday, June 18, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6566-S6567]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. WYDEN (for himself and Mr. Burns):
  S. 2189. A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to 
authorize the use of State revolving loan funds for construction of 
water conservation and quality improvements; to the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works.


             Water Conservation and Quality Incentives Act

 Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, twenty-five years after enactment of 
the Clean Water Act, we still have not achieved the law's original goal 
that all our nation's lakes, rivers and streams would be safe for 
fishing and swimming.
  After 25 years, it's time for the next generation of strategies to 
solve our remaining water quality problems. We need to give States new 
tools to overcome the new water quality challenges they are now facing.
  The money that has been invested in controlling water pollution from 
factories and upgrading sewage treatment plants has gone a long way to 
controlling these urban pollution sources. In most cases, the remaining 
water quality problems are no longer caused by pollution spewing out of 
factory pipes. Instead, they are caused by runoff from a myriad of 
sources ranging from farm fields to city streets and parking lots.
  In my home State of Oregon, more than half of our streams don't fully 
meet water quality standards. And the largest problems are 
contamination from runoff and meeting the standards for water 
temperature.
  In many cases, conventional approaches will not solve these problems. 
But we can achieve water temperature standards and obtain other water 
quality benefits by enhancing stream flows and improving runoff 
controls.
  A major problem for many streams in Oregon and in many other areas of 
the Western United States is that water supplies are fully appropriated 
or over-appropriated. There is currently no extra water to spare for 
increased stream flows.
  We can't create a new water to fill the gap. But we can make more 
water available for this use through increased water conservation and 
more efficient use of existing water supplies.
  The key to achieving this would be to create incentives to reduce 
wasteful water use.

[[Page S6567]]

  In the Western United States, irrigated agriculture is the single 
largest user of water. Studies indicate that substantial quantities of 
water diverted for irrigation do not make it to the fields, with a 
significant portion lost to evaporation or leakage from irrigation 
canals.
  In Oregon and other States that recognize rights to conserved water 
for those who conserve it, irrigators and other water users could gain 
rights to use conserved water while also increasing the amount of water 
available for other uses by implementing conservation and efficiency 
measures to reduce water loss.
  The Federal government can play a role in helping meet our nation's 
changing water needs. In many Western States, water supply problems can 
be addressed by providing financial incentives to help water users 
implement cost effective water conservation and efficiency measures 
consistent with State water law.
  And, we can improve water quality throughout the nation by giving 
greater flexibility to States to use Clean Water Act funds to control 
polluted runoff, if that's where the money is needed most.
  Today, I am pleased to be joined by my colleague, Senator Burns, in 
introducing legislation to authorize the Clean Water State Revolving 
Fund program to provide loans to water users to fund conservation 
measures or runoff controls. States would be authorized, but not 
required, to use their SRF funds for these purposes. Participation by 
water users, farmers, ranchers and other eligible loan recipients would 
also be entirely voluntary.
  The conservation program would be structured to allow participating 
users to receive a share of the water saved through conservation or 
more efficient use, which they could use in accordance with State law. 
This type of approach would create a win/win situation with more water 
available for both the conservers and for instream flows. And, by using 
the SRF program, the Federal seed money would be repaid over time and 
gradually become available to fund conservation or other measures to 
solve water quality problems in other areas.
  My proposal has the support of the Farm Bureau, Oregon water users, 
the Environmental Defense Fund and the Oregon Water Trust.
  I urge my colleagues to support giving States greater flexibility to 
use their Clean Water funds for water conservation or runoff control 
when the State decides that is the best way to solve water quality 
problems and the water users voluntarily agree to participate.
 Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I am pleased today to join with my 
colleague from Oregon, Senator Wyden, to introduce the Water 
Conservation and Quality Incentives Act, a bill to revise the state 
revolving fund in the Clean Water Act. This is language that Senator 
Wyden and I have collaborated on to bring some sense of additional 
conservation of water resources to the many irrigation districts in the 
nation.
  In the west, irrigators are by far the largest water users. These are 
folks who need the water because of the various crops that they have on 
the ground in the states out west. Unfortunately a large portion of the 
water that is used in irrigation is by nature displaced due to seepage 
within the canals and ditches in which the water flows. Although the 
water is not lost, since it seeps into the soil and assists in the 
overall soil moisture, it is not immediately available to the 
irrigator. However, it is water which could be more effectively used to 
provide additional water to the producer.
  In most irrigation districts, irrigators pay for water that is 
released to them, and any displacement of this water does not help that 
producer on the bottom line. At a time when prices are low and markets 
are questionable, it is important that we give tools to the producer to 
make sure that they have every opportunity to stay in business.
  A key underlying feature of the legislation, is that the water saved 
under the proposal in this bill will not only assist the producer in 
water and cost savings, but also will assist the future of water in the 
many rivers and streams in the west. At a time when the federal 
government seems to be taking steps to reduce state involvement in 
water rights this is extremely important.
  The proposal put forth in this bill, will authorize the Clean Water 
State Revolving Fund to provide loans to irrigation districts to 
construct pipelines and develop additional conservation measures. The 
states would have an option in this measure, they would not have to 
involve their funds in this matter, but would allow them to do so if 
they so elected. In addition, those districts who did so elect to 
involve themselves would be able to add to their supply of water the 
difference between what they were using prior to the plan and what they 
were able to save.
  This bill creates a win/win situation both for water users and for 
the multiple users of water in our states, particularly Oregon and 
Montana. We have an opportunity here to do something useful and 
worthwhile for the irrigators and the fishing, boating and those who 
use instream water. I would like to thank Senator Wyden for his work on 
this measure and I am pleased to work with him today on this issue of 
great importance.
                                 ______