The U.S. House of
Representatives passed the Water-Use Efficiency and Conservation Research Act
(HR 3957) July 30. The program will increase research, development, education,
technology transfer activities related to water-use efficiency, and
conservation technologies and practices at the EPA.
HR 3957
was introduced by Rep.
Jim Matheson (D-Utah). It would address water-use
efficiency and conservation through
1) technologies and processes
that enable the collection, storage, treatment, and reuse of rainwater,
stormwater, and greywater;
2) water storage and
distribution systems;
3) behavioral, social and economic
barriers to achieving greater water use efficiency; and
4)
use of watershed planning directed toward water quality, conservation and
supply.
The plan will also seek to improve existing processes and
technologies, including wastewater treatment, desalinization, and groundwater
recharge and recovery schemes.
Matheson announced
that 36 states are
anticipating local, regional or statewide water shortages by 2013. “As the West
continues to grow, we must face the problem of continually increasing the
demands on a finite water supply," he said.
The Water
Use Efficiency and Conservation Research Act has been sent to the Senate for
approval.
