H.R. 3900: Water Quality Technology Availability Act

This bill, known as the Water Quality Technology Availability Act, aims to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. Its primary focus is to ensure that when setting guidelines for effluent limitations—rules about the allowable amounts of pollutants that can be discharged into water bodies—the total cost of applying technologies that are commercially available in the United States is taken into account.

Key Provisions

• Amendment of Guidelines: The bill modifies existing regulations by changing the wording related to technology in the context of effluent limitations. Specifically, it replaces the phrase "technology in relation to" with "technology that is commercially available in the United States in relation to." This change emphasizes the importance of using technology that is currently available for practical application.
• Cost Considerations: By ensuring that the total cost of commercially available technology is considered, the bill seeks to create a more balanced approach to setting environmental regulations that account for both public health and economic feasibility. This may influence how regulations are developed and applied across various sectors that discharge wastewater.

Potential Implications

The adjustments made by this bill may impact regulatory approaches towards water quality and pollution control. By explicitly focusing on commercially available technologies, the legislation could lead to a greater emphasis on innovation in the water treatment industry and potentially encourage the development of new technologies that meet regulatory standards. There may also be implications for industries that are heavily reliant on water discharge practices, as they would need to consider the costs associated with adopting new technologies that comply with these updated guidelines.

Relevant Companies

• XYL - Xylem Inc. is involved in water technology and may see changes in business as regulations on water discharge become stricter or require more advanced treatment technologies.
• ITT - ITT Inc. provides water and fluid management solutions, which might impact their operational costs regarding the new technology specifications set by the bill.