S. 2436: Healthy Drinking Water Affordability Act

This bill, known as the Healthy Drinking Water Affordability Act, aims to provide financial assistance through grant programs to help improve the quality of drinking water in rural areas and underserved communities. Here’s a breakdown of its key components:

Purpose

The primary goal of the bill is to support the purchase, installation, and maintenance of systems that improve water quality for individuals and households facing challenges due to contamination in their drinking water. The bill acknowledges that having clean and safe drinking water is essential for public health and economic vitality.

Grant Program Establishment

The bill establishes a grant program, referred to as the Healthy Drinking Water Affordability Assistance Program, which allows eligible recipients to apply for financial assistance. This program is intended to cover costs associated with:

• Purchasing eligible drinking water quality improvement products.
• Installing these products with qualified professionals.
• Maintaining installed products to ensure they function correctly.
• Conducting certified water quality tests to ascertain the need for improvements.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for assistance, applicants must meet specified criteria:

• Eligible recipients include homeowners, renters, small multi-unit residential property owners, and licensed child-care facilities located in rural areas.
• Applicants need to demonstrate a need for assistance through qualified water quality testing or other satisfactory documentation confirming the presence of contaminants in their water supply.
• Households with a combined income below 150% of the median nonmetropolitan income in their state are prioritized for assistance.

Types of Approved Products

The bill outlines that approved drinking water quality improvement products must be certified and include:

• Point-of-entry systems, which treat water at the source before it enters the household.
• Point-of-use systems, which treat water at the point of consumption, such as faucets or under-sink units.

Implementation and Reporting

The Secretary of Agriculture is tasked with establishing the program regulations within 120 days following the bill's approval. Additionally, the Secretary will provide annual reports to Congress and make them publicly available. These reports will highlight ongoing challenges to accessing safe drinking water and evaluate the effectiveness of the grant program.

Funding

The bill authorizes $10 million annually for the program from 2026 through 2030. This funding aims to support rural communities disproportionately impacted by poor water quality and contamination.

Relevant Companies

None found.