Capps Introduces Bill to Ensure Safe Drinking Water

Legislation would amend Safe Drinking Water Act to prepare community water systems for growing threats of climate change
Sep 22, 2016 Issues: Energy & Environment

(WASHINGTON) Today, Rep. Lois Capps (CA-24) introduced the Climate Resiliency, Security, and Source Water Protection Act (H.R. 6121), which would amend the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) to help community water systems be better prepared to protect drinking water and source water from the effects of climate change as well as from security threats from accidental or intentional contamination.

H.R. 6121 includes and expands upon drinking water provisions authored by Capps in her Water Infrastructure Resiliency and Sustainability Act (WIRSA, H.R. 1278), which would create a competitive grant program to help drinking water system operators prepare for the impacts of climate-related risks to water supplies. H.R. 6121 builds upon this effort and also addresses possible risks to drinking water and source waters from homeland security threats, including terrorism, and contamination from industrial and agricultural activity.

“As we continue to learn and better understand how climate change is threatening many aspects of our communities, including our drinking water, we must take action before it’s too late,” Capps said. “The safety of our drinking water is absolutely critical to our local communities. Unfortunately, there are many examples of threats to drinking water safety, and it is essential that we help our community water systems prepare for these dangers. My bill would make essential, overdue updates to the Safe Drinking Water Act so that drinking water utility companies can prepare for the dangers of climate change and other damaging hazards and ensure the long term safety and security of our water.”

Capps’s Climate Resiliency, Security, and Source Water Protection Act is also included in a legislative package led by Energy and Commerce full committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone (NJ-06) and Environment and the Economy Ranking Member Paul Tonko (NY-20). This bill, the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 2016 (H.R. 6116), is a comprehensive update to the Safe Drinking Water Act, which has not been updated since 1996.

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