(March 11, 2020) – Legislation championed by NACWA was introduced in the US House of Representatives on March 6 that would create a federal “Advanced Research Projects Agency – Water” (ARPA-H2O) within EPA to spur clean water research and innovation.

The bipartisan ARPA-H2O Act, H.R. 6113, was introduced by Reps. John Katko (R-NY) and Dan Kildee (D-MI). It would provide federal funding assistance to drinking water and clean water systems, private sector entities, academic research institutions, and nonprofit organizations that are developing innovative and technologically advanced methods to improve the treatment, monitoring, delivery, affordability and safety of drinking water and clean water.

The bill creates ARPA-H20 in a parallel model to that of the current and highly successful ARPA-Energy and Defense-ARPA to ensure that the public clean water utility sector has the research, innovation and technological tools to address the increasing and complex nature of clean water challenges in a cost-effective manner.

NACWA has been spearheading efforts on the bill for many months and was joined by several of its water sector partners and the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) in sending a strong letter of support for the bill and thanking Reps. Katko and Kildee for their work and leadership on this important issue.

NACWA and its partners will continue working with Congress to advance this bill through the legislative process and encourages its members to reach out to their respective Representatives to request they cosponsor H.R. 6113. ARPA-H2O companion legislation is expected be introduced in the Senate soon. NACWA will provide further details as they unfold, and this legislation will be an important development to highlight in congressional office visits during the upcoming National Water Policy Fly-In.

For more information please contact NACWA’s Director of Legislative Affairs, Jason Isakovic.