Amending the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act

AMENDING THE RECLAMATION WASTEWATER AND GROUNDWATER STUDY AND FACILITIES ACT -- (House of Representatives - April 25, 2006)

Mr. RENZI. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2341) to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the design, planning, and construction of a project to reclaim and reuse wastewater within and outside of the service area of the City of Austin Water and Wastewater Utility, Texas, as amended.

The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 2341

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, WASTEWATER RECLAMATION AND REUSE PROJECT.

(a) AUTHORIZATION OF PROJECT.--The Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act (Public Law 102-575, title XVI; 43 U.S.C. 390h et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 1636. AUSTIN, TEXAS, WATER RECLAMATION AND REUSE PROJECT.

``(a) AUTHORIZATION.--The Secretary, in cooperation with the City of Austin Water and Wastewater Utility, Texas, is authorized to participate in the planning (including an appraisal and feasibility study), design, and construction of, and land acquisition for, a project to reclaim and reuse wastewater, including degraded groundwaters, within and outside of the service area of the City of Austin Water and Wastewater Utility, Texas.

``(b) COST SHARE.--The Federal share of the cost of the project authorized by this section shall not exceed 25 percent of the total cost of the project.

``(c) LIMITATION.--The Secretary shall not provide funds for the operation and maintenance of the project authorized by this section.

``(d) SUNSET OF AUTHORITY.--The authority of the Secretary to carry out any provisions of this section shall terminate 10 years after the date of the enactment of this section.''.

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.--The table of contents in section 2 of Public Law 102-575 (106 Stat. 4600) is amended by adding at the end of the items relating to chapter XVI the following:

``Sec. 1636. Austin, Texas, water reclamation and reuse project.''.

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Mr. DOGGETT. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the comments of both of my colleagues on the floor and the support of both the chairmen and the ranking members and staff of the Resources Committee and the subcommittee.

I rise in support of this legislation that I have offered on behalf of the City of Austin in addressing the growing water needs that we have in Central Texas in a fiscally and environmentally responsible way.

This particular project deals with the design, planning, and construction of a project to use wastewater and reclaim it in our community.

The Bureau of Reclamation was originally authorized to get involved with such projects in 1992, and this bill adds Austin to the list of eligible projects under what is known as Title 16. The bill will help the City with Federal funds to supplement what Austin is already doing locally to expand our water reclamation facilities.

Under Title 16, Federal participation is limited, and the City will remain responsible for at least three-fourths of the cost of the project.

Reclaimed water, or treated wastewater, is generally used when high-quality drinkable water is not required, such as for irrigation, industrial cooling towers, and for various manufacturing purposes.

For more than 20 years, the City of Austin has operated its own water reclamation project for irrigation and to supply the composting operations at the Hornsby Bend Plant on the Colorado River.

In Texas, although we have some mighty powerful rivers, we also have a mighty thirsty State. I believe that by conserving the many resources with which we have been blessed in Central Texas, we can ensure an ample water supply for the indefinite future.

This reclamation initiative will reduce the demand on Austin's existing water supply and conserve high-quality water from the Colorado River for human consumption.

Austin's existing reclaimed water system consists of 16 miles of pipe, 1.5 million gallons of storage in 2 tanks, 3 pump stations, and 2 pressure zones. We envision a much-expanded system under the master plan. We will reclaim water through 123 miles of pipe, 17 million gallons of storage, and multiple pump stations and pressure zones. For the system to grow from its existing limited capacity to its ultimate size will take about $200 million in additional infrastructure over the coming years. When completed, the expanded system authorized by this bill could eventually save as much as 9 billion gallons of water every year.

Austin is already a national leader in planning for a sustainable future that improves our quality of life, boosts economic development, and protects the environment. Water conservation is a key part of that plan and a critical issue for a growing economy in an environmentally-minded city. Even with active water conservation programs, the maximum daily demand for water in Austin increased by 43 percent during the 1990s. Austin recognizes that aggressive conservation efforts can meet about half of our future shortfall, but expanding our reclamation capabilities can get us the rest of the way there.

Ben Franklin once said, ``When the well is dry, we know the worth of water.'' Well, this bill demonstrates that Austinites know the worth of water before our source of water goes dry, and we are taking steps to ensure water for our future.

The City and the Bureau of Reclamation have already advanced the project by completing a favorable Appraisal Report and beginning a Feasibility Study. The Appraisal Report concluded that the city's projected water ``shortage can be eliminated by more aggressive water reclamation'' and that ``there is a Federal interest in pursuing water reclamation and reuse investigations in Austin.''

In 1907, Theodore Roosevelt said, ``The conservation of natural resources is the fundamental problem. Unless we solve that problem, it will avail us little to solve all others.'' With your help, the capital of the Lone Star State can make even more significant strides in managing its water resources. I urge approval of this legislation.

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