Sec. 201. Findings

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Congress finds the following: Obtaining reliable and affordable water service is becoming increasingly difficult due to aging infrastructure, climate change, and population changes. Household water rates have increased by approximately 41 percent since 2010. Over the last several decades, the cost for drinking water and wastewater services has risen much more rapidly than other household expenses. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, low-income households are particularly impacted by water affordability challenges when drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater rates are raised.

Across the United States, water and wastewater bills have been increasing at more than twice the rate of inflation for nearly 2 decades. Additionally, incomes have barely kept up with inflation over the same period. It is anticipated that rates for water and wastewater services will continue to increase to meet the need for billions of dollars of overdue investment in our Nation's water and wastewater systems. The Environmental Protection Agency reports that approximately 15 percent of residential water customers nationally are low-income households that are constantly at risk of being unable to pay their water bills.

Low-income households are 3 times more likely than other households to have their utility service disconnected for unpaid or overdue bills. An estimated 15,000,000 people in the United States experienced a water shutoff in 2016 with the highest shutoff rates in lower-income cities with higher rates of poverty and unemployment. In 2017, total appropriations to the Environmental Protection Agency for water infrastructure were 35 percent lower than the corresponding 2001 appropriations (adjusted for inflation) despite massive capital investments being needed for drinking water and wastewater systems.

Water accessibility is a fundamental element of public health, safety, welfare, and security.