Sec. 301. Findings
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Congress finds that— water is an essential resource for farms, cities, and the environment; in order to responsibly and sustainably manage water, all different types of water, including water that is stored, drinking water, flood waters, wastewater, recycled water, and other types, should be taken into account; according to a survey by the Government Accountability Office of State water managers, at least 40 States anticipate water shortages by 2024, pointing to the need to conserve and sustainably manage water; climate change is likely to increase the vulnerability of water supplies for communities and the environment by— increasing the frequency and magnitude of droughts and extreme precipitation events; increasing air temperatures; and changing the patterns and volume of precipitation; the water infrastructure of the United States needs additional investment given the age of the infrastructure and emerging issues, such as climate change; according to the American Society of Civil Engineers, more than $105,000,000,000 is needed for drinking water and wastewater investment needs; a diverse portfolio of water management, storage, recycling, and reuse techniques can help to sustainably and responsibly manage water in the United States; reducing water diversions from rivers and lakes is important to sustain— native fish and wildlife; and the communities and Native American tribes that depend on a healthy environment; a sustainable water supply relies on— the ability for environmentally sound water storage projects; protection of clean water programs; financing for new technologies; developments and funding for water recycling and reuse projects; improvements to wastewater systems and flood management; increased conservation programs and water efficiency; and instream flows of adequate quality and quantity that protect native fish and wildlife and the environment; the 16th Clean Watersheds Needs Survey of the Environmental Protection Agency shows a total 20-year capital improvement need of $271,000,000 to address the water quality objectives of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.); more than 21,000,000 households lack access to a sewer system and instead rely on expensive septic tanks or cesspools; more than 1,700,000 households lack access to basic plumbing in the United States; and exposure to raw sewage inside or outside of the home due to inadequate or failing wastewater systems is a severe public health risk.
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