Drinking Water System Security Act - Input Needed

Leadership in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce has introduced legislation that would create a chemical security program for drinking water utilities. The bill is H.R. 3258, the Drinking Water System Security Act. The AWWA Water Utility Council has studied this bill and sent a letter to the committee describing recommended changes.

The WUC is now asking AWWA membership and Sections to meet with members of Congress, e-mail them, or write them to ask for their support on the most significant issue in the bill for drinking water utilities, the ability for local officials to determine how they treat and distribute local drinking water. Members of Congress are on their annual August recess right now, so it should be possible to meet them in town meetings or in their district offices.

On the Section website at www.isawwa-portal.com, select "committees" and "water utility council" you will find a copy of the AWWA letter to the committee, and a draft letter that you can personalize and localize to communicate this vital message: that the choice of materials, particularly disinfectants, and processes should remain local.

Note that there is related chemical security legislation in the House. H.R. 2868 would create a chemical security plan at chemical plants and at wastewater treatment plants. H.R. 2883 would create a chemical security plan just at wastewater plants. We are addressing just H.R. 3258 in this “call to arms.”