MORE WATER Act and GROW SMART Act would fund water recycling projects, water conveyance, habitat restoration, and innovative water-saving projects
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, introduced a pair of bills to help address growing water supply challenges in California and the American West. As severe droughts, warming temperatures, limitations on groundwater pumping, and outdated infrastructure compound California’s water scarcity issues, these bills would bolster water security for both cities and agricultural communities while delivering environmental and ecological benefits.
The California Department of Water Resources estimates that the drinking water deficit will reach 6 million acre feet of water per year by 2040 — enough drinking water for 36 million people. The Making Our Communities Resilient through Enhancing Water for Agriculture, Technology, the Environment, and Residences (MORE WATER) Act would help fill this deficit by reauthorizing expiring Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) programs that support the development of water recycling projects and by creating a new federal grant program to help repair California’s water delivery system.
Padilla’s second bill, the Growing Resilient Operations from Water Savings and Municipal- Agricultural Reciprocally-beneficial Transactions (GROW SMART) Act, would authorize Reclamation to fund the development of voluntary demonstration projects for innovative agricultural water efficiency measures and agricultural partnerships with municipal, industrial, and commercial entities.
“After years of severe drought and mounting climate impacts, California needs bold solutions and sustained federal investment to confront water scarcity challenges in both cities and agricultural communities across the state,” said Senator Padilla. “From Southern California to the Bay Area, large-scale recycling programs and infrastructure upgrades can deliver clean water to millions of Californians, including for low-income communities that lack access. That is why my MORE WATER Act would reauthorize federal water recycling programs while modernizing aging canal infrastructure, supporting habitat restoration and wildlife refuges, and accelerating project approval. My GROW SMART Act would complement these efforts by offering a cost-effective approach to strengthen drought resiliency and water supply for California farmers, ranchers, and families alike through collaborative partnerships to test innovative water-saving projects.”
MORE WATER Act
The MORE WATER Act would reauthorize Reclamation’s large-scale recycled water program, providing federal grants for up to 25% of the cost of these recycling projects. Multiple water districts in cities across Southern California and the Bay Area have large-scale water recycling projects (which cost $500 million or more) that together could create over half a million acre-feet of water per year, enough water for 3 million people, including Metropolitan Water District’s project that involves a collaboration with Arizona and Nevada to work together to address water shortages on the Colorado River. The program benefits water supply as well as the environment by reducing the need to divert water from rivers and the Delta.
California also has dozens of other water recycling projects for which the bill would reauthorize federal grants for up to 25% of the costs. The MORE WATER Act also increases the cap on funding for these projects to $50 million. Furthermore, the bill would reauthorize a program that funds in-stream and floodplain habitat restoration and other projects to benefit threatened and endangered salmon and other fish species.
As more and more of California’s precipitation comes from a few major atmospheric rivers, restoring the capacity of the California Aqueduct and other large canals is critical in order to capture this precipitation and move it to places where it can be stored in the ground for future use. To support this effort, the bill would create a new multi-benefit conveyance program that would provide federal grants for up to 30% of the cost of restoring these canals. Additionally, the new program would issue federal grants for up to 20% of the projects’ costs to provide environmental benefits and/or safe drinking water benefits for the many low-income communities in the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California.
Besides authorizing federal funding, the bill also expedites Congressional approval for these projects so they can be built faster and cheaper. The bill reauthorizes expired programmatic approvals for water recycling projects and establishes a new programmatic approval so Congress does not have to enact specific bills for every project. This can trim five years or more off the process of developing projects and getting federal funding, without any reduction in the environmental reviews that projects must undergo.
The legislation is endorsed by Environmental Defense Fund, American Rivers Action Fund, Valley Water, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority, San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors Water Authority, Association of California Water Agencies, Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, Self-Help Enterprises, State Water Contractors, Sacramento River Settlement Contractors, Northern California Water Association, San Joaquin Valley Collaborative Action Program (CAP), and the WateReuse Association.
“The MORE WATER Act is groundbreaking for incorporating multiple benefits into one program that provides much-needed funding for water conveyance systems while also delivering new benefits to low-income communities and the environment,” said Ann Hayden, Vice President, Climate Resilient Water Systems, Environmental Defense Fund. “We applaud Sen. Padilla for addressing the needs of diverse water users in the MORE Water ACT and recognizing how water infrastructure is critical to growing our food, providing drinking water for people, and supporting thriving wildlife. This multibenefit approach to water management will be increasingly essential to ensuring we have enough water to meet the needs of communities and ecosystems now and into the future.”
“Legislation that prioritizes funding to support clean reliable drinking water for rural communities is essential, particularly as swings between drought and deluge accelerate in the American West. When these projects also include benefits for our rivers and the wildlife they support, we champion win-win solutions for everyone. American Rivers thanks Sen. Padilla for his leadership on elevating the need for and making possible more multi-benefit projects for our Western States,” said Leda Huta, VP Government Affairs, American Rivers Action Fund.
“Valley Water is pleased to support this legislation, which will help boost Western water supplies and reduce the cost burden on local ratepayers. Our communities are facing an affordability crisis. This additional federal investment in recycled water and infrastructure will help keep water rates low while ensuring a reliable water supply for future generations. We are grateful to Senator Padilla for leading this effort,” said Tony Estremera, Chair, Valley Water Board of Directors.
“As communities across California face challenges to their water supplies from increasingly severe droughts and aging infrastructure, support from our federal partners can go a long way toward ensuring everyone has the water they need,” said Shivaji Deshmukh, General Manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. “Sen. Padilla’s bill will help boost water supply reliability by extending Reclamation’s water recycling programs and environmental restoration program. The bill also creates a new grant program to help fix our critical water conveyance infrastructure that is essential to ensuring reliable water deliveries to our communities. This is important legislation, and Metropolitan is grateful for Senator Padilla’s leadership on these issues.”
“The MORE WATER Act establishes a Water Conveyance Improvement Program that would help address long-standing affordability and infrastructure challenges in California’s San Joaquin Valley,” said Federico Barajas, Executive Director of the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority. “The Delta-Mendota Canal, California Aqueduct, and Friant-Kern Canal have delivered water reliably for more than 50 years, and significant investments are now required to ensure these systems can continue to provide much needed water supplies for the farms, communities, and ecosystems south of the Bay-Delta. California’s economy, and the nation’s food supply, depends on reliable water supplies, and these conveyance facilities have been the backbone of that economy and food production for decades. The Water Conveyance Improvement Program included in this legislation would support the continued operation and rehabilitation of these critical facilities, so they can reliably deliver water for communities, agriculture, and the environment well into the future.”
“The MORE WATER Act establishes a Water Conveyance Improvement Program to address long-standing challenges related to water affordability and aging infrastructure in California’s San Joaquin Valley,” said Chris White, Executive Director, San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors Water Authority. “For more than five decades, the Delta-Mendota Canal, California Aqueduct, and Friant-Kern Canal have served as essential arteries delivering water south of the Delta. Continued investment in these systems is critical to maintaining their ability to supply reliable water to farms, communities, and ecosystems throughout the region. California’s economic stability—and the reliability of the nation’s food supply—are closely tied to dependable water resources, and these conveyance facilities have played a foundational role in sustaining both. This legislation supports the continued operation, repair, and modernization of these vital facilities, ensuring they remain resilient and capable of serving communities, agriculture, and the environment well into the future.”
“The Association of California Water Agencies thanks Senator Padilla for his strong leadership on water policy and for introducing the MORE WATER Act and the GROW SMART Act. These bills will provide essential tools that will help ensure Californian’s now and, in the future, have access to a safe, reliable, and affordable supply of water,” said Ernie Avila, President, Association of California Water Agencies.
“Investments in water conveyance projects have not always benefited low-income rural communities that lack access to safe and affordable drinking water,” said Michael Claiborne, Directing Attorney with Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability. “The multi-benefit provisions in the MORE WATER Act will help to improve water access and affordability for low-income communities that urgently need support.”
“Self-Help Enterprises supports the MORE WATER Act because it will benefit ongoing water conveyance improvement and planning efforts in California,” Eddie Ocampo, Director of Community Sustainability for Self-Help Enterprises. “It will contribute to making our communities, our environment, and our industry more adaptive, resilient, and sustainable.”
“The State Water Contractors applaud Senator Padilla’s leadership on these critical water issues,” said Jennifer Pierre, General Manager of the State Water Contractors. “Addressing water affordability and availability is essential for California and the nation’s success, and the dedication of resources to restoring California’s canals in the MORE WATER Act will be a benefit to all Californians.”
“Floodplain reactivation is one of the most effective ways to rebuild the Sacramento River’s ecological function while protecting the water supply backbone that farms, families, and fisheries depend on,” said Roger Cornwell, President, Sacramento River Settlement Contractors. “The MORE WATER Act recognizes that environmental restoration and compliance are not side issues; they are essential to sustaining project operations and achieving measurable outcomes for salmon recovery. The MORE Water Act will help turn science-backed restoration priorities into real projects on the ground.”
“The Sacramento Valley is a working landscape where the water system supports communities, farms, fish, millions of migratory birds, recreation, and hydropower,” said David Guy, President, Northern California Water Association. “We can reliably and affordably deliver water for all of these important purposes when we invest in the right tools. The MORE WATER Act is an important step forward to provide these tools, such as scaling up floodplain reactivation for stronger flood resilience, more reliable water supplies for our communities and agricultural economy, and creating better fish and wildlife outcomes.”
“The San Joaquin Valley Collaborative Action Program (CAP) supports the efforts of Senator Padilla and the goals of MORE Water,” said CAP co-chairs Sarah Woolf and Ann Hayden. “It is a step by the Federal Government to help assure water infrastructure is built to serve multiple benefits throughout the system. The MORE Water goals are in keeping with CAP’s core principles of ensuring a healthy economy, environment, and safe drinking water.”
“Water reuse is an essential component of a successful and sustainable Western water strategy,” said Bruno Pigott, Executive Director of the WateReuse Association. “By reauthorizing and improving two critical water reuse programs, Senator Padilla’s MORE WATER Act protects freshwater resources and ensures that businesses, farmers, and communities have the reliable, long-term water supplies they need to thrive.”
A one-page outline of the bill and one-page summary of the benefits for California are available here and here.
A section-by-section breakdown of the MORE WATER Act is available here.
An explanation of how the multi-benefit conveyance program in the MORE WATER Act works and precedents for the program are available here and here.
Full text of the bill is available here.
GROW SMART Act
The GROW SMART Act authorizes $5 million per year for seven years for the Bureau of Reclamation to fund the development of voluntary agricultural partnerships and the design of innovative water-saving projects. The bill would pilot an approach for farmers to improve their ability to withstand drought, commercial downturns, and other economic risks through voluntary partnerships with urban and industrial entities. These voluntary partnerships would include funding for innovative water-saving projects and contractual provisions to insure against commercial downturns and meet other agricultural needs.
The voluntary partnerships would benefit farmers both by applying a portion of the water savings to increase water supplies for the broader agricultural community, and through insurance and funding for farmers’ other needs. The bill would fund the development of demonstration projects that farmers could implement on a small portion of their acreage to test the costs, yield, and water requirements of water-saving projects and whether the projects provide them with the intended financial and drought benefits before potentially implementing them more broadly.
Projects would be prioritized if they include agricultural partnerships with municipal, industrial, or commercial entities, which would pay for the non-federal portion of the projects’ costs.
The water-saving project component would test innovative approaches to saving water that have not been previously tried in a particular area. These approaches would be required to keep farmland in production and support community income and employment. Options could include low water-use crops, innovative irrigation strategies, and hydroponics, among other water saving practices.
The contractual arrangements component could include increasing redundancy in available water supplies or sources to decrease the risk of shortage, shared water storage, new sources and designs for crop insurance or insulation from commodity-market volatility, assistance for land ownership for new or beginning farmers and ranchers, locating processing facilities near production areas, and risk-reduction strategies for bringing new commodities to market.
The bill also authorizes funding for innovative water-saving projects developed by agricultural, state, and Tribal entities acting outside of partnerships with municipal, industrial, or commercial entities.
The GROW SMART Act’s approach is cost-effective and could help address the Colorado River’s persistent water problems. A recent study, Public Spending and Water Scarcity: An Empirical Analysis of USBR Investments in the Colorado River Basin, found that agricultural-sector water conservation approaches are among the most cost-effective, with average costs ranging from $385-417 per acre-foot of water saved, compared to up to $2,444 per acre-foot for other projects.
A discussion of the goals and purposes of the GROW SMART Act is available here.
A section-by-section breakdown of the GROW SMART Act is available here.
Full text of the bill is available here.