,i #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #abc ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,january #c1 #bjac ,mr4 ,holt 7for himself and ,mr4 ,george ,miller of ,california7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce1 and in addition to the ,committees on ,oversight and ,government ,reform and ,armed ,services1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to encourage water efficiency4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,water ,advanced ,technologies for ,efficient ,resource ,use ,act of #bjac4 #b4 ,water,sense 7a7 ,in general ,there is established within the ,environmental ,protection ,agency a ,water,sense program to identify and promote water efficient products1 buildings and landscapes1 and services in order-- 7#a7 to reduce water use2 7#b7 to reduce the strain on water1 wastewater1 and stormwater infrastructure2 7#c7 to conserve energy used to pump1 heat1 transport1 and treat water2 and 7#d7 to preserve water resources for future generations1 through voluntary labeling of1 or other forms of communications about1 products1 buildings and landscapes1 and services that meet the highest water efficiency and performance standards4 7b7 ,duties ,the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency shall-- 7#a7 promote ,water,sense labeled products1 buildings and landscapes1 and services in the market place as the preferred technologies and services for-- 7,a7 reducing water use2 and 7,b7 ensuring product and service performance2 7#b7 work to enhance public awareness of the ,water,sense label through public outreach1 education1 water recycling and reuse technology research and development1 and other means2 7#c7 establish and maintain performance standards so that products1 buildings and landscapes1 and services labeled with the ,water,sense label perform as well or better than their less efficient counterparts2 7#d7 publicize the importance of proper installation of ,water,sense plumbing products by a ,water,sense-certified or1 if ,water,sense certification guidelines do not exist1 licensed plumber or mechanical contractor1 and the installation1 maintenance1 and audit of ,water,sense irrigation systems by a ,water,sense-certified irrigation professional to ensure optimal performance2 7#e7 preserve the integrity of the ,water,sense label2 7#f7 regularly review and1 when appropriate1 update ,water,sense criteria for categories of products1 buildings and landscapes1 and services1 at least once every four years2 7#g7 regularly collect and make available to the public summary data on the production and relative market shares of ,water,sense labeled products1 buildings and landscapes1 and services1 at least annually2 7#h7 regularly estimate and make available to the public the water and energy savings attributable to the use of ,water,sense labeled products1 buildings and landscapes1 and services1 at least annually2 7#i7 solicit comments from interested parties and the public prior to establishing or revising a ,water,sense category1 specification1 installation criterion1 or other criterion 7or prior to effective dates for any such category1 specification1 installation criterion1 or other criterion72 7#aj7 provide reasonable notice to interested parties and the public of any changes 7including effective dates71 on the adoption of a new or revised category1 specification1 installation criterion1 or other criterion1 along with-- 7,a7 an explanation of changes2 and 7,b7 as appropriate1 responses to comments submitted by interested parties2 7#aa7 provide appropriate lead time 7as determined by the ,administrator7 prior to the applicable effective date for a new or significant revision to a category1 specification1 installation criterion1 or other criterion1 taking into account the timing requirements of the manufacturing1 marketing1 training1 and distribution process for the specific product1 building and landscape1 or service category addressed2 and 7#ab7 identify and1 where appropriate1 implement other voluntary approaches1 such as labeling waterless devices that perform the same function as a water consuming product or encouraging reuse1 reclamation1 and recycling technologies1 in commercial1 institutional1 residential1 municipal1 and industrial sectors to improve water efficiency or lower water use while meeting the performance standards established under paragraph 7#c74 7c7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated #g1ejj1jjj for fiscal year #bjad1 #aj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjae1 #bj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjaf1 and #ej1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjag and each year thereafter1 adjusted for inflation1 to carry out this section4 #c4 ,federal procurement of water efficient products 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,agency ,the term agency has the meaning given that term in section #gijb7;a7 of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#b7 ,watersense product or service ,the term ,water,sense product or service means a product or service that is rated for water efficiency under the ,water,sense program4 7#c7 ,watersense program ,the term ,water,sense program means the program established by section #b of this ,act4 7#d7 ,,femp designated product ,the term ,,femp designated product means a product that is designated under the ,federal ,energy ,management ,program of the ,department of ,energy as being among the highest #be percent of equivalent products for efficiency4 7#e7 ,product and service ,the terms product and service do not include any water consuming product or service designed or procured for combat or combat-related missions4 ,the terms also exclude products or services already covered by the ,federal procurement regulations established under section #eec of the ,national ,energy ,conservation ,policy ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #hbei;b74 7b7 ,procurement of water efficient products 7#a7 ,requirement ,to meet the requirements of an agency for a water consuming product or service1 the head of the agency shall1 except as provided in paragraph 7#b71 procure-- 7,a7 a ,water,sense product or service2 or 7,b7 a ,,femp designated product4 ,a ,water,sense plumbing product should preferably1 when possible1 be installed by a ,water,sense-certified or1 if ,water,sense certification guidelines do not exist1 licensed plumber or mechanical contractor1 and a ,water,sense irrigation system should preferably1 when possible1 be installed1 maintained1 and audited by a ,water,sense-certified irrigation professional to ensure optimal performance4 7#b7 ,exceptions ,the head of an agency is not required to procure a ,water,sense product or service or ,,femp designated product under paragraph 7#a7 if the head of the agency finds in writing that-- 7,a7 a ,water,sense product or service or ,,femp designated product is not cost-effective over the life of the product1 taking current and future energy1 water1 and wastewater cost savings into account2 or 7,b7 no ,water,sense product or service or ,,femp designated product is reasonably available that meets the functional requirements of the agency4 7#c7 ,procurement planning ,the head of an agency shall incorporate into the specifications for all procurements involving water consuming products and systems1 including guide specifications1 project specifications1 and construction1 renovation1 and services contracts that include provision of water consuming products and systems1 and into the factors for the evaluation of offers received for the procurement1 criteria used for rating ,water,sense products and services and ,,femp designated products4 ,the head of an agency shall consider1 to the maximum extent practicable1 additional measures for reducing agency water consumption1 including water reuse1 reclamation1 and recycling technologies1 leak detection and repair1 and use of waterless products that perform similar functions to existing water-consuming products4 7c7 ,listing of water efficient products in federal catalogs ,water,sense products and services and ,,femp designated products shall be clearly identified and prominently displayed in any inventory or listing of products by the ,general ,services ,administration or the ,defense ,logistics ,agency4 ,the ,general ,services ,administration and the ,defense ,logistics ,agency shall supply only ,water,sense products or ,,femp designated products for all product categories covered by the ,water,sense program or the ,federal ,energy ,management ,program1 except in cases where the agency ordering a product specifies in writing that no ,water,sense product or ,,femp designated product is available to meet the buyer's functional requirements1 or that no ,water,sense product or ,,femp designated product is cost-effective for the intended application over the life of the product1 taking energy1 water1 and wastewater cost savings into account4 7d7 ,regulations ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency shall issue regulations to carry out this section4 #d4 ,early ,adopter ,water ,efficient ,products ,incentive ,programs 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,administrator ,the term ,administrator means the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency4 7#b7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means a ,state government1 local or county government1 tribal government1 wastewater or sewage utility1 municipal water authority1 energy utility1 water utility1 or nonprofit organization that meets the requirements of subsection 7b74 7#c7 ,incentive program ,the term incentive program means a program for administering financial incentives for consumer purchase and installation of residential water efficient products and services as described in subsection 7b77#a74 7#d7 ,residential water efficient product or service ,the term residential water efficient product or service means a product or service for a single-family or multifamily residence or its landscape that is rated for water efficiency and performance-- 7,a7 by the ,water,sense program2 or 7,b7 by an incentive program and approved by the ,administrator4 ,categories of water efficient products and services may include faucets1 irrigation technologies and services1 point-of-use water treatment devices1 reuse1 reclamation1 and recycling technologies1 toilets1 and showerheads4 7#e7 ,state ,the term ,state means each of the several ,states of the ,united ,states1 the ,district of ,columbia1 ,puerto ,rico1 the ,united ,states ,virgin ,islands1 ,guam1 ,american ,samoa1 and the ,commonwealth of the ,northern ,mariana ,islands4 7#f7 ,watersense program ,the term ,water,sense program means the program established by section #b of this ,act4 7b7 ,eligible entities ,an entity shall be eligible to receive an allocation under subsection 7c7 if the entity-- 7#a7 establishes 7or has established7 an incentive program to provide rebates1 vouchers1 other financial incentives1 or direct installs to consumers for the purchase and installation of residential water efficient products or services2 7#b7 submits an application for the allocation at such time1 in such form1 and containing such information as the ,administrator may require2 and 7#c7 provides assurances satisfactory to the ,administrator that the entity will use the allocation to supplement1 but not supplant1 funds made available to carry out the incentive program4 7c7 ,amount of allocations ,for each fiscal year1 the ,administrator shall determine the amount to allocate to each eligible entity to carry out subsection 7d7 taking into consideration-- 7#a7 the population served by the eligible entity in the most recent calendar year for which data are available2 7#b7 the targeted population of the eligible entity's incentive program1 such as general households1 low-income households1 or first-time homeowners1 and the probable effectiveness of the incentive program for that population2 7#c7 for existing programs1 the effectiveness of the incentive program in encouraging the adoption of water efficient products and services2 and 7#d7 any prior year's allocation to the eligible entity that remains unused4 7d7 ,use of allocated funds ,funds allocated to an entity under subsection 7c7 may be used to pay up to #ej percent of the cost of establishing and carrying out an incentive program4 7e7 ,fixture recycling ,entities are encouraged to promote or implement fixture recycling programs to manage the disposal of older fixtures replaced due to the incentive program under this section4 7f7 ,issuance of rebates ,financial incentives may be provided to consumers that meet the requirements of the incentive program4 ,the entity may issue all financial incentives directly to consumers or1 with approval of the ,administrator1 delegate some or all financial incentive administration to other organizations including1 but not limited to1 local governments1 municipal water authorities1 and water utilities4 ,the amount of a financial incentive shall be determined by the entity1 taking into consideration-- 7#a7 the amount of the allocation to the entity under subsection 7c72 7#b7 the amount of any ,federal1 ,state1 or other organization's tax or financial incentive available for the purchase of the residential water efficient product or service2 7#c7 the amount necessary to change consumer behavior to purchase water efficient products and services2 and 7#d7 the consumer expenditures for onsite preparation1 assembly1 and original installation of the product4 7g7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to the ,administrator to carry out this section #ej1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjad1 #ajj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjae1 #aej1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjaf1 #ajj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjag1 and #ej1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjah4