,,ii #aagth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dbgi ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #ai 7legislative day1 ,may #ag71 #bjbb,mr4 ,padilla introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works ,a ,,bill ,to increase efficiency and conservation in public water systems1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,water ,efficiency1 ,conservation1 and ,sustainability ,act of #bjbb4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,administrator ,the term ,administrator means the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency4 7#b7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means any of the following3 7,a7 ,a ,state1 local1 or ,tribal government1 or any special-purpose unit of such a government 7including a municipal water authority74 7,b7 ,a public water system4 7,c7 ,a nonprofit organization4 7#c7 ,energy ,star program ,the term ,energy ,star program means the ,energy ,star program established by section #cbd;,a of the ,energy ,policy and ,conservation ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fbid;a74 7#d7 ,low-income household ,the term low-income household includes a household that is-- 7,a7 eligible to receive payments under-- 7i7 section #bfje7;b77#b7 of the ,low-,income ,home ,energy ,assistance ,act of #aiha 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #hfbd7;b77#b772 or 7ii7 the ,low-,income ,household ,drinking ,water and ,wastewater ,emergency ,assistance ,program authorized by section #ecc of division ,h of the ,consolidated ,appropriations ,act1 #bjba 7,public ,law #aaf-bfj2 #acd ,stat4 #afbg72 or 7,b7 within a disadvantaged community 7as defined in section #adeb7;d77#c7 of the ,safe ,drinking ,water ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;j-#ab7;d77#c7774 7#e7 ,public water system ,the term public water system has the meaning given the term in section #adja of the ,safe ,drinking ,water ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;f74 7#f7 ,water efficiency incentive program ,the term water efficiency incentive program means a program for providing incentives1 including direct installation services1 to residential1 commercial1 or industrial customers of a public water system for the purchase1 lease1 installation1 use1 or implementation1 as applicable1 of water-efficient upgrades4 7#g7 ,water-efficient upgrade 7,a7 ,in general ,the term water-efficient upgrade means a product1 landscape1 label1 process1 or service for a residential1 commercial1 or industrial building1 or the landscape of such a building1 that is-- 7i7 rated for water efficiency and performance under the ,water,sense program1 the ,energy ,star program1 or such other methodology as determined to be appropriate by the ,administrator2 or 7ii7 otherwise determined by the ,administrator to improve water-use efficiency4 7,b7 ,inclusions ,the term water-efficient upgrade includes-- 7i7 a faucet2 7ii7 a showerhead2 7iii7 a dishwasher2 7iv7 a toilet2 7v7 a clothes washer2 7vi7 an irrigation product or service2 7vii7 advanced metering infrastructure2 7viii7 a flow monitoring device2 7ix7 a landscaping or gardening product1 including moisture control or water-enhancing technology2 7x7 xeriscaping1 turf removal1 or another landscape conversion that reduces water use 7except for the installation of artificial turf72 and 7xi7 any other product1 landscape1 process1 or service-- 7,i7 certified pursuant to the ,water,sense program2 or 7,,ii7 otherwise determined by the ,administrator to reduce water use or water loss1 including products rated for water efficiency and performance under the ,energy ,star program4 7#h7 ,water loss control program ,the term water loss control program means a program to identify and quantify water uses and losses1 implement controls to reduce or eliminate losses and leaks1 and evaluate the effectiveness of such controls4 7#i7 ,water,sense program ,the term ,water,sense program means the program established by section #cbd;,b of the ,energy ,policy and ,conservation ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fbid;b74 #c4 ,water efficiency and conservation grant program 7a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator shall establish a program to award grants to eligible entities that have established water efficiency incentive programs to carry out those water efficiency incentive programs 7referred to in this section as the grant program74 7b7 ,distribution ,in carrying out the grant program1 the ,administrator shall award not less than #ej percent of the amounts made available to carry out this section in each fiscal year to eligible entities that service an area that-- 7#a7 has been designated as ,d#b 7severe drought7 or greater according to the ,united ,states ,drought ,monitor for a minimum of #d weeks during any of the #c years preceding the date of the grant award2 or 7#b7 is within a county for which a drought emergency has been declared by the applicable ,governor at any time during the #c-year period preceding the date of the grant award4 7c7 ,grant amount 7#a7 ,in general ,subject to paragraph 7#b71 a grant awarded under the grant program shall be in an amount that is not less than #bej1jjj4 7#b7 ,small public water systems ,the ,administrator may award a grant in an amount that is less than #bej1jjj if the grant is awarded to1 or for the benefit of1 a public water system that serves fewer than #aj1jjj customers4 7d7 ,use of funds ,an eligible entity receiving a grant under the grant program shall-- 7#a7 use grant funds to carry out a water efficiency incentive program for customers of a public water system2 or 7#b7 provide grant funds to another eligible entity to carry out a water efficiency incentive program described in paragraph 7#a74 7e7 ,minimum requirement ,an eligible entity receiving a grant under the grant program shall use not less than #dj percent of the amount of the grant to provide water-efficient upgrades to low-income households4 7f7 ,cost share 7#a7 ,in general ,subject to paragraph 7#b71 the ,federal share of the cost of carrying out a water efficiency incentive program using a grant awarded under the grant program shall not exceed #hj percent4 7#b7 ,waiver ,the ,administrator may increase the ,federal share under paragraph 7#a7 to #ajj percent if the ,administrator determines that an eligible entity is unable to pay1 or would experience significant financial hardship if required to pay1 the non-,federal share4 7g7 ,supplement1 not supplant ,amounts provided under a grant under the grant program shall be used to supplement1 and not supplant1 other ,federal1 ,state1 local1 or ,tribal funds made available to carry out water efficiency incentive programs4 7h7 ,authorization of appropriations 7#a7 ,in general ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #ej1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbc through #bjbh4 7#b7 ,administrative costs ,of the amounts made available under paragraph 7#a7 for grants under the grant program each fiscal year1 the ,administrator may use not more than #d percent to pay the administrative costs of the ,administrator4 #d4 ,sustainable water loss control program 7a7 ,technical assistance and grant program ,the ,administrator shall establish and carry out a program 7referred to in this section as the program7-- 7#a7 to make grants and provide technical assistance to eligible entities to perform annual audits of public water systems that are-- 7,a7 conducted in accordance with the procedures contained in the manual published by the ,american ,water ,works ,association entitled ,m#cf ,water ,audits and ,loss ,control ,programs1 ,fourth ,edition 7or any successor manual determined appropriate by the ,administrator72 and 7,b7 validated under such criteria as may be specified by the ,administrator2 and 7#b7 to make grants and provide technical assistance to eligible entities-- 7,a7 to implement controls to address real losses1 apparent losses1 or a combination of real and apparent losses that are identified in an audit conducted and validated in accordance with the procedures and criteria described in paragraph 7#a72 and 7,b7 to help public water systems that have conducted and validated such an audit establish water loss control programs4 7b7 ,criteria ,in selecting eligible entities to receive grants and technical assistance under the program1 the ,administrator shall consider-- 7#a7 the percentage of customers of the public water system that would be served by the grants or technical assistance that are low-income households2 and 7#b7 the ability of the public water system that would be served by the grants or technical assistance1 on completion of an audit conducted and validated in accordance with the procedures and criteria described in subsection 7a77#a7-- 7,a7 to successfully sustain a water loss control program2 and 7,b7 to demonstrate that the water loss control program will reduce real losses1 apparent losses1 or a combination of real and apparent losses in the public water system4 7c7 ,annual water savings ,the ,administrator shall-- 7#a7 annually compile1 by ,environmental ,protection ,agency region1 information on the amount of water savings achieved pursuant to this section2 and 7#b7 publish on the website of the ,administrator the information compiled under paragraph 7#a74 7d7 ,authorization of appropriations 7#a7 ,in general ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #dj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbc through #bjbh1 of which-- 7,a7 #bj1jjj1jjj each fiscal year shall be used to carry out subsection 7a77#a72 and 7,b7 #bj1jjj1jjj each fiscal year shall be used to carry out subsection 7a77#b74 7#b7 ,administrative costs ,of the amounts made available under paragraph 7#a7 for grants under the program each fiscal year1 the ,administrator may use not more than #d percent to pay the administrative costs of the ,administrator4 #e4 ,assistance for water efficient plumbing code adoption 7a7 ,water efficient plumbing codes ,the ,administrator shall establish a program to make grants to ,states1 ,tribal governments1 and units of local government that have authority to adopt plumbing codes-- 7#a7 to adopt plumbing codes that meet or exceed-- 7,a7 the latest ,american ,national ,standard published as the ,water ,efficiency and ,sanitation ,standard for the ,built ,environment or ,,we-,stand 7or any successor ,american ,national ,standard72 or 7,b7 the requirements described in ,chapter #f 7,water ,use ,efficiency7 of the code published by the ,international ,code ,council entitled #bjah ,international ,green ,construction ,code 7,,igcc7 7or any successor requirements described in a code published by the ,international ,code ,council72 and 7#b7 to implement a plan for the jurisdiction to achieve1 within #e years of the date on which the jurisdiction receives the grant1 compliance with a plumbing code described in paragraph 7#a7 in at least #ij percent of new and renovated residential1 commercial1 and industrial buildings1 as applicable1 which shall include-- 7,a7 workforce training2 7,b7 an enforcement program2 and 7,c7 a compliance measurement program4 7b7 ,subgrant authority ,a ,state that has adopted a plumbing code described in subsection 7a77#a7 may use funds from a grant under this section to make subgrants to relevant ,tribal or local agencies to implement the plumbing code through #a or more of the following3 7#a7 ,workforce training4 7#b7 ,an enforcement program4 7#c7 ,a compliance measurement program4 7c7 ,authorization of appropriations 7#a7 ,in general ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #bj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbc through #bjbh4 7#b7 ,administrative costs ,of the amounts made available under paragraph 7#a7 for grants under this section each fiscal year1 the ,administrator may use not more than #d percent to pay the administrative costs of the ,administrator4