Congressman McNerney Introduces Two Water Conservation Bills

Washington, D.C.-  Congressman Jerry McNerney (D-Stockton) today introduced the Water Efficiency Improvement Act and the Community Water Enhancement Act to address our nation’s need to conserve water and use it more efficiently.

The Water Efficiency Improvement Act would provide up to a $2000 tax credit for individuals and businesses when they buy EPA WaterSense products. WaterSense certified products and services are at least 20 percent more efficient than other products in their class.

"Everyone can agree that using water more efficiently makes sense,” said Rep. McNerney.  "The WaterSense program is a commonsense public-private partnership that benefits consumers and small businesses across the country. My bill builds on this program’s success and makes it easier to invest in the products that will help families and small businesses save money each month.” 

Upgrading to efficient WaterSense labeled products can help save billions of gallons of water and reduce the amount of energy used in our country each year. To date, the WaterSense program has helped consumers save approximately 487 billion gallons of water and more than $8 billion in water and energy costs. By the end of 2012, reductions of 64.7 billion kWh of electricity and 24 million metric tons of carbon dioxide were achieved through the use of WaterSense products.

The Community Water Enhancement Act provides grants to rural and agriculture areas to partner with other utility agencies to develop innovative water projects that benefit multiple regions. 

“Encouraging partnerships between local utilities will help address local water needs and will benefit surrounding towns and counties. We should look at commonsense ways to take advantage of existing opportunities that can protect our natural resources while also benefiting the community.” 

As states throughout the Midwest and West continue to endure some of the worst water shortages and droughts in recent years, the long-term availability of fresh water is increasingly becoming a concern. Ensuring that communities use water more efficiently and productively will benefit the families, farmers, and small businesses that rely on these resources. 

"When we make smart, energy-efficient choices, it benefits everyone in the long-term,” said Congressman McNerney. “This bill will help create jobs, ensure our resources go further, and encourage innovation."

The bill has gathered support from organizations like:

International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials

"We applaud Congressman McNerney for his leadership in sponsoring the Water Efficiency Improvement Act of 2014. This legislation will help consumers save money, water and energy - while also helping to create jobs. For more than 80 years, the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (The IAPMO Group) has worked to protect the public health and efficiency of America’s water and sanitation systems. As many communities continue to deal with the environmental and personal effects of drought and water shortages, The IAPMO Group has been proud to support EPA’s WaterSense program which offers consumers a simple way to make product choices that use less water, with no sacrifice to quality or product performance."