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Garamendi Reintroduces Bill to Support California Wastewater Treatment and Water Recycling Upgrades

February 27, 2023

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, U.S. Representative John Garamendi (D-CA-08) reintroduced his bipartisan legislation (H.R.1181) to reform permitting for local wastewater treatment and water recycling projects, with U.S. Representative Ken Calvert (R-CA-41) as the original cosponsor.

Garamendi's legislation (H.R.1181) would extend the maximum term for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued under the federal Clean Water Act from 5 to 10 years, to better reflect the project construction schedules for public agencies. In October 2019, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure passed Garamendi’s legislation.

"Every Californian and American deserves clean water and world-class infrastructure. Our bill upholds Clean Water Act protections and ensures federal permitting requirements accurately reflect the timeframe to construct a public water project. There are water recycling projects in California in their third permit term that have never even broken ground, which is simply unacceptable. My reform would cut the permitting backlog in half, supporting upgrades to aging water treatment plants in the Bay Area and new water recycling facilities to meet California’s future water supply needs,” said Garamendi.

“I commend Congressman Garamendi for sponsoring this commonsense legislation to improve Clean Water Act permitting for public water agencies, so projects are built on time and on budget. This bill is timely and critical, as we look to upgrade wastewater treatment infrastructure and invest in water recycling and reuse, and I look forward to working with other sanitation agencies and Congressman Garamendi to enact it into law,” said Cheryl Sudduth, President of the Board of Directors, West County Wastewater District.

Current federal law only provides for 5-year NPDES permits terms, which do not reflect construction schedules for public wastewater treatment and water recycling projects. In its most recent scorecard, the American Society of Civil Engineers rates our nation's wastewater infrastructure at D+ grade, requiring $271 billion in public investment over the next 25 years.

National Endorsements: National Association of Clean Water Agencies, National Association of Counties, United States Conference of Mayors, National League of Cities, National Water Resources Association, WateReuse Association, Water Environment Federation, American Public Works Association, Water and Wastewater Equipment Manufacturers Association, American Society of Civil Engineers, Western Recycled Water Coalition

California Endorsements: League of California Cities, Association of California Water Agencies, California Association of Sanitation Agencies, California Water Service, Central Contra Costa Sanitary District, City of Benicia, Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District, City of Hayward, Dublin San Ramon Services District, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, County Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County, San Gabriel Valley Water Association, Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District (Regional San)

Garamendi’s legislation (H.R.1181) currently awaits action by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure passed Garamendi’s legislation.