The Water-Use Efficiency and Conservation Research Act passed on a voice vote in the U.S. House of Representatives on Feb. 11. Rep. Jim Matheson (D-Utah) introduced the bill, which authorizes $100 million over five years to create a research and development program on water-use efficiency and conservation.
The program will be housed within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development. The EPA can use the findings from research to create buildings, at least one residential and one commercial, to highlight the latest water-use efficiency and conservation technologies and designs. The buildings will be open to the public and used for educational and research purposes.
The Irrigation Association has pledged to work with Rep. Matheson to gain support for the bill that now heads to the Senate.
