TEN PRIORITY ACTIONS FOR CONGRESS
AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Support a Congressional Clean Water Technology & Innovation Caucus that can
bring a focus to Utility of the Future (UOTF) priority issues.
Refocus existing federal grant programs to support UOTF initiatives.
Create a program for early stage technology and innovation investment for the
water sector similar to programs that exist in the energy sector.
Develop, clarify, and expand tax credit and incentive programs that will
encourage clean water agencies and their private sector partners to engage
in UOTF-related activities, especially in energy conservation and production,
water reuse, resource recovery, and green infrastructure.
Support statutory changes to the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking
Water Act that bolster the important role recycled water can play in public
health and safety.
Support an Executive Order on water reuse/recycling that coordinates
federal reuse policies and programs, and stimulates innovation.
Develop an intergovernmental partnership to address water sector
adaptation and resiliency needs in the face of changing weather
patterns.
Create and support market-based approaches to efficiently
and more equitably address watershed-scale water quality
challenges.
Ensure that the implementation of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency’s Integrated Planning & Permitting
Framework fully accounts for UOTF-type activities.
Consider and explore a new 21st Century Watershed
Act that can drive the water sector toward the emerging
UOTF model.