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Cox Introduces $800 Million Water Bill

/in , /by /The Porterville Recorder

Rep. T.J. Cox-D, who represents a portion of Southwestern Tulare County, introduced the Western Water Storage Infrastructure Act, an $800 million bill addressing surface and groundwater storage and water delivery.

The bill is another in a series of bills addressing water infrastructure in the Central Valley that have been introduced in Congress. California representatives Jim Costa-D and John Garamendi-D are co-sponsors of the legislation.

The bill is designed to essentially replace funding authorized by the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation, WIIN, Act, which has been exhausted. The $800 million is more than double what was previously available. The bill also extends the operational and environmental authorities of the WIIN Act to provide continued water supply without adverse impacts to listed species.

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Millions in US Face Losing Water Supply as Coronavirus Moratoriums End

/in , , /by /The Guardianby Nina Lakhani

Millions of families in America risk losing running water over unpaid bills as moratoriums on shutoffs expire across the country, despite record levels of unemployment and mounting fatalities from the coronavirus pandemic.

Running water had been guaranteed to about two-thirds of Americans as hundreds of utilities suspended disconnections amid warnings from public health experts that good hygiene, particularly hand-washing, was crucial to curtailing the spread of the virus.

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Utility Bills Will Likely Increase by 10% On Average in Big Cities This Summer

/in , , /by /CNBCby Megan Leonhardt

With millions of Americans still at home, about 1 in 3 people nationwide are expected to see their utility bills go up by at least 10% this summer.

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Water, Highway Bills Among Must-Pass Legislation, Hoyer Says

/in , /by /Bloomberg Lawby Kellie Lunney

House Democrats will focus this summer on passing essential legislation, including the Water Resources Development Act, a highway reauthorization bill, and appropriations measures, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said Tuesday.

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Dems’ HEROES Act Includes Billions for Utility, Ratepayer Assistance

/in , , /by /Water Finance & Management

Democratic leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday released the HEROES Act, the latest proposed relief package to address the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic challenges resulting from it. The proposal includes $1.5 billion in funding for water ratepayer assistance to help struggling households pay their water and sewer service bills.

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Senate Water Bills Need More Funding Due to Pandemic: Witnesses

/in , , /by /Bloomberg Lawby Dean Scott

Two bipartisan draft water infrastructure bills unveiled this week by the Senate environment committee are a good start but will need even more funding in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, water agencies and other groups said Wednesday.

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$1.5 Billion for Water-Bill Assistance Inserted in House Democrats’ Coronavirus Aid Package

/in , , /by /Circle of Blueby Brett Walton

The latest version of the House Democrats’ coronavirus emergency aid package includes $1.5 billion to help Americans pay their water bills during the economic crisis caused by the pandemic.

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Water Policies Amid COVID-19 Differ Across Humboldt County

/in , , /by /North Coast Journal of Politics, People, and Artby Kimberly Wear

Water suppliers across the region — from local cities to community service districts — are suspending shutoffs for nonpayment in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak and the resulting widespread business closures.

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