§ 300j–19f. Operational sustainability of small public water systems

• (a) In this section:
  • (1) The term “eligible entity” means—
    • (A) a State;
    • (B) a unit of local government;
    • (C) a public corporation established by a unit of local government to provide water service;
    • (D) a nonprofit corporation, public trust, or cooperative association that owns or operates a public water system;
    • (E) an Indian Tribe that owns or operates a public water system;
    • (F) a nonprofit organization that provides technical assistance to public water systems; and
    • (G) a Tribal consortium.
  • (2) The term “operational sustainability” means the ability to improve the operation of a small system through the identification and prevention of potable water loss due to leaks, breaks, and other metering or infrastructure failures.
  • (3) The term “program” means the grant program established under subsection (b).
  • (4) The term “small system”, for the purposes of this section, means a public water system that—
    • (A) serves fewer than 10,000 people; and
    • (B) is owned or operated by—
      • (i) a unit of local government;
      • (ii) a public corporation;
      • (iii) a nonprofit corporation;
      • (iv) a public trust;
      • (v) a cooperative association; or
      • (vi) an Indian Tribe.
• (b) Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Administrator shall establish a program to award grants to eligible entities for the purpose of improving the operational sustainability of 1 or more small systems.
• (c) To be eligible to receive a grant under the program, an eligible entity shall submit to the Administrator an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Administrator may require, including—
  • (1) a proposal of the project to be carried out using grant funds under the program;
  • (2) documentation provided by the eligible entity describing the deficiencies or suspected deficiencies in operational sustainability of 1 or more small systems that are to be addressed through the proposed project;
  • (3) a description of how the proposed project will improve the operational sustainability of 1 or more small systems;
  • (4) a description of how the improvements described in paragraph (3) will be maintained beyond the life of the proposed project, including a plan to maintain and update any asset data collected as a result of the proposed project; and
  • (5) any additional information the Administrator may require.
• (d) Before the award of funds for a grant under the program to a grant recipient, the grant recipient shall submit to the Administrator—
  • (1) if the grant recipient is located in a State that has established a State drinking water treatment revolving loan fund under section 300j–12 of this title , a copy of a written agreement between the grant recipient and the State in which the grant recipient agrees to provide a copy of any data collected under the proposed project to the State agency administering the State drinking water treatment revolving loan fund (or a designee); or
  • (2) if the grant recipient is located in an area other than a State that has established a State drinking water treatment revolving loan fund under section 300j–12 of this title , a copy of a written agreement between the grant recipient and the Administrator in which the eligible entity agrees to provide a copy of any data collected under the proposed project to the Administrator (or a designee).
• (e) An eligible entity that receives a grant under the program shall use the grant funds to carry out projects that improve the operational sustainability of 1 or more small systems through—
  • (1) the development of a detailed asset inventory, which may include drinking water sources, wells, storage, valves, treatment systems, distribution lines, hydrants, pumps, controls, and other essential infrastructure;
  • (2) the development of an infrastructure asset map, including a map that uses technology such as—
    • (A) geographic information system software; and
    • (B) global positioning system software;
  • (3) the deployment of leak detection technology;
  • (4) the deployment of metering technology;
  • (5) training in asset management strategies, techniques, and technologies for appropriate staff employed by—
    • (A) the eligible entity; or
    • (B) the small systems for which the grant was received;
  • (6) the deployment of strategies, techniques, and technologies to enhance the operational sustainability and effective use of water resources through water reuse; and
  • (7) the development or deployment of other strategies, techniques, or technologies that the Administrator may determine to be appropriate under the program.
• (f)
  • (1) Subject to paragraph (2), the Federal share of the cost of a project carried out using a grant under the program shall be 90 percent of the total cost of the project.
  • (2) The Administrator may increase the Federal share under paragraph (1) to 100 percent.
• (g) Not later than 2 years after November 15, 2021 , the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report that describes the implementation of the program, which shall include a description of the use and deployment of amounts made available under the program.
• (h) There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.