WQA Applauds Drinking Water Legislation

Efforts Aim To Strengthen Treatment Access, Federal Investment

Lisle, IL - The Water Quality Association applauds bipartisan efforts in the U.S. Senate to advance legislation that will strengthen federal investments in drinking water and expand access to proven water treatment solutions for families across the country.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on July 15 unanimously approved the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2026. The bipartisan legislation reauthorizes key drinking water and wastewater investment programs under the Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act and includes a new pilot authority allowing point-of-use (POU) water treatment technologies to help address drinking water challenges in communities across the U.S.

“Certified water treatment technologies are already helping millions of Americans reduce exposure to contaminants such as lead and PFAS,” said WQA Strategic Affairs Officer Richard Mest. “This pilot will help demonstrate how these solutions can complement traditional infrastructure investments and deliver safe drinking water more quickly in communities facing urgent challenges."

Calling the bill, “one of the most significant steps forward for drinking water policy in years,” Mest said it “recognizes that protecting public health requires both continued investment in our nation's water infrastructure and innovative solutions that can deliver safe drinking water to communities today. Reauthorizing these critical programs provides communities with the certainty they need to continue investing in modern water infrastructure while embracing innovative solutions that can improve water quality today.”

The Senate's action follows introduction of the Agriculture Act of 2026 by the Senate Agriculture Committee, which includes the bipartisan Healthy H2O Act. The legislation would establish a new U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development grant program to help rural households and licensed childcare facilities served by private wells or small community water systems test and treat their drinking water.

The House of Representatives already passed its own version of the Farm Bill – which included a modified version of Healthy H2O – in May.

"The Healthy H2O Act addresses a critical gap for rural families who often lack access to the same drinking water protections available to customers of larger public water systems,” Mest said. “By helping households identify and address drinking water contamination, this legislation will improve public health while providing practical, targeted assistance where it is needed most.”

Healthy H2O originated from a WQA task force. and more than 40 organizations have joined WQA in publicly supporting the bill, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Rural Community Assistance Partnership, National Ground Water Association, International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, International Code Council, Water Systems Council, NSF International and DigDeep.

Mest said, "We are grateful to Senators Susan Collins and Tammy Baldwin for their leadership in championing the Healthy H2O Act, along with the members of the Senate Agriculture Committee and all of the bill's bipartisan supporters. Their work demonstrates that protecting drinking water remains an issue that brings Americans together."

He added, "From investing in aging infrastructure to expanding access to effective water treatment technologies, Congress has an opportunity to make meaningful progress on improving drinking water quality nationwide. WQA looks forward to working with lawmakers to advance these bipartisan initiatives and ensure every American has access to safe, reliable drinking water."

WQA is a not-for-profit trade association representing the residential, commercial, and industrial water treatment industry. WQA’s education and professional certification programs have been providing industry-standardized training and credentialing since 1977.  The WQA Gold Seal certification program has been certifying products that contribute to the safe consumption of water since 1959. The WQA Gold Seal program is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Standards Council of Canada (SCC). WQA publishes a consumer-friendly website, BetterWaterToday.org.