ASDWA Testifies at Congressional Hearing on SDWA

This morning (7/28), Shellie Chard testified on behalf of ASDWA at a hearing held by the House Subcommittee on Environment & Climate Change of the House Committee on Energy & Commerce titled, “There’s Something in the Water: Reforming Our Nation’s Drinking Water Standards.” Her written testimony is available here.

This hearing was held virtually due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and can be viewed in its entirety here. Many Representatives were present and asked relevant questions during their five minutes for questions. Three witnesses testified at this hearing with five minutes (each) of verbal testimony – Mae Wu with the Natural Resources Defense Council and Diane VanDe Hei with the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, in addition to ASDWA. The hearing was an opportunity for Representatives to learn more from the three witnesses on potential revisions to the Safe Drinking Water Act to provide increased public health protection through the standard setting process outlined in section 1412 of the Act. Testimonies and questions covered a broad range of topics including affordability of water service, ability for water systems to achieve compliance, speeding up EPA’s regulatory process, and the role of cost-benefit analysis in SDWA rule-making. ASDWA plans to continue working with the Subcommittee Members as they contemplate potential revisions and legislation.