Water Bill

Earl Blumenauer Introduces the Water Protection and Reinvestment Act to Provide Much Needed Assistance to water Infrastructure

America's water infrastructure is in sharp decline. According to a report by the EPA, across the country water treatment plants, pipes, and other essential pieces of out water system, are falling apart. As these things are essential to the clean drinking water that Americans need to maintain our standard of living, they desperately need to be replaced and repaired. Currently ratepayers are having to shoulder the burden of this debt, through increasing rates each year. At the same time many industries which rely on and use our water infrastructure, are not paying their fair share of the costs.

In order to help offset the strain the rising rates are placing on the consumer, Congressman Blumenauer has introduced legislation that would shift some of the burden of the taxes onto the industrial giants that disproportionally use our infrastructure. These industries include: flushable makers, pharmaceuticals, and bottled water manufacturers.

The Water Protection and Reinvestment Act would tax each of these industries marginal amounts to help pay for the upkeep of America's water infrastructure. This would reduce the burden on the ratepayers of America, while simultaneously protecting our essential water system.

The reason why these industries have been targeted by this tax, is not just because they use more water but they cause negative results in our water system. Flushables need to be sorted out by wastewater treatment facilities, done on rate payer expense. Bottled water makers get nearly 50% of their product from municipal tap water. They also use vastly more water in the making and transport of their bottles, than is used in the water that occupies the bottle. Pharmaceuticals go through the human body and into the environment through wastewater. This leads to increased pollution and mutations on fish and other aquatic animals.

The Taxes are as follows, they are designed to put minimum strain on the consumer. According to a recent Government Accountability Office report they are expected to raise at least $10 billion a year.

• 4 cent per container excise tax on water-based beverages. These products rely on drinking water as the major input and result in both increased waste and increased flows in our waters.

• 3% excise tax on items disposed of with wastewater, such as toothpaste, cosmetics, toilet paper and cooking oil.

• 0.5% excise tax on the pharmaceutical industry. Pharmaceutical residues found in the nation’s water water are a problem for clean and safe water utilities. A small tax on the industry will assist efforts to prevent pharmaceuticals from entering water systems and support research into remediation.

• 0.15% tax on corporate profits over $4 million. Corporations use drinking and wastewater infrastructure and depend on it working to conduct their business.

THE WATER PROTECTION AND REINVESTMENT ACT WILL:

• Safeguard the public health by providing the help communities need to provide safe drinking water and sewer services.

• Restore the environment by working for green infrastructure that reduces energy use and withstands the impacts of global warming.

• Create jobs by creating projects to repair and replace aging systems. A $10 billion investment will create between 200,000 and 267,000 new jobs in engineering, construction and other industries.

• Reduce pollution by decreasing sewer overflows, increasing funds for state environmental restoration efforts and reducing the amount of pharmaceuticals in our water supply.

Water Protection and Reinvestment Act Supporters

Text of the Water Protection and Reinvestment Act

EPA Report on the State of America's Water Infrastructure

Civil Service Engineers Report on the State of American Infrastructure

How the Bill will be funded

How the Money will be Distributed

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