Bill Overview
Title: Desalination Research Advancement Act
Description: This bill reauthorizes through FY2026 the Desalination and Water Purification Research Program at the Bureau of Reclamation and increases the amount of funding available to institutions of higher education. The bill also expands the program's research priorities to include minimizing the impacts of seawater desalination on aquatic life and coastal ecosystems.
Sponsors: Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49]
Target Audience
Population: people living in coastal areas or regions with access to desalination plants
Estimated Size: 50000000
- The bill focuses on desalination, which is a process to obtain fresh water from seawater.
- Coastal areas are more likely to have desalination plants due to proximity to seawater.
- Freshwater scarcity impacts global populations, especially in arid and semi-arid regions.
- Desalination can significantly impact populations in regions that rely on non-traditional water sources.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily impacts residents in coastal states with potential or existing desalination facilities, who might experience shifts in water availability and costs.
- People employed in related industries such as marine biology, environmental science, and higher education may see educational or employment benefits.
- The direct impact is mainly on people residing close to the coast, where desalination plants are likely to be constructed or expanded.
- Some segments of the population will not perceive immediate changes, especially if they live inland or in areas with stable water supplies.
- Considering coastal population sizes and the reach of the policy, the population segment directly impacted is a fraction of the general American demographic affected by water scarcity.
- A portion of the budget will fund outreach and impact minimization for local ecosystems, influencing environmental conservation professionals.
Simulated Interviews
Marine Biologist (San Diego, California)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could increase my workload temporarily as new projects roll in.
- I am hopeful for positive advancements in balancing environmental concerns with water needs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Civil Engineer (Miami, Florida)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Desalination is a vital solution for water scarcity in Florida.
- I'm keen to see how advancements from research can be implemented locally.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Water Policy Analyst (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Research advancements could inform better water management strategies in arid regions.
- I'm optimistic about policy impacts on future water security.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
University Professor (Houston, Texas)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This legislation may increase research funding and opportunities for academia.
- It could drive innovation in water purification methods.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Retired (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Water prices affect my fixed income budget.
- If desalination leads to stable prices, it would ease my worries.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Graduate Student (Boston, Massachusetts)
Age: 23 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy might expand research opportunities for students like me.
- It encourages innovation in environmental impact reduction strategies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Environmental Consultant (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I support initiatives that advance environmental technology and research.
- This can guide better practices in urban planning.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Fisherman (Tampa, Florida)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Desalination plants could impact local marine life, which worries me.
- However, I understand the need for reliable water sources.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Environmental Activist (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Age: 37 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Concerned about potential negative environmental impacts despite ecosystem protection measures.
- Advancements must prioritize minimal coastal damage.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Tech Entrepreneur (San Francisco, California)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This might lead to potential business opportunities in tech innovation for desalination.
- Scaling technology sustainably is my biggest interest.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $40000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $50000000)
Year 2: $42000000 (Low: $31000000, High: $52000000)
Year 3: $44000000 (Low: $32000000, High: $54000000)
Year 5: $48000000 (Low: $35000000, High: $58000000)
Year 10: $55000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $65000000)
Year 100: $100000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $120000000)
Key Considerations
- The broader economic impact of the research will depend heavily on the successful implementation and scalability of resultant technologies.
- Environmental considerations are critical as the bill focuses on minimizing impacts on marine life, which could introduce additional funding needs or delays.
- Coordination with existing federal and state desalination efforts is essential to maximize impact and avoid redundancy.