Bill Overview
Title: Water Data Act
Description: This bill requires federal departments and agencies involved in water resources management to jointly develop and implement a National Water Data Framework and establish an interagency council, advisory committee, and grant program. Specifically, the bill requires the departments to jointly develop and implement a National Water Data Framework for integrating, sharing, and using water data to support water resources management and access. The departments must (1) develop and adopt common national standards for water data, (2) integrate water data and tools through common approaches to data infrastructure and platforms, and (3) harmonize and align water data policies and programs. The bill further requires these departments to establish an interagency Water Data Council to support the development and implementation of the framework. The bill also requires the Department of the Interior to establish an Advisory Committee on Water Information to advise Interior, the departments, and the council on the framework. The advisory committee members must include those involved in water-related activities across different sectors (e.g., state and local governments, Indian Tribes, water agencies, private sector entities, and nonprofit organizations). Finally, the bill requires Interior to establish a Water Data Grant Program in coordination with the council for nonfederal entities to carry out the purposes of this bill.
Sponsors: Rep. Stansbury, Melanie Ann [D-NM-1]
Target Audience
Population: People dependent on or involved in water resource management
Estimated Size: 330000000
- The Water Data Act impacts those involved in water resource management, which is a global concern given that water resources are vital for all populations.
- The establishment of a National Water Data Framework implies a structured approach to water data which possibly affects how water management policies are implemented.
- Entities like state and local governments, Indian Tribes, water agencies, and private sector entities are explicitly mentioned as part of the advisory committee and grant program, indicating their significant involvement and impact.
- The bill addresses improvements in data standards and integration which affect municipalities and agencies worldwide interested in water data for infrastructure planning.
- This bill primarily involves U.S. federal departments; however, by creating national standards, international bodies might also align if global harmonization of water data becomes relevant.
Reasoning
- The population most directly impacted includes those involved in water resource management, both private and public sector. The focus will be on those involved in the data-related aspects as the policy implies creating standards and frameworks.
- Given the budget limitations, immediate economic benefits to individuals might not be significant, but long-term systemic improvements can lead to enhanced wellbeing through better resource management.
- Interviewees selected cover different involvement levels (from data specialists to broader community representatives) indicating diverse impacts.
- The policy's benefits will be regionally distributed, with effects more pronounced in areas with active water management challenges.
- Consider the estimation of how common each perspective is, ensuring to balance focus group interviews with bigger picture insights.
Simulated Interviews
Water Resources Engineer (Sacramento, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The Water Data Act is essential. Standards are long overdue and will make data exchange much smoother.
- However, the initial cost and effort to integrate existing data could be high.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 8 |
Community Planner (Boise, ID)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Uniform water data standards can greatly aid regional planning efforts.
- I hope the interagency collaboration works efficiently, as sometimes these councils can be slow.
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 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Water Rights Lawyer (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This act should give a stronger voice to Tribes in advisory roles.
- The integration of water data could streamline legal processes, but clear regulations will be needed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Environmental Scientist (Seattle, WA)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The possibilities for citizen science are exciting with better data networks.
- I hope small organizations aren't overshadowed in advisory committees.
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 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Retired Farmer (Rural Ohio)
Age: 65 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't see how this agency stuff will affect my day-to-day life.
- As long as my local water stays clean, I'm happy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Urban Policy Analyst (Miami, FL)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Climate resilience requires robust data, so this policy could be a game changer.
- I'm cautiously optimistic about execution, given budget limits.
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 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Data Scientist in Agriculture (Denver, CO)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- A national framework can lead to better agricultural water management.
- Implementation should mimic successful tech start-ups for agility.
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 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 8 |
Director of a Nonprofit Environmental Organization (Austin, TX)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could lead to better partnerships and more informed decisions.
- Grant eligibility is critical for continued impact in our communities.
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 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Tech Entrepreneur (New York, NY)
Age: 30 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The water data framework can open new avenues for tech solutions.
- Regulating data can help improve market understanding but needs transparency.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 9 |
City Council Member (Detroit, MI)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Aligning with national frameworks can provide more funding opportunities.
- Concerned about the readiness of local systems to adapt to standardized data processes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $150000000 (Low: $120000000, High: $180000000)
Year 2: $160000000 (Low: $130000000, High: $190000000)
Year 3: $170000000 (Low: $140000000, High: $200000000)
Year 5: $180000000 (Low: $150000000, High: $210000000)
Year 10: $200000000 (Low: $170000000, High: $230000000)
Year 100: $220000000 (Low: $190000000, High: $250000000)
Key Considerations
- Successful implementation depends on the interagency collaboration among various federal departments and agencies.
- Significant upfront and infrastructure costs are associated with the development of the data framework and systems.
- Long-term economic benefits related to improved water resource management efficiency could offset initial costs over time.
- This program positions the U.S. to lead in global water data management and could aid in international collaborations.