Bill Overview
Title: Facilitating Large-Scale Water Recycling and Reuse Projects Act
Description: This bill modifies the Bureau of Reclamation's Large-Scale Water Recycling Program, which provides grants to water and power delivery authorities in certain western states for the planning, design, and construction of large-scale water recycling and reuse projects that have a total cost of $500 million or more. Specifically, the bill removes the program's sunset provision and revises eligibility requirements.
Sponsors: Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3]
Target Audience
Population: People in Western U.S. states benefiting from improved water infrastructure
Estimated Size: 50000000
- The bill is targeted at water recycling and reuse projects in certain western states, typically facing water scarcity issues.
- The western states in the US often deal with droughts, such as California, Arizona, and Nevada, affecting millions of residents.
- Water recycling and reuse projects can impact urban and rural populations by providing more stable water supplies.
- Large-scale projects typically affect a broad range of people, including urban residents, agricultural users, and industries relying on water.
- The projects aim to improve water supply, thus impacting daily water use, agricultural production, and related economic activities.
Reasoning
- The population benefitting from this policy is primarily concentrated in water-scarce western U.S. states like California, Arizona, and Nevada.
- These states experience frequent droughts, impacting everything from household water use to agriculture and industry.
- The policy is likely to have varying levels of impact on people based on their occupation and reliance on water resources, from high for farmers to potentially none for urban residents with stable water access.
- Given the large capital requirements, only a relatively small number of projects might begin immediately, leading to gradual changes over time in wellbeing scores.
- Policy effects are long-term, so people's perception of impact might evolve over a decade.
Simulated Interviews
farmer (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I’m cautiously optimistic. Water has always been a limiting factor for my crops.
- If the policy actually delivers, I expect my yields to improve due to stable water supply.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
environmental engineer (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 33 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a great step towards sustainable water management.
- It aligns with my work and I hope it encourages innovation in water infrastructure.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
retired (Rural Nevada)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I’ve seen how water scarcity has worsened over my lifetime.
- I hope this new policy will not just benefit the big cities.
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 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
casino worker (Las Vegas, NV)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Water hasn't been a concern in my daily life yet.
- I guess long term it's good if we secure our water supply.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
agricultural scientist (Bakersfield, CA)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This bill could drastically improve agricultural sustainability.
- I expect an uptick in demand for efficient irrigation systems.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
software developer (San Diego, CA)
Age: 40 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm aware of the water issues but it's not an immediate concern for me.
- Good policy for the state, but won't change my lifestyle significantly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
teacher (Sacramento, CA)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I teach about sustainability, so I support more water recycling.
- This policy could ensure a better future for my kids.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
restaurant owner (Reno, NV)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If water prices stabilize, my costs will too.
- I'm hopeful but not sure how direct the effect will be on my business.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
civil engineer (Tucson, AZ)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Infrastructure is key to solving Arizona's water issues.
- I look forward to projects that could be game-changers for our state.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
nurse (Fresno, CA)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Water availability affects public health in many ways.
- This initiative might not impact my work directly but benefits the community.
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 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $2000000000 (Low: $1500000000, High: $2500000000)
Year 2: $2200000000 (Low: $1700000000, High: $2700000000)
Year 3: $2400000000 (Low: $1800000000, High: $2900000000)
Year 5: $3000000000 (Low: $2400000000, High: $3600000000)
Year 10: $3500000000 (Low: $2800000000, High: $4200000000)
Year 100: $5000000000 (Low: $4000000000, High: $6000000000)
Key Considerations
- Recent droughts and climate models suggest increasing water scarcity issues in western states, justifying ongoing project needs.
- Developments in water recycling technology may reduce costs over time, impacting future estimates.
- The removal of the sunset clause indicates a long-term federal commitment to resolving water scarcity issues in affected regions.