Bill Overview
Title: WASH Sector Development Act of 2022
Description: This bill directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish the Water and Sanitation Needs Working Group to measure and report on the number and approximate geographic distribution of households that do not have access to drinking water infrastructure or a means for the safe collection and disposal of wastewater. The EPA must also establish a program under which it awards grants to nonprofit organizations for assisting such households.
Sponsors: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals lacking access to drinking water and sanitation infrastructure globally
Estimated Size: 2000000
- Access to clean water and proper sanitation is a fundamental need for all households worldwide.
- The UN estimates that 2 billion people globally lack access to safely managed drinking water services.
- Approximately 3.6 billion people (nearly half of the global population) lack safely managed sanitation, according to WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene.
- The target population includes all households without access to clean drinking water or adequate sanitation facilities.
- In low-income countries, about 9 out of 10 people still lack access to safe drinking water and sanitation.
- Access issues are prevalent in both rural and urban settings, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Reasoning
- The population distribution includes diverse individuals: those directly benefiting from the policy, those unaffected, and those indirectly impacted.
- Maximizing impact requires distributing limited resources to areas with greatest need, like rural and Native American communities.
- Considering the large budget constraints, only a fraction of the estimated target population in the US will be directly impacted initially.
- Simulating a variety of interviews captures the range of existing access issues and potential responses from the population.
Simulated Interviews
Community Health Worker (Navajo Nation, Arizona)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope the new policy will bring clean running water to our community.
- Currently, we have to drive miles to get water, and it's a burden.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Retired farmer (Rural Alabama)
Age: 65 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improving water access would relieve us from constant worry about contamination.
- I hope the grants reach people like us who are out here in rural areas.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
Software Engineer (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I support cleaner water initiatives, I don't think this policy will affect me directly.
- It's crucial that funds reach those without any basic sanitation.
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 |
Plumber (Detroit, Michigan)
Age: 54 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Investments in infrastructure could prevent service outages here.
- I hope issues specific to older urban neighborhoods are considered.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 3 |
Farm worker (Migrant farm worker camp, California)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 2
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- These kind of policies could drastically improve our living conditions.
- I fear our voices are often unheard.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 2 |
Environmental Scientist (Suburban Texas)
Age: 38 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Monitoring impacts of this policy on water quality is essential.
- I support the initiative so individuals without access can benefit.
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 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
City Government Worker (Chicago, Illinois)
Age: 48 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The funding from this policy could aid long-overdue upgrades.
- Ensuring effective allocation is key to benefiting poorer communities.
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 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Oil Industry Worker (Houston, Texas)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Houston's infrastructure could benefit from attention too, though not as severely.
- The policy should primarily serve those severely affected.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 3 |
Retired (Bangor, Maine)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope these funds tackle areas truly in need, like Native reservations.
- We need to address this issue nation-wide for true equality.
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 |
Teacher (Rural Appalachians, West Virginia)
Age: 41 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- An initiative like this is much needed in rural America.
- Access to clean, safe water should be a priority for all.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $500000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $600000000)
Year 2: $450000000 (Low: $350000000, High: $550000000)
Year 3: $450000000 (Low: $350000000, High: $550000000)
Year 5: $450000000 (Low: $350000000, High: $550000000)
Year 10: $450000000 (Low: $350000000, High: $550000000)
Year 100: $450000000 (Low: $350000000, High: $550000000)
Key Considerations
- The U.S. currently has significant water infrastructure deficits, especially in rural and low-income communities.
- Implementation depends heavily on coordination with local water utility systems and municipal governments.
- The program's effectiveness relies on accurate assessment and reporting by the newly established Working Group.