Emergency Rural Water Response Act of 2025

Key Points

• This bill, introduced by Representative Costa and Representative Edwards, aims to help more rural communities get clean water during emergencies. It would allow towns with up to 35,000 people to apply for emergency water grants, a big jump from the current limit of 10,000 people.
• The plan expands what these grants can pay for. In addition to drinking water, the money could be used for wastewater systems, storm drains, and solid waste facilities. This helps small towns fix their entire water and waste infrastructure when a crisis hits.
• To speed up help after a disaster, the bill removes certain permit requirements for portable water filters. For six months after a state declares an emergency, these mobile treatment units can operate without waiting for federal or state water discharge permits.
• This change is meant to ensure that larger rural areas aren't left behind during droughts, floods, or other water crises. By raising the population cap and cutting through paperwork, the bill aims to get clean water to families faster when their local systems fail.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.