Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authorization Act

Key Points

• This bill allows the government to help build a new water system for people living in several counties in eastern Montana and western North Dakota. The goal is to make sure families and businesses in these rural areas have a steady supply of safe drinking water.
• The federal government would pay for up to 75 percent of the construction costs. The local water authority would own the system and be responsible for running it. The project includes building water treatment plants, storage tanks, and pipelines to reach homes and towns.
• Congress would set aside 602 million dollars between 2027 and 2037 to get the work done. This amount can be adjusted if the price of building materials like pipes and concrete goes up or down over the next ten years.
• To keep costs low for residents, the system would get discounted electricity from federal dams to run its water pumps. This is meant to help counties that were impacted years ago when the Fort Peck Dam was first built.
• The bill makes it clear that the federal government is not taking over local water. Montana and North Dakota will still have the power to manage their own water laws and resources.

Impact Analysis

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