MORE WATER Act

Key Points

• This bill creates a new program to build and fix water pipelines and canals across the Western United States. It provides $500 million between 2028 and 2032 to help local communities move water more efficiently to where it is needed most, which is especially important during long droughts.
• The plan focuses on 'multi-benefit' projects. This means new water systems must do more than just move water; they are designed to also provide clean drinking water to low-income neighborhoods or help restore local environments and wildlife habitats.
• It sets aside $1 billion for water recycling and reuse projects. These projects help cities and farms use the same water multiple times, which reduces the need to take more water from struggling rivers and underground wells.
• About $250 million is dedicated to protecting nature. This includes cleaning up lakes, helping fish like salmon and trout travel through rivers, and using high-tech tools to monitor water levels in real-time to prevent damage to the environment.
• To make the system more efficient, the bill would cancel old water projects that have been sitting on the books for years without any work being done. This clears the way for newer, more important projects to get the attention and money they need to be finished.