Reps. Sykes and Bresnahan Introduce Bipartisan Water Preservation and Affordability Act of 2025

Reps. Sykes and Bresnahan Introduce Bipartisan Water Preservation and Affordability Act of 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) and Republican Rep. Rob Bresnahan (PA-08) recently introduced the bipartisan Water Preservation and Affordability Act of 2025. This timely legislation will update the Clean Water Act to ensure that resource preservation techniques, including water reuse, energy efficiency, and stormwater mitigation, are prioritized in federally supported water infrastructure projects. The bill is designed to help protect communities from rising water and sewer bills while advancing environmental resilience.

"We have no time to waste when it comes to clean, affordable water," said Rep. Sykes. "Too many households are seeing their water or sewer bills climb just to maintain an outdated system. This bill brings cost-saving solutions, resilient infrastructure, and fairness to the table, because families should not have to choose between paying their bills and protecting our rivers."

"The residents of Northeastern Pennsylvania know firsthand the problems caused by stormwater runoff and the importance of reliable water infrastructure," said Rep. Bresnahan. "The Water Preservation and Affordability Act combines the need for further funding for clean water resources and projects aimed at protecting our infrastructure from stormwater runoff. I am glad to partner with Rep. Sykes to introduce this legislation and continue to develop legislative solutions to our communities' real-world problems."

Recent local action in Akron makes the legislation especially urgent. Earlier this month, the Akron City Council approved a four-year plan of sewer rate increases to meet the costs of federally mandated clean-water upgrades. These rate adjustments are projected to raise the average household bill by more than $22 per month by 2029, with even larger increases possible if additional infrastructure is required. The Water Preservation and Affordability Act would help cities like Akron access more federal support and adopt innovations that reduce long-term costs, meaning fewer steep hikes for working families.

Key Provisions:

• Establishes a federal definition of "resource preservation technique," which includes water reuse, recapture, conservation, energy efficiency, stormwater mitigation, sustainable planning and design, and environmentally innovative technologies.
• Updates the Clean Water State Revolving Fund so that utilities receiving certain federal assistance must evaluate and use resource preservation techniques to the maximum extent practicable.
• Expands two critical federal support programs:
• • Authorizes $40 million annually for FY 2026-2031 for the Wastewater Efficiency Grant Pilot Program.
  • Authorizes $50 million annually for FY 2026-2031 for the Clean Water Infrastructure Resiliency and Sustainability Program.
• Streamlines the application process for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund by removing burdensome reporting requirements.

"NACWA thanks Representative Sykes for her leadership on the Water Preservation and Affordability Act, which recognizes the critical role clean water utilities play on the front lines of community resilience," said Adam Krantz, CEO of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA). "This legislation strengthens the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) by prioritizing resource preservation strategies such as water reuse, energy efficiency, stormwater management, and other innovative approaches-ensuring that utilities can continue protecting public health and the environment."

"We are grateful to Representatives Sykes and Bresnahan for championing the Water Preservation and Affordability Act, which will boost strategic investments in water efficiency and the resiliency of clean water projects," said Heather Taylor-Miesle, Executive Director, American Rivers Action Fund. "Increasingly severe storms and intense rainfall are threatening water quality in Ohio by exacerbating the Cuyahoga River's natural flooding response, leading to worsening sewer overflows and stormwater pollution that impact communities, families, and local economies. This legislation will continue to support the work being done by local utilities to address these growing threats, and we strongly urge Congress to support this timely bill as part of the State Revolving Fund reauthorization."

"Thank you Representative Sykes for prioritizing water access and resiliency through the introduction of the Water Preservation and Affordability Act," said Lizzy Duncan, Government Affairs Representative for the Healthy Communities team at the League of Conservation Voters (LCV). "This bill would make it easier for people to apply for funding for clean water projects, encourage sustainable project planning, and promote water efficiency and community resiliency to natural disasters across the country. We greatly appreciate Rep. Sykes' commitment to community resiliency, sustainability, and access to clean water for all, and look forward to continuing to work together to protect public health and our environment."

This legislation is endorsed by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, League of Conservation Voters, National Resources Defense Council, & American Rivers Action Fund.