North Carolina Congressman Richard Rouzer Introduces Healthy Drinking Water Affordability Act

Healthy Drinking Water Affordability Act

I also recently introduced the bipartisan Healthy Drinking Water Affordability Act, also known as the Healthy H2O Act, with Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME).  This legislation provides grants for water testing and treatment technology directly to individuals and nonprofits in rural communities.  Systems that improve water quality — whether installed at the faucet or within a building — can provide immediate and ongoing protections from known and emerging water contaminants, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), lead, and nitrates.   The Healthy H2O Act helps rural residents in the Cape Fear Valley gain access to safe, clean drinking water — free from harmful contaminants.  As city and county water systems continue upgrading to address these pollutants, this legislation ensures rural communities aren’t left behind by supporting testing and the installation of effective filtration systems to remove these ‘forever chemicals.’   The Healthy H2O Act would provide funding for point-of-use water treatment systems, such as under-sink filters, that can deliver immediate protections.  Nearly 43 million U.S. households, primarily in rural areas, depend on private wells that are not regularly monitored under federal or state drinking water programs, leaving many communities vulnerable to contamination.   U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.